The Islands round Chioggia
by Wolfgang Schippke, DC3MF
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Part from the Italian Seamap of that area.
The town of Chioggia, is built on several
islands in the southern most end of the Lagoon of Venecia. Chioggia is
a very old town, founded by the Romans in the first century AD and known
as Claudia Maior. Today about 53.600 people live in the town, which is
errected on wooden bolders in the partly drying ground. The wide Vena Water
way devides the town in Isla Chioggia in the western side and Isla Cantieri.
Most of the town's islands are connected to the larger village of Sottomarina
by a group of bridges. In the last century Sottomarina growed up as a well
known tourist resort.
Up near the northern most end of the City lies Isola San Domenico
with the church of that name, built in 1234, but ruined and rebuilt after
a storm-flood in 1415. The largest island, also a part of the international
habour of the town is Isola dei Cantiere, about 1300 m from north
to south and about 350 meters wide. Close east of this island lies Isola
Union, a small island, which is used as a town's garden and a sporting
facility. Islotte San Martino is completely overbuilt by the cathedral
of that name, built in 1312. Isola d'Aleghero is the most southwestern
island, not connected to the town, and avaiable only by boot. This island,
today overbuilt by some ruined houses, was a troup-place in the 1378 War
between Venece and Genova.
Some more about the History:
Chioggia became a major fishin port in 1189, when the water-way of Battaglia-Chioggia
was bulit by the town of Padua. In 1501 the Habour of Isola dei Cantieri,
became on of the most important habours along the lagoon of Venece. In
1545 the City of Padua errected a new man-made waterway to Isola d'Aleghero,
which is in use till today.