How did they build Venice, Italy, since its surrounded by water?

Question

How did they build Venice, Italy, since its surrounded by water?

Answer 1

Venice was not built over water, but on 100 or so islands.  In order to stabilise buildings, heavy wooden stakes were first driven into the island mud. It's estimated over 1 million stakes have been used.

Answer 2

Basically, what they did was they made huge underwater foundation systems of massive wooden beams. Also, there are about 100 small islands that hold parts of the city as well.