Most popular articles

  • Prostitution in Venice

    Prostitution in Venice

    In ancient Venice prostitution was considered a necessary evil, where more harm would come from a ban than from a de facto acceptance

    Posted on:

  • Old maps of Venice

    Old maps of Venice

    Old maps are an important source for our understanding of how Venice looked and functioned in the past

    Posted on:

  • A Chronology of the Black Plague in Venice

    A Chronology of the Black Plague in Venice

    The black plague ravaged Venice for centuries, from the mid 1300s to the late 1700s. This is a chronology of some of the most important events.

    Posted on:

  • The mysterious hooks of fortune at San Canciano

    The mysterious hooks of fortune at San Canciano

    A bridge at San Canciano is called the “bridge of the hung and quartered”. Nearby hangs some hooks on the wall, but nobody knows what they were for.

    Posted on:

  • Poveglia – more than ghost stories

    Poveglia – more than ghost stories

    The island of Poveglia is now famous for ghost stories made up by American television. However, there’s a lot more to say about the island than fictitious stories of ghosts and crazy doctors.

    Posted on:

  • Ne Fodias – Do not disturb!

    Ne Fodias – Do not disturb!

    In 1793 a ship from Nauplia in Greece brought cheese and the black plague to Venice. Twelve persons died.

    Posted on:

  • The Venetian Nobility

    The Venetian Nobility

    The Venetian nobles were in principle all equals, but in practice there were differences within the nobility, and even important inequalities.

    Posted on:

  • Map of the lagoon islands

    Map of the lagoon islands

    This is an interactive map of most of the islands in the Venetian lagoon. Many islands are abandoned, or privately owned and inaccessible

    Posted on:

  • The Blue Door

    The Blue Door

    In Venice, near Santa Maria Formosa, there’s a blueish green door everybody photographs.

    Posted on:

  • Ca’ Dario

    Ca’ Dario

    The Ca’ Dario on the Grand Canal in Venice has lately acquired a bad reputation, but it is almost guaranteed ghost-less.

    Posted on: