La Serenissima — the utmost serene — is one of the many nicknames for Venice, and especially the Venetian Republic which existed from the late 600s until 1797.
“More veneto” refers to the official calendar of the Venetian State which was based on the ancient Roman calendar
The Sestiere Castello is the easternmost of the six sestieri of Venice, and the largest and populous.
The ‘fanti da mar’ were a corps of naval infantry of the Republic of Venice. Today a group of enthusiasts re-enact the ‘fanti da mar’.
The fall of Venice on May 12th, 1797, was the result of a war that the Republic of Venice formally wasn’t even party to.
The Consiglio Maggiore – or the Great Council – was the highest authority of the Venetian Republic. It was not, however, an elected body. It was the entire electorate.
The doge was the elected head of the Venetian Republic. He was elected for life by an arcane process that also included drawing lots.