Into the Lagoon: the Beginnings of Venice

For the world’s most beautiful city, Venice had an inauspicious start. The site was once merely a collection of mudbanks, and the first settlers came as refugees fleeing invading enemies of the Roman Empire. But by the opening of the 14th century, Venice had become the leading maritime power in the Mediterranean and possibly the wealthiest city in Europe. Venice’s holdings on the Italian mainland began to turn a profit and in turn, public patronage of the arts was on the rise. The Republic’s glory was reflected in the city’s architecture: the Doge’s Palace was more sumptuous than a royal dwelling, the Church of San Marco glowed with the gold of its mosaics, and wherever you looked, the winged lion, symbol of the patron saint San Marco the evangelist, expressed the strength and courage of the Republic.Join art historian Elaine Ruffolo as she explores the beginnings of the most serene republic (la Serenissima).