diff --git a/docs/state.rst b/docs/state.rst
index a9421d5..b2494ab 100644
--- a/docs/state.rst
+++ b/docs/state.rst
@@ -23,9 +23,9 @@ The observer simply dispatches the function called (as ``<function ..>``, not as
 Let's start with creating a Canvas instance and some items:
 
     >>> from gaphas.canvas import Canvas
-    >>> from gaphas.item import Item
+    >>> from examples.exampleitems import Circle
     >>> canvas = Canvas()
-    >>> item1, item2 = Item(), Item()
+    >>> item1, item2 = Circle(), Circle()
 
 For this demonstration let's use the Canvas class (which contains an add/remove
 method pair).
@@ -36,11 +36,11 @@ It works (see how the add method automatically schedules the item for update):
     ...     print('event handled', event)
     >>> state.observers.add(handler)
     >>> canvas.add(item1)                              # doctest: +ELLIPSIS
-    event handled (<function Canvas.add at ...>, (<gaphas.canvas.Canvas object at ...>, <gaphas.item.Item object at ...>), {})
+    event handled (<function Canvas.add at ...>, (<gaphas.canvas.Canvas object at ...>, <examples.exampleitems.Circle object at ...>), {})
     >>> canvas.add(item2, parent=item1)                # doctest: +ELLIPSIS
-    event handled (<function Canvas.add at ...>, (<gaphas.canvas.Canvas object at ...>, <gaphas.item.Item object at ...>), {'parent': <gaphas.item.Item object at ...>})
+    event handled (<function Canvas.add at ...>, (<gaphas.canvas.Canvas object at ...>, <examples.exampleitems.Circle object at ...>), {'parent': <examples.exampleitems.Circle object at ...>})
     >>> list(canvas.get_all_items())                   # doctest: +ELLIPSIS
-    [<gaphas.item.Item object at 0x...>, <gaphas.item.Item object at 0x...>]
+    [<examples.exampleitems.Circle object at 0x...>, <examples.exampleitems.Circle object at 0x...>]
 
 Note that the handler is invoked before the actual call is made. This is
 important if you want to store the (old) state for an undo mechanism.
@@ -52,8 +52,8 @@ Therefore some careful crafting of methods may be necessary in order to get the
 right effect (items should be removed in the right order, child first):
 
     >>> canvas.remove(item1)                           # doctest: +ELLIPSIS
-    event handled (<function Canvas._remove at ...>, (<gaphas.canvas.Canvas object at 0x...>, <gaphas.item.Item object at 0x...>), {})
-    event handled (<function Canvas._remove at ...>, (<gaphas.canvas.Canvas object at 0x...>, <gaphas.item.Item object at 0x...>), {})
+    event handled (<function Canvas._remove at ...>, (<gaphas.canvas.Canvas object at 0x...>, <examples.exampleitems.Circle object at 0x...>), {})
+    event handled (<function Canvas._remove at ...>, (<gaphas.canvas.Canvas object at 0x...>, <examples.exampleitems.Circle object at 0x...>), {})
     >>> list(canvas.get_all_items())
     []
 
@@ -126,10 +126,11 @@ Handlers for the reverse events should be registered on the subscribers list:
 
 After that, signals can be received of undoable (reverse-)events:
 
-    >>> canvas.add(Item())                              # doctest: +ELLIPSIS
-    event handler (<function Canvas._remove at ...>, {'self': <gaphas.canvas.Canvas object at 0x...>, 'item': <gaphas.item.Item object at 0x...>})
+    >>> canvas.add(Circle())                              # doctest: +ELLIPSIS
+    event handler (<function Handle._set_movable at ...>, {'self': <Handle object on (Variable(0, 20), Variable(0, 20))>, 'movable': True})
+    event handler (<function Canvas._remove at ...>, {'self': <gaphas.canvas.Canvas object at 0x...>, 'item': <examples.exampleitems.Circle object at 0x...>})
     >>> list(canvas.get_all_items())                    # doctest: +ELLIPSIS
-    [<gaphas.item.Item object at 0x...>]
+    [<examples.exampleitems.Circle object at 0x...>]
 
 As you can see this event is constructed of only two parameters: the function
 that does the inverse operation of ``add()`` and the arguments that should be
@@ -139,7 +140,7 @@ The inverse operation is easiest performed by the function ``saveapply()``. Of
 course an inverse operation is emitting a change event too:
 
     >>> state.saveapply(*events.pop())                  # doctest: +ELLIPSIS
-    event handler (<function Canvas.add at 0x...>, {'self': <gaphas.canvas.Canvas object at 0x...>, 'item': <gaphas.item.Item object at 0x...>, 'parent': None, 'index': 0})
+    event handler (<function Canvas.add at 0x...>, {'self': <gaphas.canvas.Canvas object at 0x...>, 'item': <examples.exampleitems.Circle object at 0x...>, 'parent': None, 'index': 0})
     >>> list(canvas.get_all_items())
     []
 
diff --git a/docs/undo.rst b/docs/undo.rst
index 4dda9f1..c24afc2 100644
--- a/docs/undo.rst
+++ b/docs/undo.rst
@@ -111,25 +111,26 @@ Again, rotate does not result in an exact match, but it's close enough.
 canvas.py: Canvas
 -----------------
 
-    >>> from gaphas import Canvas, Item
+    >>> from gaphas import Canvas
+    >>> from examples.exampleitems import Circle
     >>> canvas = Canvas()
     >>> list(canvas.get_all_items())
     []
-    >>> item = Item()
+    >>> item = Circle()
     >>> canvas.add(item)
 
 The ``request_update()`` method is observed:
 
     >>> len(undo_list)
-    1
+    2
     >>> canvas.request_update(item)
     >>> len(undo_list)
-    2
+    3
 
 On the canvas only ``add()`` and ``remove()`` are monitored:
 
     >>> list(canvas.get_all_items())                    # doctest: +ELLIPSIS
-    [<gaphas.item.Item object at 0x...>]
+    [<examples.exampleitems.Circle object at 0x...>]
     >>> undo()
     >>> list(canvas.get_all_items())
     []
@@ -140,7 +141,7 @@ On the canvas only ``add()`` and ``remove()`` are monitored:
     []
     >>> undo()
     >>> list(canvas.get_all_items())                    # doctest: +ELLIPSIS
-    [<gaphas.item.Item object at 0x...>]
+    [<examples.exampleitems.Circle object at 0x...>]
     >>> undo_list
     []
 
@@ -149,15 +150,15 @@ Parent-child relationships are restored as well:
 TODO!
 
 
-    >>> child = Item()
+    >>> child = Circle()
     >>> canvas.add(child, parent=item)
     >>> canvas.get_parent(child) is item
     True
     >>> list(canvas.get_all_items())                    # doctest: +ELLIPSIS
-    [<gaphas.item.Item object at 0x...>, <gaphas.item.Item object at 0x...>]
+    [<examples.exampleitems.Circle object at 0x...>, <examples.exampleitems.Circle object at 0x...>]
     >>> undo()
     >>> list(canvas.get_all_items())                    # doctest: +ELLIPSIS
-    [<gaphas.item.Item object at 0x...>]
+    [<examples.exampleitems.Circle object at 0x...>]
     >>> child in canvas.get_all_items()
     False
 
@@ -168,32 +169,35 @@ Now redo the previous undo action:
     >>> canvas.get_parent(child) is item
     True
     >>> list(canvas.get_all_items())                    # doctest: +ELLIPSIS
-    [<gaphas.item.Item object at 0x...>, <gaphas.item.Item object at 0x...>]
+    [<examples.exampleitems.Circle object at 0x...>, <examples.exampleitems.Circle object at 0x...>]
 
 Remove also works when items are removed recursively (an item and it's
 children):
 
-    >>> child = Item()
+    >>> child = Circle()
     >>> canvas.add(child, parent=item)
     >>> list(canvas.get_all_items())                    # doctest: +ELLIPSIS
-    [<gaphas.item.Item object at 0x...>, <gaphas.item.Item object at 0x...>]
+    [<examples.exampleitems.Circle object at 0x...>, <examples.exampleitems.Circle object at 0x...>]
     >>> del undo_list[:]
     >>> canvas.remove(item)
     >>> list(canvas.get_all_items())
     []
     >>> undo()
     >>> list(canvas.get_all_items())                    # doctest: +ELLIPSIS
-    [<gaphas.item.Item object at 0x...>, <gaphas.item.Item object at 0x...>]
+    [<examples.exampleitems.Circle object at 0x...>, <examples.exampleitems.Circle object at 0x...>]
     >>> canvas.get_children(item)			# doctest: +ELLIPSIS
-    [<gaphas.item.Item object at 0x...>]
+    [<examples.exampleitems.Circle object at 0x...>]
 
 As well as the reparent() method:
 
     >>> canvas = Canvas()
-    >>> class NameItem(Item):
+    >>> class NameItem:
     ...     def __init__(self, name):
     ...         super(NameItem, self).__init__()
     ...         self.name = name
+    ...     def handles(self): return []
+    ...     def ports(self): return []
+    ...     def point(self, x, y): return 0
     ...     def __repr__(self):
     ...         return '<%s>' % self.name
     >>> ni1 = NameItem('a')
@@ -347,9 +351,9 @@ Also creation and removal of connected lines is recorded and can be undone:
     ...     def real_disconnect():
     ...         pass
     ...     canvas.connections.connect_item(hitem, handle, item, port=None, constraint=None, callback=real_disconnect)
-    >>> b0 = Item()
+    >>> b0 = Circle()
     >>> canvas.add(b0)
-    >>> b1 = Item()
+    >>> b1 = Circle()
     >>> canvas.add(b1)
     >>> l = Line(Connections())
     >>> canvas.add(l)
diff --git a/examples/exampleitems.py b/examples/exampleitems.py
index a3696d2..9f76a07 100644
--- a/examples/exampleitems.py
+++ b/examples/exampleitems.py
@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@
 These items are used in various tests.
 """
 from gaphas.connector import Handle
-from gaphas.item import NW, Element, Item
+from gaphas.item import NW, Element, Matrices, Updateable
 from gaphas.util import path_ellipse, text_align, text_multiline
 
 
@@ -29,7 +29,7 @@ class Box(Element):
         c.stroke()
 
 
-class Text(Item):
+class Text(Matrices, Updateable):
     """Simple item showing some text on the canvas."""
 
     def __init__(self, text=None, plain=False, multiline=False, align_x=1, align_y=-1):
@@ -40,6 +40,15 @@ class Text(Item):
         self.align_x = align_x
         self.align_y = align_y
 
+    def handles(self):
+        return []
+
+    def ports(self):
+        return []
+
+    def point(self, x, y):
+        return 0
+
     def draw(self, context):
         cr = context.cairo
         if self.multiline:
@@ -49,14 +58,11 @@ class Text(Item):
         else:
             text_align(cr, 0, 0, self.text, self.align_x, self.align_y)
 
-    def point(self, x, y):
-        return 0
 
-
-class Circle(Item):
+class Circle(Matrices, Updateable):
     def __init__(self):
         super().__init__()
-        self._handles.extend((Handle(), Handle()))
+        self._handles = [Handle(), Handle()]
         h1, h2 = self._handles
         h1.movable = False
 
@@ -72,6 +78,12 @@ class Circle(Item):
 
     radius = property(_get_radius, _set_radius)
 
+    def handles(self):
+        return self._handles
+
+    def ports(self):
+        return []
+
     def point(self, x, y):
         h1, _ = self._handles
         p1 = h1.pos
diff --git a/gaphas/item.py b/gaphas/item.py
index 7a5df72..7e34374 100644
--- a/gaphas/item.py
+++ b/gaphas/item.py
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 """Basic items."""
 from math import atan2
-from typing import Sequence
+from typing import Protocol, Sequence
 
 from gaphas.canvas import Context
 from gaphas.connector import Handle, LinePort, Port
@@ -16,31 +16,48 @@ from gaphas.state import (
 )
 
 
+class Item(Protocol):
+    @property
+    def matrix(self) -> Matrix:
+        ...
+
+    @property
+    def matrix_i2c(self) -> Matrix:
+        ...
+
+    def handles(self) -> Sequence[Handle]:
+        """Return a list of handles owned by the item."""
+
+    def ports(self) -> Sequence[Port]:
+        """Return list of ports."""
+
+    def point(self, x: float, y: float) -> float:
+        """Get the distance from a point (``x``, ``y``) to the item.
+
+        ``x`` and ``y`` are in item coordinates.
+        """
+
+    def draw(self, context: Context):
+        """Render the item to a canvas view. Context contains the following
+        attributes:
+
+        - cairo: the Cairo Context use this one to draw
+        - selected, focused, hovered, dropzone: view state of items
+          (True/False)
+        """
+
+
 def matrix_i2i(from_item, to_item):
     i2c = from_item.matrix_i2c
     c2i = to_item.matrix_i2c.inverse()
     return i2c.multiply(c2i)
 
 
-class Item:
-    """Base class (or interface) for items on a canvas.Canvas.
-
-    Attributes:
-
-    - matrix: item's transformation matrix
-
-    Private:
-
-    - _handles:     list of handles owned by an item
-    - _ports:       list of ports, connectable areas of an item
-    """
-
+class Matrices:
     def __init__(self, **kwargs):
         super().__init__(**kwargs)  # type: ignore[call-arg]
         self._matrix = Matrix()
         self._matrix_i2c = Matrix()
-        self._handles = []
-        self._ports = []
 
     @property
     def matrix(self) -> Matrix:
@@ -50,6 +67,8 @@ class Item:
     def matrix_i2c(self) -> Matrix:
         return self._matrix_i2c
 
+
+class Updateable:
     def pre_update(self, context: Context):
         """Perform any changes before item update here, for example:
 
@@ -76,36 +95,11 @@ class Item:
         """
         pass
 
-    def draw(self, context: Context):
-        """Render the item to a canvas view. Context contains the following
-        attributes:
-
-        - cairo: the Cairo Context use this one to draw
-        - selected, focused, hovered, dropzone: view state of items
-          (True/False)
-        """
-        pass
-
-    def handles(self) -> Sequence[Handle]:
-        """Return a list of handles owned by the item."""
-        return self._handles
-
-    def ports(self) -> Sequence[Port]:
-        """Return list of ports."""
-        return self._ports
-
-    def point(self, x: float, y: float):
-        """Get the distance from a point (``x``, ``y``) to the item.
-
-        ``x`` and ``y`` are in item coordinates.
-        """
-        pass
-
 
 [NW, NE, SE, SW] = list(range(4))
 
 
-class Element(Item):
+class Element(Matrices, Updateable):
     """An Element has 4 handles (for a start)::
 
     NW +---+ NE    |   | SW +---+ SE
@@ -199,6 +193,14 @@ class Element(Item):
 
     height = property(_get_height, _set_height)
 
+    def handles(self) -> Sequence[Handle]:
+        """Return a list of handles owned by the item."""
+        return self._handles
+
+    def ports(self) -> Sequence[Port]:
+        """Return list of ports."""
+        return self._ports
+
     def point(self, x, y):
         """Distance from the point (x, y) to the item.
 
@@ -212,6 +214,9 @@ class Element(Item):
             list(map(float, (pnw.x, pnw.y, pse.x, pse.y))), (x, y)
         )
 
+    def draw(self, context: Context):
+        pass
+
 
 def create_orthogonal_constraints(handles, horizontal):
     rest = 1 if horizontal else 0
@@ -224,7 +229,7 @@ def create_orthogonal_constraints(handles, horizontal):
             yield EqualsConstraint(a=p0.y, b=p1.y)
 
 
-class Line(Item):
+class Line(Matrices, Updateable):
     """A Line item.
 
     Properties:
@@ -411,6 +416,14 @@ class Line(Item):
         p1, p0 = h1.pos, h0.pos
         self._tail_angle = atan2(p1.y - p0.y, p1.x - p0.x)  # type: ignore[assignment]
 
+    def handles(self) -> Sequence[Handle]:
+        """Return a list of handles owned by the item."""
+        return self._handles
+
+    def ports(self) -> Sequence[Port]:
+        """Return list of ports."""
+        return self._ports
+
     def point(self, x, y):
         """
         >>> a = Line()
diff --git a/gaphas/painter/boundingboxpainter.py b/gaphas/painter/boundingboxpainter.py
index 27e65b6..0f0cf95 100644
--- a/gaphas/painter/boundingboxpainter.py
+++ b/gaphas/painter/boundingboxpainter.py
@@ -102,7 +102,7 @@ class BoundingBoxPainter:
     ):
         self.item_painter = item_painter
 
-    def paint_item(self, item, cairo):
+    def paint_item(self, item: Item, cairo):
         cairo = CairoBoundingBoxContext(cairo)
         self.item_painter.paint_item(item, cairo)
         # Bounding box is in view (cairo root) coordinates
diff --git a/gaphas/view/gtkview.py b/gaphas/view/gtkview.py
index 79b6cb7..b623cae 100644
--- a/gaphas/view/gtkview.py
+++ b/gaphas/view/gtkview.py
@@ -86,7 +86,7 @@ class GtkView(Gtk.DrawingArea, Gtk.Scrollable):
         ),
     }
 
-    def __init__(self, canvas: Optional[Model[Item]] = None):
+    def __init__(self, canvas: Optional[Model] = None):
         Gtk.DrawingArea.__init__(self)
 
         self._dirty_items: Set[Item] = set()
@@ -117,7 +117,7 @@ class GtkView(Gtk.DrawingArea, Gtk.Scrollable):
 
         self._qtree: Quadtree[Item, Tuple[float, float, float, float]] = Quadtree()
 
-        self._canvas: Optional[Model[Item]] = None
+        self._canvas: Optional[Model] = None
         if canvas:
             self._set_canvas(canvas)
 
@@ -152,7 +152,7 @@ class GtkView(Gtk.DrawingArea, Gtk.Scrollable):
         m.invert()
         return m
 
-    def _set_canvas(self, canvas: Optional[Model[Item]]) -> None:
+    def _set_canvas(self, canvas: Optional[Model]) -> None:
         """
         Use view.canvas = my_canvas to set the canvas to be rendered
         in the view.
diff --git a/gaphas/view/model.py b/gaphas/view/model.py
index 7ad1dee..34f9340 100644
--- a/gaphas/view/model.py
+++ b/gaphas/view/model.py
@@ -1,45 +1,44 @@
 from __future__ import annotations
 
-from typing import Iterable, Optional, Sequence, TypeVar
+from typing import Collection, Iterable, Optional
 
 from typing_extensions import Protocol, runtime_checkable
 
-T = TypeVar("T")
-T_ct = TypeVar("T_ct", contravariant=True)
+from gaphas.item import Item
 
 
 @runtime_checkable
-class Model(Protocol[T]):
-    def get_all_items(self) -> Iterable[T]:
+class View(Protocol):
+    def request_update(
+        self,
+        items: Collection[Item],
+        matrix_only_items: Collection[Item],
+        removed_items: Collection[Item],
+    ) -> None:
         ...
 
-    def get_parent(self, item: T) -> Optional[T]:
+
+@runtime_checkable
+class Model(Protocol):
+    def get_all_items(self) -> Iterable[Item]:
         ...
 
-    def get_children(self, item: T) -> Iterable[T]:
+    def get_parent(self, item: Item) -> Optional[Item]:
         ...
 
-    def sort(self, items: Sequence[T]) -> Iterable[T]:
+    def get_children(self, item: Item) -> Iterable[Item]:
+        ...
+
+    def sort(self, items: Collection[Item]) -> Iterable[Item]:
         ...
 
     def update_now(
-        self, dirty_items: Sequence[T], dirty_matrix_items: Sequence[T]
+        self, dirty_items: Collection[Item], dirty_matrix_items: Collection[Item]
     ) -> None:
         ...
 
-    def register_view(self, view: View[T]) -> None:
+    def register_view(self, view: View) -> None:
         ...
 
-    def unregister_view(self, view: View[T]) -> None:
-        ...
-
-
-@runtime_checkable
-class View(Protocol[T_ct]):
-    def request_update(
-        self,
-        items: Sequence[T_ct],
-        matrix_only_items: Sequence[T_ct],
-        removed_items: Sequence[T_ct],
-    ) -> None:
+    def unregister_view(self, view: View) -> None:
         ...
diff --git a/tests/test_aspect.py b/tests/test_aspect.py
index 9a218b1..c40010e 100644
--- a/tests/test_aspect.py
+++ b/tests/test_aspect.py
@@ -3,12 +3,12 @@
 import pytest
 
 from gaphas.aspect import InMotion, Selection
-from gaphas.item import Item
+from gaphas.item import Element
 
 
 @pytest.fixture()
-def item():
-    return Item()
+def item(connections):
+    return Element(connections)
 
 
 def test_selection_select(canvas, view, item):
diff --git a/tests/test_segment.py b/tests/test_segment.py
index b8d999f..74a80de 100644
--- a/tests/test_segment.py
+++ b/tests/test_segment.py
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 """Test segment aspects for items."""
 import pytest
 
-from gaphas.item import Item
+from gaphas.item import Element
 from gaphas.segment import HandleFinder, Line, Segment, SegmentHandleFinder
 from gaphas.tool import ConnectHandleTool
 
@@ -11,15 +11,13 @@ def tool(view):
     return ConnectHandleTool(view)
 
 
-def test_segment_fails_for_item(canvas):
-    """Test if Segment aspect can be applied to Item."""
-    item = Item()
+def test_segment_fails_for_element(canvas, connections):
+    item = Element(connections)
     with pytest.raises(TypeError):
         Segment(canvas, item)
 
 
-def test_segment(canvas, connections):
-    """Test add a new segment to a line."""
+def test_add_segment_to_line(canvas, connections):
     line = Line(connections)
     canvas.add(line)
     segment = Segment(line, canvas)
@@ -32,7 +30,6 @@ def test_segment(canvas, connections):
 
 
 def test_split_single(canvas, line):
-    """Test single line splitting."""
     # Start with 2 handles & 1 port, after split: expect 3 handles & 2 ports
     assert len(line.handles()) == 2
     assert len(line.ports()) == 1