Published by | 03 February 2025 | 4 minutes to read
Venice hides many curiosities that (perhaps) you don't know!
Lots of curiosities, all to be discovered!
Recognised as one of Italy's most fascinating and romantic cities, Venice breaks many records for beauty and charisma. To tell you about this city that is as beautiful as it is historically important, we decided to share a few curiosities that you might not know.
1. VENICE WAS CALLED LA SERENISSIMA
The ancient peoples of the area worshipped the goddess Reitia, who was also known as Serenissima, hence the nickname.
2. MASKS IN THE PAST
The Venetian masks we know today were not used in the past for decorative purposes as, for instance, during carnival. In fact, those who wore them wanted to conceal their identity during disreputable activities.
3. VENICE WAS THE FIRST CITY TO DRINK COFFEE
The physician Prospero Alpini discovered the drink and its benefits in Egypt at the end of the 16th century. A century later he opened the first coffee shop in Venice.
4. 400 GONDOLAS NAVIGATE THE CANALS
In Venice's past, there was a great deal of traffic: there were even more than 10,000 gondolas in the canals that were used as means of transport for people but also objects and goods when necessary. Nowadays, however, Venetians and tourists use motorboats. Of course, gondolas are also very popular (although we can count 'only' 400 of them), especially when one wants to go back in time and admire the city as it once was.
5. THE SPRITZ
Our much-loved spritz, which has become an institution in our country, originated in Venice in the 1500s. The workers in the arsenal used to refresh themselves with a simple snack: a galette and a glass of wine diluted with water. This was the origin of the spritz col Select (from the Austrians 'zu spritzen' which really meant sparkling water with wine). The origin of the Spritz Aperol, on the other hand, developed in Padua.
6. THE RIALTO MARKET DATES BACK A THOUSAND YEARS
Located on the Rialto Bridge, the Market of the same name is considered one of the oldest in the world. Founded in 1097, it already contained the magic of spices, food, clothing, animals and jewellery from the West and even the East during the years of the Venetian Republic.
7. THE ORIGIN OF THE HORSES OF SAN MARCO
Spoiler: the Horses of St. Mark did not originate in Venice. According to historical rumours, they were acquired by the city in the mid-1300s (shortly after the end of the Fourth Crusade) from Constantinople. Indeed, some theories claim that they may have even older origins, namely Ancient Egypt or Ancient Rome. Moreover, in the 1980s the city of Venice, fond of horses, chose to display copies outside to safeguard the originals.
8. THE CARNIVAL OF VENICE
The Carnival of Venice, just like today, was a much-awaited event for the citizens, especially because the masks allowed Venetians some privacy but also a moment of rest, since work was forbidden during the carnival.
9. THE HIGH-WATER LIBRARY
The Acqua Alta bookshop is known the world over for its very special furnishings. The owner of this now Venetian tourist attraction, in order to protect the books from the high tide, has over the years collected floating objects such as tanks, boats, oars and gondolas to turn them into magnificent shelves. With the old encyclopaedias yellowed by time or ruined by the tides, a staircase was created that attracts many tourists every day, who, once inside, are accompanied on their visit by several cats, who have chosen the Libreria Acqua Alta as their home.
10. 24-HOUR CLOCKS
In St Mark's Square you can find the Clock Tower, one of the clocks still set with 24 hours. In the past, in fact, and we are talking about the end of the 14th century, sundials were replaced by clocks that chimed all 24 hours. Realising that counting all the chimes was complicated, the numbers of the chimes were reduced and thus also the dial. In Venice, however, we can still find clocks with the 'old' setting.
