The Jewel of the Adriatic is a gorgeous wonder, filled with masks, bridges, alleyways, and mystery. But there are also ghosts in Venice, often only seen in the brief half-light when daytime gives way to the night. I went to Venice back in August 2017, and paid a visit to the Libreria Acqua Alta. I […]
venice folk tales
Did the Devil stop Vivaldi creating his greatest masterpiece?
Few names are as synonymous with the great city of Venice as that of Antonio Vivaldi. The composer, best known for The Four Seasons, lived here from his birth in 1678 until his death in 1741. But was the composer touched by infernal hands? Our investigation today leads us into the shadowy realm of the […]
The Fisherman, the Mermaid, and the Brick Heart of Venice
If you know where to look in Venice, you’ll find a special brick heart. But what does it have to do with a fisherman and a mermaid? Before we get to the brick heart, let’s take a look at the legend. A Fisherman gets more than he bargained for A young fisherman named Orio used […]
The Venetian Legend of the Beggar and the Levantine
If you head away from the hustle and bustle of the Piazza San Marco (St Mark’s Square), you’ll head into the stranger, more magical part of Venice. It’s in the tangle of narrow streets and courts that you enter the realm of Venetian legend. One such legend characterises the Campo Santi Giovanni e Paolo in […]
