Venetian rooftops are of wide variety. Many of them are highly distinctive. Particularly characteristic are the fan-shaped chimney pots. In a highly built-up urban area, the risk of fire is always present; these chimneypots were designed to deal with sparks before they could ignite the surrounding area.

1. Calle Magno, Campo due Pozzi, Castello
This chimneypot is most distinctive, with textured brickwork and tiles producing a pagoda-like effect.

2. Rio del Gaffaro, San Polo These chimneypots are more traditional, with their conical shapes.

3. Behind Campo San Lunardo, Cannaregio
Rooftops, almost all red tile, looking east from an upper floor on the Calle Emo. Not all the chimney covers are red tile; just out of the picture to the bottom is one made of white marble.

4. Fondaco Tedeschi, Rialto
The building behind the Rialto bridge sports rooftop decoration known as "crestings." These can take many forms; the ones shown here are relatively simple. Such crestings also appear on many medieval Egyptian buildings.

5. Santa Maria Formosa, Castello
The church dome and the top of the bell tower supply an interesting contrast.

6. Santa Maria Glorioso dei Frari, San Polo
This Venetian Gothic church is topped by crockets at the gables.

7. Ca d'Oro, Grand Canal
The crestings on this palazzo are particularly elaborate, resembling fleurs-de-lis.

8. Scuola Grande di San Giovanni Evangelista, Santa Croce
An interesting roofline, in which a small staricase tower juts out from the main building as is capped with a small tile rooflet.