Built on wooden pilings sunk in the ooze of a backwater lagoon, Venice rose over a millennium to become a city-state of dazzling power. By the 15th century, it was the envy of Europe.

威尼斯城的建设是用木质的打桩技术进到沼泽地死水或泻湖，自从十五世纪以来它引起欧洲人地羡慕：“威尼斯玫瑰经过一千年变成（古希腊的）城邦，令人眼花缭乱的力量。