The Strada Nova, from the railroad station to the Rialto, was the first step on the change from a city which primarily existed for its inhabitants to a city dominated by tourism. Read the entire article series.
Strada Nove #5: The parts of the Strada Nove around Santa Fosca and San Felice only exist thanks to numerous demolitions of common people’s houses
Strada Nove #3: The Rio di San Leonardo was interred in 1818, ostensibly for economic reasons, even though the locals complained.
Strada Nove #2: Rio del Isola was a canal in Venice which was filled in and joined up with the Lista di Spagna to form the start of the current Strada Nova