• Domenico Pizzamano

    Domenico Pizzamano never expected to end up in prison. He was not a traitor. He had done his duty.

  • However, we’ll make another

    In the late Venetian republic, when the doge died, they held the funeral for a statue.

  • The Venetian constitution

    The constitution of the Republic of Venice never really existed. The Venetian nobility just made it up as they went.

  • Quarantine in the 1600s

    Quarantine was the main method of prevention of the black plague in Venice, and the lazzaretti served that purpose.

  • Fornicators of Nuns

    “Fornicators of Nuns” were criminals in ancient Venice, and harshly punished, but that didn’t stop nuns from having lovers.

  • The Legend of the Fisherman

    The Legend of the Fisherman was part of the national narrative of the Venetian Republic, but it is now largely forgotten.

  • Venice Access Fee — Money for nothing

    The “Venice Access Fee” introduced by the municipal administration will do absolutely nothing to resolve the real issues of the city.

  • Oranges and straw hats

    Once a year — on February 2nd — the Doge of Venice received a gift of two oranges and two straw hats from the guild of the box-makers.

  • Happy New Year – but not yet

    While we celebrate New Year on January 1st, for entire period of the Republic of Venice the Venetian state celebrated New Year on March 1st.

  • A day in the Lagoon

    What do you see when you go shopping for ninety kg of dog food in Venice? The Venetian Lagoon is full of overlooked small wonders.