Archivio tag: venice

Venice -Carmagnola’s head

The Carmagnola’s head, is assimilated to a red porphyry head placed in the loggia
of the basilica of San Marco, stuck on the pillar in the southwest corner of the balustrade.

francesco bussone -carmagnola

Francesco Bussone, called Carmagnola, was a captain of the Serenissima Republic. Found guilty of treason and alliance with the enemy, was beheaded in 1432. The charge is unjust for this captain who has dedicated its military capabilities to Venice. But his head must to be exposed to the folk according to the custom, triggering, in the popular imagination a legend remained alive for long time.

In fact the head in porphyry is comming from the sacking of Constantinople during the Fourth Crusade in 1204. Regarding the apartenence of the head are various proposals. The most accepted theory today is that it is from a statue of Justinian I, last emperor of the Eastern Roman Empire that reigns 527-565.

carmagnola’s head

Born in Carmagnola (Turin province), from a poor peasant family, Brussone Francis, one of the greatest soldiers of the fourteenth century, was the protagonist of one of the most mysterious betrayal of the history of Venice. He chose the nom de guerre “Carmagnola”, the name of his country of birth .The emblem of its name were three lambs who remember his humble origins.

carmagnola’s head ,s. polo church

Actually receives the title of Count,but not of Carmagnola region as suggested Alessandro Manzoni in his tragedy -the Count of Carmagnola-1816.

He began his career in Pavia in 1411, fighting for Visconti family. He manages to defeat their enemies , gaining the feud of Castelnuovo Scrivia, the title of Count and the hand of Antonia Visconti.From that moment Carmagnola removed from this noble shield the three lambs and replaced them with the snake and the imperial eagle and the title of Vicecomes. Under the jealousy and criticism of his rivals,the relations with Filippo Maria Visconti becoming worse. The Duke entrusting him governorship in Genoa, recently recaptured, an exile of fact. For Carmagnola was an evident sign of distrust and loss of power.Breaking the relationship with the Duke, Carmangola goes with few faithful solders in Savoy.But Amadeus VIII refuse to accept him.

Isolated, betrayed and dispossessed of his assets, Carmagnola pointed on Venice. Serenissima hired him; named him “Captain General of the coalition Venetian-Tuscan” and quartered in Treviso .Here, the Duke of Milan try to kill him by poisoning but without success, because the attack was discovered.

-esecuzione.di carmagnola-ilustrazione ottocentesca

execution of carmagnola

Francesco turn back to fight against Visconti, making alliance with Florence, Ferrara, Mantua and Monteferrato.At Malcodio (October 12, 1427) Visconti was forced to surrender .Sforza try a last stand but was wounded and forced to take refuge in Soncino. Carmagnola not chase him . Venetian army made many prisoners on the battlefield.

Amoung them was Carlo Malatesta,lord of Rimini, Fano, Cesena and Fossombrone. .
Carmagnola received after the fight, a palace on the Grand Canal and the lordship of Castenedolo in Brescia.After the peace ,signed with the curse of the Pope, the Venetians, dissatisfied, found guilty Carmagnola for not chaseing Sforza’s army, suspecting the intention to betraying in favor of Francesco Sforza.In early January 1429, justifying the recovery of his family members, the Count asked the release of his contract for one year. The Senate did not believe him and the 10th of the month rejected the request, hiring him again with a thousand ducats a month for other two years.

The capture of Carmagnola

During the siege of the castle of Sconcio , Carmagnola falls into an ambush, losing more than six hundred horses. Then he was accused of non loyalty when he was not able to succor Nicolo Trevisan, and then Cavalcabo -who fought against the Milanese and were defeated by the lack of support. With a ploy Carmagnola was called to Venice , arrested and tortured in Palazzo Ducale. It is said that Carmagnola confessed his betrayal under the torture. On May 5, he was led into the square .At the presence of his wife and four daughters, with a gag in his mouth was beheaded.

the lion and the snake

On the portal of the bell tower of the church of San Polo are two statues: the one on the right, is a lion showing a decapitated head .Some say that it is of Marin Faliero, http://dipoco.altervista.org/the-council-of-ten-in-venicefornarettos-story/ , but others say that it is the head of the Count of Carmagnola. That is proven by the lion on the left,symbol of Venice, clinging in mortal combat with a snake, a symbol of the Visconti and Bussone .

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The House of the Seven Chimneys

The House of the Seven Chimneys was built as a popular housing in 1700.
Was born as a poor building to house the workers from nearby factories (cotton
mills, spinning mills).The House has an unusual feature ,of having lined up on the side facing the channel seven fireplaces.

The House of the Seven Chimneys- Venice

The House of the Seven Chimneys has undergone a major restructuring in 1995. To save it from high water, among other works, the building, heavy six hundred tons, was cut at the base and raised 40 centimeters (in just three days, using 62 hydraulic jacks ).

The restoration made almost unrecognizable the House of the Seven fireplaces, but still maintaining a feature which took place over the centuries: by the weight of the chimneys on the facade overlooking the river, a very slight slope forward.
The Municipality of Venice, the property owner, gets seven small apartments on the ground floor, in
addition to the 14 existing on the upper floors. On the opinion of the Venetians, after the
restoration, the house of the seven chimneys ,has lost its original beauty coming to resemble a rural house on the mainland.

http://archiviostorico.corriere.it/1996/maggio/12/Cosi_alzata_Casa_dei_camini_co_0_9605128319.shtml

The House of the Seven Chimneys- Venice

In Venice, a major problem is the high water, that ,when it comes invades the ground floor of many buildings, making them uninhabitable. Among the other buildings in high flood risk, who need a lift of at least 80 cm, there are the Palazzo dei Camerlenghi, Rialto; the Church of San Moise near San Marco.

http://dipoco.altervista.org/venezia-camerlenghi-palace/

The lifting system of the buildings with the jacks is not a novelty for Venice. Already in 1980, the building that houses the High School Marco Polo in the immediate vicinity of the Ponte delle meravegie (Wonderland), was lifted to 90 cm with the same sistem.

These types of lifts in, addition to the high cost, do not guarantee a uniform lifting, (in spite of the sensors placed at various points of the building to control the safe lifting), sudden movements risks the collapse of the entire building.

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Venice,strange weather events.

Venice-strange weather events.

Strange weather events have always been in the world ,but also in Venice .
Have to remember some rare and unexpected events for a city with a typical climate of the Po Valley, with minimum winter temperatures on average of 1 ° C, a transition between the Mediterranean and the continental climate.
Considered “normal phenomenon” in Venice are the tides, the highest in 1966.
http://dipoco.altervista.org/venice-the-highest-tide/

Strange weather events – frozen lagoon,
In Venice the frozen lagoon is not a weather event that occurs often. The salt water does not freeze at 0 degrees, but at a lower temperature. Furthermore the tidal current moving the water back and forward preventing the frost.

Strange weather events; Venice frozen lagoon

At January 17, 1929, there were about ten days with almost uninterrupted snowfall.
On February 4,on the Karst Plateau there were -14 ° C, the lowest temperature of the last 32 years. All the rivers and alpine lakes frozen. Even in Venice, the minimum dropped to -9.2 °C, quite exceptional minimal temperature.

February 5, 1929.

At Padua the temperature fell to -16.3 °C, a temperature that no one remembers
on the past. The other cities of the Veneto region have touched very low values; Venice -10 °C.The city is hit by an extraordinary ice. The snow from the next few days increases the layer of ice .With all the lagoon frozen , Venice becomes a spectacle. The thickness of the ice allows men to walk on the lagoon.

“In the year 1929 , the Liberty Bridge didn’t exist yet ,and the people crossing the lagoon walking on ice to get to the mainland. You could walk from the Foundamenta Nuove to the new cemetery, or from the island of Torcello to Venice.”

strange weather events; frozen channals

More recently, the cold wave hit Italy in January 1985 .Was one of the most rigid winter
from 1951 . Because of the influx of cold masses coming directly from the polar regions,
in many places fell to 10 degrees, and also below zero. Then came the snow, and more exactly what many Italians consider the “snow of the century.” For 72 hours, fell between 70 and 90 cm of snow (30 cm on Venice). The minimum temperature -9 ° C had almost totally freeze the lagoon.
In 2012, the more open areas freeze, till the inner channels of Venice and the Grand Canal,to the astonishment not only of the Venetians as well as the tourists who are coming to the party. The carnival of that year was spoiled because of the very rigid temperatures.
Strange weather events – tornado

tornado-venezia

A realy strange weather event was of September 11, 1970, a tornado killer.
Starting from the Euganean Hills ,passing through Padua, Abano Terme and Selvazzano Dentro and heading towards Venice,70 km away.
Arriving in Venice fully invested a speedboat near the island of St. Helena. 21 people died. At 21.45 struck Camping Ca ‘Savio where there were about 300 people, destroyed 80 tents, and razed to the ground 57 bungalows.
The tornado stopped in Cavallino village ,dissolving itself. Caused around 36 casualties, 500 injured and damage more than 5 billion italian lire. (1 euro=1936.27 lire)
The tornado of September 1970 was one of the most violent phenomenon that ever struck Italy.
http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=484677

Stone commemorating the tornado victims; Giardini

June 12, 2012 part of the Lagoon of Venice was destroyed by another tornado. That time hit the Islands of St. Erasmus and St. Helena.
The gusts of wind (estimated at over 120 km / h) create damage to old buildings (roof of the public transportation venice ticket office ).
The tornado swept away thirty-four rowboats. Many fallen trees. Some people have been
blocked by falling branches, but were not seriously injured. In some parts of the city the boat navigation was blocked.
Other strange events that hit Venice in history have been earthquakes:

The most severe earthquake in Venice was in 1093 that “wrinkled the bell tower of San Angelo and let behind death and famine.”

The Villach earthquake of 1348, the eleventh grade Richter, he did ruin many bell towers in Venice. Another aspect concerns the advent of the waves of the seaquake: The Grand Canal remained dry ,and “you can see the bottom,while the water poured now on one side, now on the other.”

Collapse of the statue ;Papadopoli gardens,Venice

In the following centuries seems to see a decrease in the intensity of earthquakes until the nineteenth century that was marked by “seismic calm” in the Venice area .
From August to the end of November 1997 a seismic swarm, usually with Richter Magnitude less than 3, has affected the northern part of the Province of Venice.
In the early morning, Tuesday, May 29, 2012, the Centre and North of Italy were upset by a new earthquake.

The epicenter of the earthquake, has been in the Po Valley , and more precisely in the province of Modena (between the towns of Medolla, Mirandola and Cavezzo ).
The quake was felt few seconds after 9 am, and had a magnitude of 5.8 degrees.

papadopoli ,the statue

In Venice, the earthquake caused the collapse of a statue, close to falling on a woman, at Papadopoli Gardens where several statues are crumbling.

Venice June 21, 2013
A strong earthquake, magnitude 5.2, was felt across northern and in the center of Italy, a few minutes after 12:30. The epicenter was located between Liguria and Emilia, in Fivizzano in the province of Massa Carrara. The earthquake was felt in Venice but did not do any damage.

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The two columns of St. Mark’s Square

the two columns-St Marco Square

The two columns of the Piazzetta San Marco, with the statues of St. Theodore and the lion of St. Mark, had to be originally three, but the third column was lost with the ship during the landing.
After have been discharged the two columns remain horizontal for over a century. Nobody find a way to raise them vertically.
Thanks to the ingenuity of Nikolaus Stratonio, a builder of Bergamo, the two columns find the right location.
Nicholas was already known as the creator of elevator counterweight, with which it was possible to build the bell tower of San Marco, and as a builder of the bridge “della Moneta” ,the first version of the Rialto Bridge, (the name of the old bridge of the Coin “della Moneta” derive from the old building in which were minted the coins of the Republic,situated at the eastern end of the bridge).

http://dipoco.altervista.org/venezia-camerlenghi-palace/

http://www.venice-tourism.com/en/Venice-Tourism/Sestiere-di-San-Polo/Camerlenghi-Palace.html

The method used was called “water on the ropes” ,and used the particularity of the strings of hemp that, when wet, increase in diameter and decrease in length.

With the basics of the columns fixed, he tied the peak with the ropes.The ropes ,passing along the column , were fixed then to the ground at a distant point .
Wet the ropes, these are shortened enough to raise a few inches the columns, and to put shims under it.

It is said that the Government of the Serenissima decided to reward Nicholas, giving him the only license for games of chance. He could manage a gambling den for the game of dice, until then strictly prohibited throughout the city.

But this concession has a clause .From that moment Stratonio Nicholas becomes Nicholas Barattiere ( Barattiere -the man who practice or keep a place of barratry).

http://dipoco.altervista.org/gambling-venice/

The place where they could exercise these games was , between the two columns of St.Mark’s Square, because in that place very often was erected the scaffold for executions .The two columns was shunned by the citizens,so the flow of customers was very low.
In the memory of the origin of the name on the family blazon,the Barattieri have three dice.

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Saint Theodore- Venice

Saint Theodore ,Venice, saint mark square

Saint Theodore (Todaro for the Venetians), Byzantine saint and warrior, was the first patron of the city of Venice. Saint Theodore is portrayed in marble,in top of one of collone in St. Mark’s square, killing a dragon, as a metaphor of good conquering devil .The statue is actually a copy. The original is at the entrance of the Palazzo Ducale.

Saint Theodore , original statue

Saint Theodore of Amasya (present-day city of Amasya in Turkey) also known as Theodore Tiro (from the greek word Tyron = soldier) was a soldier of the Roman army , who was martyred for his faith in Christ. He was martyred for refusing to do sacrifices to the Roman gods, and for setting fire to the temple of Cybele, a deity worshiped in ancient Anatolia. He was tortured and then thrown into prison.It is said that the romans offered him even the position of the pope if he left his faith. Teodoro refused, not recognizing,them ,their gods, and testifying that he would not ripped a single word, a single gesture against the loyalty he owed to the Lord.
On February 17, between 306 and 311 , was burnt alive, on the charge of being a Christian.
A legend said that Theodore did not feel the burn of the flames, he died without pain and gave he gave his soul glorifying God.

He was buried at Euchaite, a town near Amasea, Turkey, a city that, on tenth century was called Teodoropoli (the etymology of the name is derived from the greek word Theodore, “gift of God”).

Scuola Grande of Saint Theodore

The “Scuola Grande di Saint Theodore”, dedicated to the first patron saint of Venice, was built from 1580 on the initiative of the brotherhood composed of merchants and craftsmen . At the beginning was guest at the Church of San Salvador.
Here the members of the guild of merchants and artisans met and helped each other in case of need.On the facade of the seventeenth century building you find five statues. On the top is St. Theodore and four angels on the sides.

The sculptures are made by Bernardo Falcon on the second half of the seventeenth century. The lounge was designed and built by Longhena and adorned with paintings dating back to 1600 and 1700 of the Vassilacchi, Jacopo Palma il giovane, Balestra, Bassano.

In 1999 the Venetian Musicians began to hold their concert seasons in the Scuola Grande and it became the most prestigious Concert Hall in Venice.

http://www.duepassinelmistero.com/Veneziainsolita.htm

The relics of the martyr were transported from the Orient to Brindisi, the city of which he is the patron saint (kept in an urn at a reliquary altar of the Cathedral of Brindisi,Italy).

It is presumed a “seizure” of the precious cargo direct from the Orient to Venice.

saint isidore chappel on saint mark basilica

As a result,in Venice appeared an another Santo Teodoro, no longer a soldier but generally known as Theodore of Heraclea or even as Theodore Stratelate (from the greek Stratelates = lance-bearer). He was tortured and crucified on Sintica Heraclea in Thrace, by order of Licinius (Augustus in 308), and (also) buried in Euchaite near Amasea.
In 1267 his remains were removed and taken to Venice, in the church of San Salvador where he became the first patron of the city of Venice. In the altar of the church there are still the funeral urn of the saint.

Venice celebrates the November 9, as saint Theodore day,the day of the patron of the city until the thirteenth century. A small church dedicated to him and have existed since the sixth century in the area currently occupied by the basilica of San Marco.

Chapel of St. Isidore, located on the bottom of the left side of the Basilica of San Marco. The dividing wall covered in marble that separates it from the original basilica corresponds to the outer wall of the ancient church of Saint Theodore.

Saints Theodore Tyron and Theodore Stratilates

This doubling of the Saint Theodore generated a flowering of legends and mysteries to end up with the hypothesis of a single person, who is venerated in different times and places, and that influenced the days of commemorations.

In Byzantine and Venetian icons, the two saints are often depicted together. Sometimes they are represented on horseback and are distinguished because the soldier is armed with a sword. Physiognomy of the two saints is almost identical,being always depicted with short and curly hair and short beard .

Saint Theodore , rialto bridge

San Teodoro is considered sacred by the Catholic Church and the Eastern Churches . Is considered the patron saint of: military recruits and protector against thieves. In the Byzantine churches ,Theodore the soldier is remembered on February 17 while the General on 8 February. For Westerners instead the soldier was recalled November 9 and the general on February 7.
On the Rialto Bridge, the oldest bridge crossing the Grand Canal,on the Fondaco dei Tedeschi side, are carved figures of St. Mark and St. Theodore, the current and former patron of the city, the Titian Aspetti works.

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The Council of Ten in Venice,Fornaretto’s story

The Full Council Venice

The Council (il consiglio), a collegial body with consultative or deliberative functions, replaces the popular assemblies in Venice,forming the foundations of the Venetian constitution. The patrician of Venice, a branding member of the council is raised from childhood with the idea that everything he has is due to the Republic. He must use his intelligence and experience, for the good of the Republic. It is out of the law refusing a public commitment. Throughout his life, the individual is subordinate to the state. Private interests take a back seat. The first constitutional law of Venice, ending the reign of the dynasty of Orseoli . This law prohibits the head of the city to associate a co-regent to his power. The new sovereign was assisted by two counselors who watched his acts while assisting him. Later the number of councilors increased to six, thus springing the Minor Council.

The “Council of Ten”
The Hall of the “Council of Ten” was destined to the meetings of the eponymous organ, small and powerful, the guardian of the national security.

Composed after the conspiracy of Tiepolo (1310) the “Council of Ten”
was a special committee of ten members with the task of discovering and judge the acts of treason against the republic. At the beginning elected for a term of three months, this was extended each year until 1335 when it became the permanent council. The board met every day, receiving complaints, listening the reports of their spies, judging by the quick and secret procedure, crimes against state security.
They “watch” everything, from the diplomacy,administration, the Senate, the leaders of the ten,the doge.
The council were renewed every month to avoid bribes.
No complaint was received without being the subject of a carefull discussion .To spend a complaint it was needed four-fifths of the votes. The anonymous complaints were examined in an even more severe. The accused could cite witnesses and have lawyers. Before pronouncing the sentence, was made a second reading of the evidence. The communal lawyer needed more than half of the votes to propose the condemnation. The punnishment could be exile, condemned to the galleys, imprisonment in weights (pozzi) ,or in the pits (piombi), death by hanging, beheading or night drowning in the waters of the lagoon.

rio terra dei assasini

Spite of the fear instilled by the Council of Ten, the executions do not were on average more than ten a year.And despite all precautions, there were also errors.

Wellknown is the history of Fornaretto, or rather the “pòvaro Fornaretto”, as in general it is defined here in the city. Some say that his name was Pietro Faccioli, nicknamed “Fasiol” (bean), some, Peter Tasca. He worked in his father’s baker shop , in Calle della Mandola. One day in the spring of 1507, the fornaretto,coming down the steps of the Bridge of
Assassins, the wood bridge, no longer exists since the Rio was buried, (Rio Tera of Assassins), he found a dead man stabbed in the street and was blamed of murder. The machinery of justice is set in motion and the unfortunate young man was tortured.
The fornaretto, never admitted the fact committed. The inquisitors, decreed his death sentence by beheading , between the two columns of San Marco and San Todaro. Immediately after his beheading, a servant came running to stop the execution, shouting: “The fornaretto is innocent, the culprit confessed that had committed the murder devoured by jealousy.”

quarantia -criminal, the hall of the forty

The voice of the servant who cried the innocence of Peter spread throughout Venice. The next day the Doge Leonardo Loredan, convened the Council of Ten and the entire
Venetian Judiciary , stating that before any judgment they should pronounce the sentence: “Recordève of pòvaro Fornaretto!” wich mean : Remember of the inocent Fornaretto. This phrase will be repeated until the end of the Venetian Republic, and will reflect the charge before issuing a sentence, repeating it three times.
Since then, two red candles are lit every night between two arches of the Basilica, in front of the point where were the scaffold, as perennial excuse of the city to the innocent victim.
The writer Francis dall’Ongaro wrote in 1848 a successful play entitled “The fornaretto of Venice.” Even in the cinema, there were played several versions , with a great success.

read the whole history http://venezia.myblog.it/2009/07/04/le-fiaccole-che-illuminano-la-giustizia-a-venezia/

the movie http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0057068/reviews-1

In the Ducal Palace, a symbol of the city of Venice, lived, the supreme head of the republic.Here gathered also the Councils, set up by the Venetian constitution.

In 1143, are elected in the various districts of the city,gli sapienti (the wise men) representing the Permanent Council of the Doge. Fifty years later, they become “wise men of the Minor Council.” Initially were appointed for one year and must give an oath called “promissio.”

The main hall of the doge’s palace, situated on the corner between the Molo and the Piazzetta, was once the seat of the highest judiciary in Venice, the Full Council.

The “Full Council”, founded as a popular assembly, becomes in time a meeting that brings together all the Venetian nobility. Has legislative power, prepares the laws of the republic and discuss them in the internal assemblies. May intervene in any public domain and has the power to appoint, through elections, all the offices of state.The Full Council vote all the judges, prosecutors, senators ,the “ten”, and the civil governors. Inside the Full Council are set up, many committees,and the most important, composed of forty persons will born the tribunal of the Forty (Quarantia,mentioned for the first time in the archives in 1223).

the hall of the full concil,venice,ducal palace

The Senate

The hall of the Senate, overlooking the Rio di Palazzo, is the place were the Council of Pregadi (or Senate) meets.

At the begining a temporary council,i pregati,(pregati = gently asked),those that are asked to be helpful in government affairs ,becomes with the passage of time an permanent council. It was the germine of the future Senate called “consiglio dei pregati” . The senate,find a final organization when the selection of the members will be entrusted to the Full Council.The number of members is fixed at sixty to which were added a number of sixty other officials elected under the name of ” Zonta “, added , that become permanent members after few years.

The Doge Leonardo Loredan

At this number of people were added : the Doge and his counselors, the procurators of St. Mark , the great wise men (i savii grandi), the judges of the Forty (i giudici della Quarantia),the leaders of key public services . All these members made the Senate bigger than three hundred persons.The Senate administered the finances ( public money , loans, taxes, etc.) and was in charge of public administration in both the city and the mainland and in the overseas possessions . It was always the senate to decide by the commanders of armies, generals , high-ranking officials and direct diplomacy to do wars or alliances .

In the Doge’s Palace, Sala del Collegio, communicating with the Senate hall,and was designed for meetings of the Board of Elders and the Venetian Signoria.

Il Collegio The board was composed of twenty-six members: ten of the lordship and sixteen wise men called “savii” : six “great wise men”an authoritative position occupied by the most senior officials and procurators of St. Mark; five “wise men from the mainland,” that dealt with the war ,finance , and directed the foreign policy and home affairs, and the other five “wise men orders”, in charge of things related to the sea, having in their hands the diplomatic archives, to be able to learn business and in order to cover positions in the state. The lordship (la signoria).

the lordship

From 1423 replaces the common Veneciarum. In the absence of the Doge, presided over the full Council and the Senate, received the ambassadors. Twice a week were present at the Doge’s Palace to receive the complaints of the citizens of every class. It was composed by the Doge, his advisers and the three chiefs of the Forty (Quarantia).

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The festival of San Marco,and the legends

The festival of San Marco takes place on April 25, the date of the death of St. Mark, but on the time of the Republic of Venice were also dedicated to St Mark January 31, in remember the translation of the relics in Venice,and June 25, the date of the discovery of the relics in 1094, the place where was been hidden (according to legend, in pillar). http://dipoco.altervista.org/venice-basilica-san-marco-stories-reality/

The Basilica of San Marco, one of the most visited and admired monuments in the world, occupies a privileged place in the heart of Venice because ,in addition to honoring the saint patron , every detail is decorated with sculptures and works of art gained as booty in historic victories of the Republic.

The Life of Saint Mark the Evangelist can be read in the Acts of the Apostles, but his death and the theft of the remains are wrapped in mystery. Disciple of the Apostle Paul, follow Paul and Barnabas (his cousin), in Antioch and also wanted to accompany them to the return.He follow them even in the journey to Cyprus, but when they had to cross a swampy and inhospitable region of the mountains of Taurus, Mark (also called John by Jews), give up and goes back to Jerusalem.Then follow Paul to Rome where he remained in the service of Peter.

During this period Mark wrote down the Gospel narrate by Peter, and become a disciple of him. He was invited by Peter to evangelize the northern part of Italy. Arrived to Aquileia, the capital the Venetia et Histria region, he met here a citizen named Ermagora and converting him to Christianity, consecrating him bishop of the city. Thus start the evangelization of the whole area.

Direct to Alexandria in order to convert the heathen of the Egypt, on a dark stormy night, the ship was boarded to seek shelter in one of the few fishermen’s huts on the island “called Rialto” . After a frugal dinner with the fishermen ,the saint ,leaned down, and fell asleep. In his dream an angel appeared in the form of a winged lion, who addressed him thus: “On this island, Mark,in a wonderful day, a great city will rise and in this city your ultimate rest will find peace .“Pax tibi, Marce, Evangelista meus.Hic requiescet corpus tuum. “(Peace to you, Mark, my evangelist. Here your body will rest)”. Mark woke up in the morning and told his dream to the fishermen, before setting sail for the Egypt ,where he died.

The relics were kept in the church erected at Canopus, (the second greek port in Egypt before Alexandria). They were transferred in Venice in the year 828 by two legendary Venetian merchants: Buono from Malamocco and Rustico from Torcello. The route from Alexandria was full of ups and downs, from the need to hide the remains of the saint under a load of vegetables and pork, “because Muslims would not have dared to inspect a similar load”.

Before arriving in Venice at the Calabrian cites ,at Cropani area, the boat arrived in the middle of a storm.The relics were saved thanks to the intervention of the Cropane’s sailors. For this reason, a piece of the remains of the saint, the patella ,is in the church of Santa Lucia in Cropani, as a symbol of gratitude for the help.

The saint’s relics are now preserved on the altar of the basilica of Saint Mark in Venice . The prestige given by the remains of St. Mark in Venice made possible the greatly increase of Venice’s power and independence

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April 25, the feast of liberation, the feast of St. Mark and legends

April 25, the feast of liberation, the feast of St. Mark and legends. On April 25, we celebrate the Feast of the liberation of Italy from the occupation by the German army and the fascist government (1945).Men and women of all ages are dead then to grant us the democratic rights of which we enjoy today. Every year in various Italian cities are organized deposition of laurel wreaths at the monument to the fallen, marches and demonstrations to celebrate ,and remember the liberation.

April 25 on a warm spring weather ,in Venice, are organized , from flag-raising ceremony at the “Path of Remembrance”, from the “bòcolo” of love until the military parade in Piazza San Marco, concerts, puppet shows, children’s playground laboratories, trash art, pizzas, lunches and dinners, beers and excellent selection of wines.
About 1200 Venetian participate in the construction of a giant human rose that will decorate St. Marco square.The participants will arrive wearing clothes of red color (which will create the flower), green (stem and leaves.) From the top of the bell tower ,the images taken , will make a highly dramatic effect.

According to one legend, the tradition of the rose “bocolo” evokes an unexpected love between two young people from two enemy families.
A rose , who was born near the tomb of St. Mark, would be donated to a sailor of Giudecca island ,by the name Basil as a reward for his cooperation in stealing the remains of the saint from Alexandria,Egypt. Planted in the garden of his house, the rose became the boundary of the property divided among his sons, after the death of Basil .The time and the nature of human being ,divided into two opposite branches of the Basil family .
Following the breakdown of harmony between the two branches, the plant stopped flowering.
Many years later (an April 25) a love at the first sight was born between a girl from one of the two branches and a young man from the other branch of the family. The two young people fell in love looking through the rose ground who separated the two gardens.The rose miraculously began to flourish again and the guy take a bushing and gave it to the girl.

In memory of this love, which would restore peace between the two families, the Venetians still offering the red rose bloom “bocoli”to their beloved: girlfriends, wives and mothers.

Due to this tradition ,the feast of St. Mark is also called the Feast of the Blooming Rose (from rosebud)

At the celebration are associated with this some popular legends.
The February 1340, Venice was hit by a terrible storm. The sky remained covered with
clouds, dark as night even though it was the dawn of the day.The intensity of the storm was so strong that threatened seriously the city. To the three at the afternoon the storm suddenly ceased and the waters returned calm .
From this curious meteorological event was born the legend called the fisherman’s ring.

The final episode is depicted in a painting of the sixteenth-century painter Paris Borden, secure in the galleries of the Academy.

(Nobody knows if this story is linked to the Pope’s ring,that it is called “ring of the fisherman,” too,because St. Peter was a fisherman and Jesus made him become a fisher of men.)

The story begins on the “Deck of straw” (or below), ahead of the Bridge of Sighs, where the corpses of the drowning people were displayed, to be recognized by the familiars or friends. An humble fisherman, shelter from the storm under the bridge, suddenly saw a man on the bank of the canal leading to the bridge.With a calm tone, but authoritative ordered him to take him to the island of St. George, in front of Piazza San Marco. Spite of the rain and bad weather fisherman accept it, (it was good practice to obey the orders of noblemen if you did not want to go into trouble ). Once they reached on the other side on board ,get, a tall sword-wielding warrior .He turned to the fisherman with the quiet but firm tone ordering him to go to the Lido to the shore of the church of St.Nicholas. The fisherman look at both of them and think, at least i’m not too tired, and if i oar a bit will pass the cold. He could not say no even if he want to say that.
When they reached their destination, a third man, with a religious appearance of a bishop dressed in ceremonial robes, climb aboard, and gave an authoritative command to go to offshore.

But just after they veered towards the sea, a short distance from the entrance of the harbor, a terrifying vision appear.

A large ship with black sails, full of demons, was preparing for the assault on the city.The three passengers stared at the horrible scene and made the sign of the cross for three times. Immediately after they saw the cursed ship sink between the terrible screams, while the wind and the rain ceased and the sea calmed.The three passengers ordered the fisherman to come back and let every one of them where they had boarded.

At the “Bridge of the straw”, the last passenger give a final order of the scared fisherman : Now go to your prince and you tell truthfully what you saw today. At his doubt that someone will believe him the gentleman handed him a ring and said: Give it to your doge, and ahead of him and his court will say that we have liberated the city from the flood,which was the work of Devil .The person we met at St. Nicholas was right Nicholas the saint, like the one that had boarded to St. George was George the saint, and that I ,who give you this ring ,i am St. Mark the Evangelist, the master of your city.
So saying, he blessed him and he goes. The fisherman went to the Doge’s Palace. No one stopped him when he went in the right direction boardroom, even if he had never been in those place.No one stopped him when he began to speak ahead of the Doge, and the senators, telling his incredible story.
When the fisherman open his hand to confirm what he said, everyone saw the ring that all knew ,and that for centuries sought, the ring belongs at San Marco.
The ring is still preserved in the treasury of the Basilica of San Marco.
As a reward granted to the fisherman, the Doge gave him and his family the exclusive privilege to extract and sell to his advantage the sand of the beach of Saint Erasmus island where he lived. From the family of fisherman originated the middle ages “sand sellers” of the Grade city.

from Encyclopedia of Fairy Tale.

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The House of Three Eyes

The House of Three Eyes,at Giudecca,Venice, is a building of the twentieth century, a splendid testimony of the Venetian architecture, the result of different architectural trends, from traditional Venetian warehouse to the avant-garde trend of the twentieth century.The House of Three Eyes
was designed and built by the Italian artist Mario De Maria,(Marius Pictor, Bologna, 1852 – Venice, 1924),which between 1912 and 1924 made here his new Venetian home. (Here’s a wonderful Venetian moonlight painting by de Maria that hangs in the Musée d’Orsay.)

The building has three floors, but stressed the importance of the main floor, with three huge (oci, Venetian for the eyes), large lancet windows overlooking the Giudecca Canal and the basin of San Marco.All the palace look like the little replica of the Doge’s Palace that stares right in front of it.
On the second floor,on the central part,must be noted the presence of a double lancet window ,framed by neo-Gothic decorations.The House of Three Eyes, was declared in 2007 by the Regional Directorate for Cultural Heritage and Landscape of the Veneto: “well of historical and artistic interest.”
Between the 1970 and 1980, the The House of Three Eyes, becomes a real house of culture, a place of artistic production and the “upper room” of meetings and discussions, study for artists participating at the Biennale and hospitable space for intellectuals passing through Venice.
The House of Three Eyes is linked to many famous Italian and international, people. Here lived many characters related to the art world, from Victor Grubicy to Hundertwasser, from the daughter of Peggy Guggenheim to Sciltian,from Morandi to Fontana and Dario Fo or the architect Renzo Piano.
In 1970 Enrico Maria Salerno takes here some scenes from the movie “The Anonymous Venetian”.
After an accurate restoration (2000-2012), the House of Three Eyes has become an exhibition space , with particular attention to photography,open to the public. Here will be hosted the major international exhibitions.
On the interior of the House of Three Eyes are still preserved the original furnishings and many photographic materials and art-related events from the former owner,the artist Mario De Maria.

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Venetian Doge Marin Faliero

Venice , Cannaregio .

The porch Falier recalls the figure of the doge Marin Faliero (that at age 60 he became doge of Venice 11 Sept. 1354 ) , and that 17 april was beheaded in 1355 for having conspired against the Republic.

On the main hall of the Palazzo Ducale,in the Grand Council (Sala del Maggior Consiglio) ,is a frieze with portraits ( imaginary , because those previous to 1577 were destroyed in a fire) ,of the first seventy-six Doges of the Venetian history (the others are in the room of the ballot “dello Scrutinio” ) .

On each cartouche that each doge keep in his hand are painted the most important events of his “Dogato” . The Doge Marin Faliero , who attempted a coup in 1355 ,is represented by a black cloth with the writing: «Hic est locus Marini Faletri, decapitati pro criminibus» condemned to be beheaded in life .Condemned to ” damnatio memoriae ” , meaning the total cancellation of his name and his image as a traitor to the Republic .
The history of the Republic of Venice reminds us the facts.

For those times Venice was one day in glory , and the next day was devasted because of the rebellions of the conquered peoples ,and the international politics.

In 1289 the Doge Pietro Gradenigo, instituted a series of new regulations, called «Serrata del Maggior Consiglio». Venice was transformed into an oligarchy, were could only access the members of the leading families of patricians or nobles, like counselor, which lasted throughout his life. The Doge was thus chosen among the very important families of the city. The law guaranteed the political and economic strengthening of the few chosen.and the intention was to avoid the transformation of the Republic into a dictatorship or a principality.

In this context, a young son of a wealthy and powerful family, the Faliero, (His parents were James Faliero and Thomasine Contarini); Marin Faliero, skilled in politics and “knew how to drive in diplomacy with great capacity”.

Born around 1285, Marin had grown up under the teachings of his uncle, an intriguing and clever businessman, who belonged to one of the most illustrious patrician families of Venice , Faliero was the fact that in Venice was called “member of an ancient House of patricians”,and probably, had come into the lagoon from the town of Fano,from the Province of Pesaro and Urbino , the region of Italy called Marche.
The future doge Marin Faliero began to make part of the the Great Council in 1303 and quickly demonstrate the ability to drive the political machinations ,often using violent solutions.After Avignon was sent in Istria to quell the riots made by King Louis of Hungary, then in Genoa to deal with the Doge Giovanni Valente, then to administer the powerful city of Padua, a fief of the Republic and then at Constantinople, appointed to treat with the Emperor John Palaeologus, from which tore an alliance against Genoa shelling out twenty thousand gold ducats . It was always consumed by the constant intrigue and greed for wealth, “he had no peace either in body or spirit ” though already appeared the problems of the age.

Appreciated for his political intelligence and experience , on the death of his predecessor,Andrea Dandolo, September 11, 1354 he was elected Doge of Venice. He had turned sixty years old.

Shortly after ,the Doge Marin Faliero found himself the responsibilities of his new role.Between 1350-1355 Venice passed thru a delicate moment. Not only the war with Genoa, but the previous war with the Veronese and the terrible plague had created serious financial difficulties,with a sharp increase in the number of poor people. Pope Innocent VI wanted a meeting peacemaker among nations, the people were suffocated by a thousand fees, the Turks were threatening businesses,the Dalmatian towns were in turmoil. But what worried him most were the persistent palace intrigues, the hatred between the noble families.
Highly ambitious man, probably not quite satisfied with the function of Doge ,Marin Faliero conspired to ensure the domination of his family who, after him, could continue the supremacy with his grandson Fantino.

Became convinced of the need for such a coup ,even some people said that the final push to take action has been brought about by personal motivations. A Thursday evening on the feast of the ducal palace (1355 fat Thursday), the future Doge Michele Steno would be addressed offensive remarks to the younger wife of Marin Falier. Sent away from the party he and some young people; Peter Bollani, Rizzardo Marioni, Moretto Zorzi, Micaletto by Molin and Maffeo Morosini, revenge themselves by writing on walls offends against the doge’s wife “Dogaressa” and the nephew of the Doge.
Of these insults, two in particular are remembered by the historics:“Marin Falier, da la bea muger, altri la gode lu la mantien” (Marin Faliero with beautiful wife, others enjoy her and he respect her as wife) and “Beco Marin Falier della bela moger, la mogie del doxe Falier, se fa foter par so piaser” (Horned Marin Faliero .The beautiful wife of the Doge Falier is getting f..ked for her own pleasure).

Steno (the future Doge) was condemned to ten days in jail, Bollani and Marioni a week).

For these and other reasons, the Doge convinced the Admiral of the Arsenal,Bertuccio Isarello, owner of many ships, to be the leader of the revolt that was preparing .He secretly organized the heads-company that had to control and guide the popular uprising, the father of the admiral, Filippo Calendario, stonemasons, and owner of barges, and a rich furrier called Vendrame.

The design is simple.To break into the Piazza San Marco ,occupy the Doge’s Palace and kill all the members of the various Councils. Then turn to the houses and eliminate the rest of the noblemen . Carried out the massacre , Marin Falier would be designated as the ” the Lord of Venice.”
But the spies, that weren’t lacking in Venice , informed the government of the Republic ,

( others say that Vendrame , perhaps thinking that the games are made , confides to a friend, Nicholas, nobleman from Lion , to wich anticipates that during the night will be a ” big deal ” , a riot act to overthrow the Republican government . Or that he was betrayed by two conspirators Beltrame Bergamasco – a furrier and Marco Negro who wanted to
avoid outgoing in the day fixed for the uprising. Beltrame was awarded 1000 ducats , but the sum seems him insufficient , and start to complain. He was exiled for ten years, and reached in Hungary, was killed by the conspirators who had escaped from Venice ).
On the evening of April 15, 1355, when the revolt had to start , the Doge was arrested, as well as the conspirators..The next day ,after summary trials they were sentenced to death .Hundreds of rioters. Throughout Venice there wasn’t a sufficient number of Executioner for such a job: it took eight days to make judgments.
Bertuccio and Philip Isarello Calendar are hanged to the red columns of the loggia of the Palazzo Ducale.

On Friday, April 17, was convict the Doge Marin Falier, not present. “He is guilty of high treason and sentenced by a unanimous vote to be beheaded. Considered a traitor to the Republic”.Marin Faliero was beheaded on the first landing of the main staircase of the Palazzo Ducale ( at the other end of the Scala dei Giganti), where the Doges made usually the oath. His body will be exhibited for one day in the hall of the judiciary Piovego (combination of 4 different courts), “laid on a mat and with the head to the toe.”

The corpse will be put first in the church of S. Giovanni e Paolo, http://dipoco.altervista.org/saints-john-and-paul-venice/ then in a box of stone placed inside the Chapel of Our Lady of Peace “Cappella della Madonna de la Pace “(hereinafter, emptied and removed (1812), and used as a water reservoir in the pharmacy of the Civil Hospital).

By decision of the Council of Ten, the bell used to warn the people ,gathered in the square ,that the judgment against the doge Marin Faliero was performed, never to be played and to be placed, without clapper, in the church of San Marco.
In 1366 the Council of Ten decreed to hide the image of the Doge ,in the hall of the Great Council, with a blue mantle with epitafo “Hic fuit locus ser Marine Faletro beheaded pro proditionis crime ” “This was the place of Marin Falier beheaded for treason. ” After the fire in 1577 that destroyed the Ducal Palace, between the new painted portraits of the Doges (by Jacopo and Domenico Tintoretto), instead of Marin Falier portrait was placed a black cloth with a written slightly differently: «Hic est locus Marini Faletri, decapitati pro criminibus» “here is the place of MarinI Faletri beheaded for crime”.

Although the Republic has tried in every way to erase the memory , Marin Faliero has become without doubt one of the most famous Doges of the world .

The Council of Ten declared public holiday the day of St. Isidore (April 16 ), in which Marin Falier was sentenced to death. All future Doge personally attended every year at the public ceremony in Piazza San Marco, who remembered the tragic event , as they have already celebrated San Vio ( St. Vitus, June 15th) , the day on which the conspiracy Querini – Tiepolo had been annihilated.( ironically Marin Fliero send to death many of the conspirators ) .
Some say that he was cursed : The news of the appointment of the Doge Marin Faliero reached him while he was in Avignon,Ambassador of the Republic from Pope Innocent VI. On October 5, he arrived at Fusina , where he boarded the Bucentaur to arrive at San Marco; But here , as the historical Sanudo told, “was a bad omen ,” the fact that the ship , due to fog , stopped right in the middle of the pier of the square , so that the Doge’s procession had been passed between the two columns of Mark and Todaro, http://goitaly.about.com/od/thingstoseeanddo/a/venice-Saint-Marks-Square.htm where they usually carried out death sentences .

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Archivio tag: venice

Venice -Carmagnola’s head

The House of the Seven Chimneys

Venice,strange weather events.

The two columns of St. Mark’s Square

Saint Theodore- Venice

The Council of Ten in Venice,Fornaretto’s story

The festival of San Marco,and the legends

April 25, the feast of liberation, the feast of St. Mark and legends

The House of Three Eyes

“THE WAY OF ENTHUSIASTS” EXHIBITION AT LA CASA DEI TRE OCI, VENICE http://purple.fr/diary/tag/the+house+with+three+eyes/

Venetian Doge Marin Faliero