Larry

Several of the canal walkways are titled "Fondamenta" such as Fondamenta della Sensa and Fondamenta Madonna Dell' Orto. What is the meaning of Fondamenta or Fondamente?

xxx

Foundation

xxx

Fondamenta means a street parallel to a canal other than Canal Grande and the lagoon (case in which they're called Riva). The name comes from the fact that they serve as a base/foundation (as pointed out by xxx) to buildings. <BR><BR>Though I wouldn't bet my life on it, the meanings of other Venetian words are the following:<BR><BR>Calle: street (length larger than width)<BR>Campiello: small square <BR>Campo: square (once upon a time covered with pasture)<BR>Corte: small square surrounded by buidings, normally with a single entrance<BR>Lista: street bordering a foreign ambassator palace; thus with diplomatic immunity<BR>Merceria: street lined with shops<BR>Piscina: pool, now burried<BR>Ramo: street that brances of a calle, a corte or fondamenta; thus, Ramo Calle, Ramo Corte, Ramo Fondamenta <BR>Rio: small canal<BR>Rio Ter&agrave;: means "burried canal", a street that results when a canal is filled with earth<BR>Riva: street that is ligned with the lagoon or Canal Grande<BR>Ruga: the first streets to be ligned with houses and shops in both sides<BR>Rughetta: small "ruga"<BR>Salizzada: the first (important) streets to be paved<BR>Sotoportego: street that crosses under a building