Venice, where tourists flock from the world over, is an archipelago made up of 120 or so islands. The canals connecting the islands, and the gondolas and gondoliers are a central part of the way of life. Venice was founded on a shallow lagoon, around the 6^th century in the Common Era. Venice reached its height in the 15th century as a key commercial centre. Shakespeare’s play "The Merchant of Venice" gives an insight into the wealth that came into the city. Just as it was inaccessible to horse and carriage in the past, today there are no cars. The city’s beauty is unrivalled. Cruising along the canals, the passing buildings reveal stories of the past. The architecture here includes Byzantine, Romanesque, Renaissance and Baroque styles. The city’s foundations were built by driving poles into the sand and mud and piling stones on them. The canals are maintained. Dirt has to be removed to ensure free passage for the gondolas and for hygiene purposes. The city’s main square is the Piazza San Marco. The water level rises over the barriers many times a year and floods into the city. The city itself is said to be slowly sinking but lovers still come to Venice to enjoy the ride on the gondolas and to listen to the rippling of the waves under the moonlight