Wells: Difference between revisions

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''This page is an overview of all the wells on Venice.'' {{for|a typical well|Well}}
''This page is an overview of all the wells on Venice. For a typical well, see [[Well]''


There are approximately 231 wells in the City of Venice, capped by 231 [[wellheads]]. These wells no longer serve any functional purpose but still exist beneath the streets of Venice.
Wells were the primary drinking sources in Venice between the 11th century and the 19th century. There are more than 5000 cistern wells under the streets of Venice, but their [[wellheads]] have almost all been removed or destroyed, leaving only 260 remaining wellheads in Venice. These wells no longer serve any functional purpose but still exist beneath the streets of Venice.


{{Infobox
{{Infobox
Line 17: Line 17:
|header1 = Total Number of Mainland Wells Recorded
|header1 = Total Number of Mainland Wells Recorded
|label1 =  
|label1 =  
|data1 = 231
|data1 = 260
|header2 =  
|header2 =  
|label2  = Cannaregio
|label2  = Cannaregio
|data2  = 50
|data2  = 52
|header3 =
|header3 =
|label3 = Castello
|label3 = Castello
|data3 = 58
|data3 = 58
|header4=
|header4=
|label4= Sante Croce
|label4= Santa Croce
|data4= 20
|data4= 21
|header5=
|header5=
|label5= San Polo
|label5= San Marco
|data5= 23
|data5= 49
|header6=
|header6=
|label6= San Marco
|label6= San Polo
|data6= 48
|data6= 22
|header7=
|header7=
|label7= Dorsoduro
|label7= Dorsoduro
Line 39: Line 39:
|label8= Giudecca
|label8= Giudecca
|data8= 3
|data8= 3
|header9 = Total Number of Wells on Islands of the lagoon
|header9 = Total Number of Wells on Outer Islands of the lagoon
|label9 =  
|label9 =  
|data9 = 231
|data9 = 231

Revision as of 09:39, 9 December 2025

This page is an overview of all the wells on Venice. For a typical well, see [[Well]

Wells were the primary drinking sources in Venice between the 11th century and the 19th century. There are more than 5000 cistern wells under the streets of Venice, but their wellheads have almost all been removed or destroyed, leaving only 260 remaining wellheads in Venice. These wells no longer serve any functional purpose but still exist beneath the streets of Venice.

Wells

A Venetian Well Structure [1]
Total Number of Mainland Wells Recorded
Cannaregio 52
Castello 58
Santa Croce 21
San Marco 49
San Polo 22
Dorsoduro 29
Giudecca 3
Total Number of Wells on Outer Islands of the lagoon
Murano 6
Burano 2
Torcello 6
Lido 1
Malamocco 3
San Pietra in Volta 1
Portosecco 1
Pellestrina 4
Chioggia 2

History

As a series of islands surrounded by a salt-water lagoon, Venice lacks natural sources of freshwater. As a result, Venice has found alternative ways to obtain freshwater for the city. As far back as the 6th century, Venetians built well systems to collect and filter rain to be stored as freshwater.

Venetians depended on this system for their fresh water supply until 1884, when a modern water supply system was established [2]

Function

The general design of a well and cistern typically includes a clay basin that stores rainwater. This water collects through street-level drains, filters through fine river sand, and then accumulates in the basin. There is a brick or stonewall well shaft that allows access to the water from the street level. These wells served as sources of fresh water in Venice. The water is retrieved from a structure called a wellhead.

A design of a Venetian well system.[3]

Map

The location of the wells, along with its wellheads, are designated by red dots on the map.

See Also

Reference

  1. "Venice: The Basics". Gambier Keller, 2010
  2. A city on the water but without fresh water,” n.d.
  3. Rizzi, 1981

External Links