There are no roads in Venice so ambulances speed through the canals instead and the skill required to pilot one is extraordinary
Published on Mar 16, 2026 at 2:48 PM (UTC+4)
by Henry Kelsall
Last updated on Mar 16, 2026 at 2:48 PM (UTC+4)
Edited by
Amelia Jean Hershman-Jones
The floating city of Venice is one of the most unique cities in the world, and as there are no roads, the city has had to rethink its strategy for ambulances.
The lack of roads in the floating city means no traditional ambulances can get around, so the canal became the solution to a problem.
Footage online shows a floating ambulance racing through Venice to reach an emergency, and it’s some of the most thrilling video you will see today.
It turns out that the famous city doesn’t need roads at all!
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What the footage shows of the floating ambulances
The footage was uploaded onto Reddit by Great_Trident in the r/interesting SubReddit.
In the video, we see one of the ambulances roaring through the city, weaving around traffic.
Just like on the road, any vehicle in front has to move out of the way of the emergency vehicle.
The ambulance has to navigate around tourist boats and personal vehicles to get to its destination.
Clearly, plenty of skill is also required to get through the city.
The emergency vehicle is darting around and weaving through traffic.
A couple of times, it looks very fraught as it has to force its way through the gaps between other boats.
Behind it, it left an impressive wake, which rocked a few of the other boats it passed.
Does Venice have other emergency vehicles?
Naturally, other emergency vehicles are needed, such as police vehicles.
Fortunately, Venice has this covered, too.
In other footage from the city, we can see one of the ambulances weaving past a police boat.
The ambulances are designed to be fast and agile and must execute sharp turns on the canals.
But they also have to be robust enough to handle the way they are used in the city.
Inside, there is plenty of typical ambulance equipment.
Due to the lack of drivable roads that’s how ambulances move around the city of Venice
by u/Great_Trident in interesting
This includes stretchers, ECG monitors, oxygen supplies, and more.
It is remarkable just how the city has managed to adapt to provide the services its residents need.
Plus, it makes for an amazing spectacle when we see it in action in the floating city.
A history of ambulances in Venice
Gondolas – Before the 1900s: Patients were moved through the canals using hand-rowed gondolas, sometimes with small cabins for protection
Motor Boats – Early 1900s: As engines were invented, basic motorized boats started to replace gondolas for emergencies
Organized Services – Mid-1900s: Volunteer groups like the Green Cross created the first official water ambulance services
Custom Boats – Late 1900s: Special ‘water ambulances’ were designed to move quickly without making big waves that could damage the city’s old buildings
National System – 1990s: Venice joined Italy’s national ‘118’ emergency network, improving how boats were dispatched
Modern Medicine – 2000s: The boats were upgraded into floating intensive care units, fully equipped with advanced gear and medical crews
Advanced Tech – Present Day: The fleet now includes fast doctor-response boats and uses GPS and radar to operate 24/7 in any weather or tide
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Henry joined the Supercar Blondie team in February 2025, and since then has covered a wide array of topics ranging from EVs, American barn finds, and the odd Cold War jet. He’s combined his passion for cars with his keen interest in motorsport and his side hustle as a volunteer steam locomotive fireman at a heritage steam railway.
