CHIOGGIA, PROVINCE OF VENICE, WITH 50.000 INHABITANTS. IT RISES ON A PENINSULAR AREA BETWEEN THE VENETIAN LAGUNA AND THE DELTA OF THE PO RIVER AND ITS CENTRE UNRAVELS ON ISLANDS UNITED BY BRIDGES. WITH THE ADJACENT UNDERWATER ONE AGGLOMERATE IS FORMED, CONNECTED TO THE MAINLAND BY A VIADUCT, WITH 45 ARCHES, THAT SEPARATES THE LAGUNA FROM THE LUSERZO. IT HOSTS ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT PORTS IN ITALY FOR FISHING VESSELS AND A FISH MARKET OF SIGNIFICANT RESONANCE. THE HISTORICAL CENTER HAS A FISH BONE SHAPE AND IS ALSO KNOWN AS LITTLE VENICE FOR ITS URBAN FEATURES THAT ARE VERY SIMILAR TO THOSE OF THE CAPITAL, WITH ALLEYS, CAMPI AND CANALS. THE MAIN ONE, FOR THE BUILDINGS AND CHURCHES THAT LINE IT, IS THE CANAL VENA, CROSSED BY NINE BRIDGES. THE MOST IMPOSING ONE IS THE VIGO BRIDGE THAT CLOSES THE CANAL NEAR THE LAGOON AND LEADS TO THE PIAZZA WITH THE SAME NAME, FACING THE STATION OF THE BOATS THAT GO TO PELLESTRINA. IN THE SQUARE THERE IS A MAJESTIC COLUMN WITH SAINT MARK’S LION ON TOP THAT THE VENETIANS, SPITEFULLY, CALL EL GATO (THE CAT) BECAUSE OF ITS SIZE BEING FAR MORE MODEST THAN THE LION OF VENICE. THE OTHER CANALS CROSSING THE CITY OR ENCLOSING IT PERPENDICULARLY ARE THE LUSENZO CANAL, TO THE SOUTH, THE CANAL LOMBARDO, TO THE WEST, AND THE SAN DOMENICO CANAL, TO THE EAST. THE MOST EXTERNAL PART IS OFTEN CALLED RIVA MARE BECAUSE EVEN WITHOUT ENTERING THE LAGUNA IT HAS A PROTRUDING POSITION TOWARDS THE SEA. EVEN CHIOGGIA IS AFFECTED BY TIDAL PEAKS KNOWN AS HIGH WATERS THAT CAUSE FLOODING EVEN IN THE URBAN AREAS.
