The Grand Canal snakes through Venice like a wide, inverted “S”, nearly four kilometres long, linking the lagoon to the heart of civic and mercantile life. Often paved with basalt, limestone, or river-worn cobbles, Italy’s alleys were laid in the Middle Ages where space was precious. They were built narrow to offer shade in summer, shelter in winter, and a kind of intimacy that broader streets cannot hold. From its first buzz through postwar streets, the Vespa transformed urban mobility with its sleek frame, enclosed mechanics and step-through design. From factory floors to film screens, it quickly became a symbol of Italian flair, freedom, and la dolce vita on two wheels. -gardensbythebay