Page 47 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Venice & The Veneto

the hist or y of venice and the vene t o  45

Diplomacy Where to See
Strategically placed
between the powers of Early Venice
Rome and Byzantium, The cathedral at Torcello (pp154–
Venice was continually 5) is the oldest surviving building
exerting her powers of in Venice, and the Basilica San
diplomacy. Here, Doge Marco (pp82–7) has many period
Ziani receives Holy treasures. Early Venetian coins are
Roman Emperor in the Correr Museum (p81). The
Frederick I, whom he original statue of St Theodore is
reconciled with Pope in the Doge’s Palace courtyard.
Alexander III in 1177.

Looting the remains of
St Mark from Alexandria
was seen as an act of
anti-Moslem
piety.

Torcello cathedral’s jewel-like
mosaics (11th century) are
masterpieces of Byzantine art,
probably the work of craftsmen
from Constantinople.

The doge and his
entourage are
wearing Byzantine-
style caps and robes.

St Theodore
The Byzantine emperor The Pala d’Oro, St Mark’s
nominated Theodore as the 10th-century altarpiece, shows
patron saint of Venice. Venice merchants bringing St Mark’s
chose St Mark instead, an act of plundered relics to Venice.
defiance against Byzantine rule.

814 First Venetian coins minted; work 1171 Six districts (sestieri) of Venice established 1173 First Rialto Bridge built
begins on first Doge’s Palace
1120 Verona’s 1177 Emperor Frederick I
832 First Basilica San San Zeno Barbarossa agrees to peace
Marco completed 1095 First Crusade; Venice church begun terms with Pope Alexander III
provides ships and supplies
800 900 1000 1100 1200
1128 First street lighting in Venice
888 King Berengar I of Italy 1202 Venice diverts
chooses Verona as his seat 1000 Doge Pietro Orseolo rids the the Fourth Crusade
Adriatic of pirates, commemorated to its own ends,
828 Venetian merchants steal body by the first Marriage of Venice Lighting a the conquest
of St Mark from Alexandria to the Sea ceremony street lamp of Byzantium

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