How exactly did they manage to build the city of Venice?

Question: How exactly did they manage to build the city of Venice!?

it seems as though the buildings were made "on top" of the water, how did they manage to do this!?
http://www!.lowflyzone!.org/wp-content/upl!.!.!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

Best Answer - Chosen by Asker:

What existed prior to the buildings of venice were a bunch of low-lying islands in a larger lagoon!. Buildings were constructed on these marshy islands by pounding wooden piles (long tree trunks) into the marsh until there was a hard surface of wood at ground level!. The stone and marble structures were built on top of that!. As these buildings grew denser on the islands, all the available open space was built over!. Existing channels were dug out to create the network of canals until you have the city as it exists today!.

Subsidence has further concealed the island origians of this fabulous city!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

City of Venice Italia
http://en!.wikipedia!.org/wiki/Venice

History of the City of Venice
http://www!.tours-italy!.com/venice/histor!.!.!.

Venice International University
http://www!.univiu!.org/undergraduate/fall!.!.!.

Carnival of Venice - very tiny screen
http://www!.metacafe!.com/watch/1546610/ca!.!.!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

Your image is of Venice during one of its periodic floods!. In between floods, the city was built!. Its only recently that -partially due to global warming - the sea levels rose, and water actually laps at the bases of buildings; given the impression that their foundations were built underwater!.Www@QuestionHome@Com