The paving on the streets and in the squares of Venice is largely composed of masegni, large stones made out of trachyte quarried in the Colli Euganei. Even the paving has historic significance. For this reason the existing masegni (which were introduced in the eighteenth century) are reused in the restoration work, and only when necessary are they replaced with newly quarried stone. The plan to raise the paving in the city primarily concerns the lowest areas (the ones that are more prone to flooding even when the tide is not particularly high) to build them up to a level, where possible, of +120 cm. During construction, architectural and environmental constraints are respected, seeking as far as possible to maintain the original appearance of the walls and the level of the entrances to homes and public spaces.
Most Venetian bridges are built out of masonry. Over the years they too suffer a certain degree of decay: loss of plaster from the surface of the vault underneath, broken alignment of the voussoirs, cracking, loss of consistency. They therefore need constant repair to remain functional.
Restoration work on bridges is preceded by a thorough diagnostic examination and ascertainment of the condition of the materials and structure. The voussoirs are then consolidated and realigned, the brick vault is repaired and the new channels for the underground utility grids are installed under the paving. Even when the bridges are made out of cast iron, the original material is preserved as much as possible, restored with welding and the application of bolts, and the profiles are refurbished.
