Venice Is Built on Millions of Wooden Posts Driven into the Seafloor

Venice's remarkable foundation consists of more than 10 million wooden posts driven into the soft, marshy ground of the Venetian lagoon. Construction began in the 5th century when refugees fleeing barbarian invasions sought safety on these islands. The builders used alder, oak, and larch trees, which were ideal because they don't rot when completely submerged in water - instead, they petrify and become harder than stone. The posts were driven 4-5 meters deep into the clay below the marshy surface. On top of these wooden foundations, builders laid Istrian stone platforms, then built the iconic buildings we see today. This ancient engineering marvel has supported the city for over 1,500 years. The Rialto Bridge alone sits on 12,000 wooden posts. Ironically, while Venice slowly sinks, these wooden foundations remain as strong as ever.