ABSTRACT
Historically, each island had its own specific function within the lagoon and the urban system of Venice. Being able to travel from one island to the other was necessary for the survival of the entire complex system. The movement of men and goods was made possible by a natural network of underwater canals, invisible above the surface and in need of constant maintenance (dredging). They were made visible by wooden poles (briccola, singular; briccole plural), erected along the edges. This ancient method of marking the ‘path’, essential for understanding how to navigate the lagoon, is still used today.
