Fodor's Travel Talk Forums - Meaning of "Fondamenta" in Venice

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. Though I wouldn't bet my life on it, the meanings of other Venetian words are the following: Calle: street (length larger than width) Campiello: small square Campo: square (once upon a time covered with pasture) Corte: small square surrounded by buidings, normally with a single entrance Lista: street bordering a foreign ambassator palace; thus with diplomatic immunity Merceria: street lined with shops Piscina: pool, now burried Ramo: street that brances of a calle, a corte or fondamenta; thus, Ramo Calle, Ramo Corte, Ramo Fondamenta Rio: small canal Rio Terà: means "burried canal", a street that results when a canal is filled with earth Riva: street that is ligned with the lagoon or Canal Grande Ruga: the first streets to be ligned with houses and shops in both sides Rughetta: small "ruga" Salizzada: the first (important) streets to be paved Sotoportego: street that crosses under a building