Seen from high, Chioggia has the shape of a fishbone, situated on a small island at the southern entrance to the Lagoon of Venice about 25 km south of Venice (50 km by road); one bridge connects it to the mainland, and another to its frazione of Sottomarina on a sandbar further out in the Adriatic. Chioggia is a coastal town and has a seafood market amang the main in Italy. Recently it has become also an important tourist resort in the summer.

The town is a miniature version of Venice, with a few canals and the characteristic narrow streets known as calli; but while it is served by several medieval churches, Chioggia has no outstanding monuments. Fishing is historically the livelihood of the port, and remains a significant economic sector. Other important modern industries include textiles, brick-making and steel; and Sottomarina, with 60 hotels and 17 campgrounds, is almost entirely given over to seafront tourism. Sottomarina is a frazione of Chioggia, occupying a sandbar 5.5 km long and up to 300 meters wide at the southern entrance to the Lagoon of Venice; a bridge connects it to Chioggia. The population of Sottomarina, about 25,000, with 60 hotels and 17 campgrounds, is almost entirely given over to seafront tourism. Graphic sourced with thanks from http://realtravel.com

Wikipedia articles for Chioggia

• Chioggia
• Sottomarina
• Pellestrina