* The Grand Canal: This is the main waterway through Venice, and it is lined with palaces and churches. It is also the route for the city's famous gondolas.
* The lagoon: The lagoon of Venice is a large, shallow body of water that surrounds the city. It is protected from the open sea by a series of islands, and it is this lagoon that makes Venice such a unique city.
* The Po River: The Po River is the longest river in Italy, and it flows into the Adriatic Sea just south of Venice. This made it an important route for trade between Venice and the rest of Italy.
* The Brenta River: The Brenta River is a tributary of the Po River, and it flows through Padua before emptying into the lagoon of Venice. This made it an important route for trade between Venice and the Veneto region of Italy.
These waterways allowed Venice to become a major hub of trade between Europe and the East. In the 13th century, Venice was the most powerful city in the Mediterranean Sea, and it was a centre of commerce, art, and culture.