Laguna Veneta.

Description

One of the greatest maps of the Venetian Lagoon ever created.

This exceptional and meticulously detailed map of the Venetian Lagoon, published in 1780 by Ludovico Furlanetto, stands as the most comprehensive and scientifically accurate representation of the lagoon created during the late Republic. Engraved across three joined copperplate sheets, the map is a masterpiece of Enlightenment-era cartography, combining rigorous geographic precision with refined aesthetic presentation. The engraving is anonymously signed, but the artistic and technical execution attests to the involvement of highly skilled professionals.

Only lightly colored to highlight key features such as the islands of the lagoon, the Lido, and Pellestrina, the map offers a sweeping bird’s-eye view from the mouth of the Adige River (Porto di Fossone) in the southwest to Piave Vecchia (modern-day Jesolo) in the northeast. A prominent allegorical cartouche at the bottom center features a dedication to the Reformers of the University of Padua, patrons of scientific, hydraulic, and educational advancement in the Venetian Republic. In the upper right corner, a detailed plan of the city of Venice is inset, showing the city’s dense urban fabric, parishes, and canals within its fortified seawalls.

Historical Context: Venice in 1780

By 1780, the Republic of Venice was in its twilight years, just two decades before its fall to Napoleon in 1797. While politically stagnant, Venice was still a center of scientific thought, hydraulic engineering, and cartographic excellence. With trade having declined since its peak centuries earlier, the Republic turned inward, focusing its resources on maintaining its fragile environmental infrastructure—particularly the delicate balance between the lagoon and the encroaching Adriatic Sea. The fear of sedimentation, loss of navigable channels, and flooding had long preoccupied Venetian authorities, and extensive hydraulic interventions were undertaken to preserve the lagoon’s integrity as both a natural defense and a lifeline for commerce and mobility.

The map reflects this emphasis on hydraulic control and environmental management, showcasing the elaborate system of canals, levees, embankments, and artificial cuts designed to regulate water flow, prevent sediment accumulation, and safeguard the city from the twin threats of flooding and silting.

Hydraulic Works and Features Depicted

Furlanetto’s map meticulously renders a number of important hydraulic features that played a crucial role in the lagoon’s maintenance:

• Murazzi of the Lido and Pellestrina: These massive stone sea walls, begun in the early 18th century and still under construction around 1780, are clearly shown protecting the barrier islands. Built to shield the lagoon from storm surges and erosion, the Murazzi represent one of the Republic’s last great engineering feats.
• Navigable Channels and Sandbanks: Carefully traced are the canals (canali navigabili) leading to Venice and key port areas. Shoals, mudflats (barene), and shallow waters are also marked, reflecting the complex tidal environment and the importance of maintaining clear maritime approaches.
• Embankments and Diversions: The map indicates areas of river diversion and artificial channeling, especially near the inlets (porti) where the Brenta, Piave, and Sile rivers either approach or are diverted from the lagoon to control sedimentation. These were part of ongoing efforts begun as early as the 16th and 17th centuries to prevent the rivers from silting up the lagoon.
• Fortifications and Watchtowers: Strategic military installations, customs outposts, and coastal defenses are shown along the lagoon’s edge and islands, underscoring the dual military and environmental utility of these waterworks.
• Salt marshes and fisheries: The extensive areas labeled as “valle da pesca” (fishing valleys) reflect the economic importance of lagoon aquaculture, with fish farms delineated in detail, especially in the southern and eastern sections.

A Legacy of Cartographic and Environmental Mastery

Ludovico Furlanetto’s Mappa Topografica della Laguna Veneta of 1780 is not merely a geographical chart—it is a document of Venice’s profound relationship with its environment, reflecting centuries of expertise in hydraulic engineering, territorial governance, and cartographic sophistication. Created at a moment when the Republic was still preserving its identity through science and infrastructure, this map is a monumental testament to the enduring efforts of Venetians to control and coexist with the ever-shifting waters that defined their world.