{"id":66913,"date":"2021-12-24T09:35:00","date_gmt":"2021-12-24T08:35:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/padovawatermarathon.it\/padua-a-city-of-water\/"},"modified":"2021-12-24T09:35:00","modified_gmt":"2021-12-24T08:35:00","slug":"padua-a-city-of-water","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/padovawatermarathon.it\/en\/padua-a-city-of-water\/","title":{"rendered":"Padua, a City of Water"},"content":{"rendered":"

Padua was once a city of water, rich in canals.<\/h3>\n

Its hydrography was extremely complex\u2014a crucial junction in the central Veneto plain. The road system was shaped and constrained by waterways, making mobility in Padua difficult and complicated, only recently improved through the construction of major road infrastructures that, however, have altered the city\u2019s original character.<\/p>\n

The city can therefore be considered a river island, and today\u2019s cycle-pedestrian network allows a clearer understanding of the true structure of the urban fabric developed over the centuries.<\/p>\n

From the Porte Contarine began the Naviglio del Piovego<\/strong>, a canal about 8 km long, dug in 1209 by the people of Padua to connect with the Naviglio of the Brenta Riviera<\/strong>, via Noventa Padovana near Stra, and therefore with Venice and its lagoon.<\/p>\n

At the Portello<\/strong>, the ancient river port<\/em> was established, later enhanced during Venetian rule by the scenic Burchiello Staircase<\/strong>, where the first refreshment point will be set up.<\/p>\n

In 1198, excavation began on another canal known as the Canale Battaglia<\/strong>, which from Bassanello connects Padua to Battaglia Terme and then to Monselice; water was introduced into it in 1201.<\/p>\n

Due to frequent flooding of the Bacchiglione, Padua was often subject to devastating floods. For this reason, in 1842, during Austrian rule, work began on the Canale Scaricatore,<\/strong> running from Bassanello to Voltabarozzo, designed to divert floodwaters outside the internal water system of Padua, discharging them into the Roncajette canal.<\/p>\n

However, flooding continued to affect the city\u2014most notably in 1882, then again in May 1905, 1916, and 1919. As a result, in 1922, a project was developed to expand and extend the Scaricatore canal and create a new straight channel connecting the Scaricatore and the Piovego, linking different water levels through the monumental Voltabarozzo Navigation Lock.<\/strong> <\/p>\n

This led to the creation of a new canal, the Canale San Gregorio<\/strong>, running from Voltabarozzo to the Piovego<\/strong> (near today\u2019s incinerator area). Si realizz\u00f2 cos\u00ec, da Voltabarozzo al Piovego (zona attuale inceneritore), un nuovo Naviglio<\/strong> chiamato Canale San Gregorio<\/strong>.<\/a><\/p>\n

The final result is a convenient and deep canal about 7 km long, from the Piovego to Bassanello<\/strong>\u2014a sort of river bypass that, since the 1950s, has replaced the internal canal system of Padua, much of which has been filled in.<\/p>\n

The network of rivers<\/a> and waterways around Padua was once highly articulated, placing the city at the center of a complex communication system <\/a>that connected it both to inland production areas and to the Venetian lagoon.<\/p>\n

In the past, goods and people were transported along these canals; today, they are navigated by small recreational boats, as well as larger vessels that each year carry thousands of people, including tourists and groups of friends enjoying the experience together.<\/p>\n

Sources:<\/p>\n