Venice may seem a little odd to be contained within this collection of major cities, but I feel it is appropriate because it posses many unique qualities and contains one of the most renowned urban spaces in the entire world in the Piazza San Marco.

One of the best qualities of Venice is that it is a completely pedestrian city. The lack of automobiles gives the streets a very peaceful feeling. Walking through its tight passageways there is a certain calm. The various piazzas exhibit the life of the city. They are places of congregation and contain shops and outdoor cafes. There is a flow to the walkways similar to that found in the canals. Activity can rise or fade around every corner. The anticipation is unmatched in comparison to other places.

The pedestrian and canal networks are distinctly separate. There are only a few places where the pedestrian can walk along the water. These areas become very special and are almost event like. The walkways and water constantly intersect and bridges are everywhere, encountering the water becomes a special moment and provide the best views of the city. I would often think if this sort of approach would be possible in a modern city with regard to the interrelationship between automobiles and pedestrians. Venice is a completely man-made environment, and is totally contained. In this regard I often thought of it as being similar to Manhattan. Both are completely contained by water and are basically completely constructed environments. All spaces encountered in both are built by design.