Expansive bells, at 16pm today in Venice, to commemorate a really important birthday. Venice turns 1600, worn overall very well and above all with great beauty. The one that made it unique in the world. From one bank of the Grand Canal to the other, from Castello to San Marco, from San Polo to Santa Croce, Canareggio and Dorsoduro, the bells of the six districts of the historic city (but also those of the islands and the city of land) will call each other , at the invitation of the Patriarchate of the city which has decided to pay homage to Venice and, why not, also its inhabitants.
A first wish came in the morning with the raising of the flag in the Piazza San Marco. On the flagpoles i three banners of Venice, Italy, Europe, accompanied by the national anthem and the one, beautiful and increasingly rare to hear, of San Marco. Then, in the Basilica, the solemn Mass celebrated by Patriarch Francesco Moraglia, present - in addition to mayor Luigi Brugnaro - only the highest city authorities. For the Venetians, however, a live television broadcast allowed participation. From afar, just as the pandemic has been imposing for more than a year now.
Sixteen centuries of Venice between myth and legend
The origins of Venice are linked to a very distant and uncertain history. Between myth and legend, the birth of the lagoon city traditionally dates back to 25 March of the 421 after Christ because he wrote, in the XNUMXth century, the Chronicon Altinate, a collection of documents and legends on the birth of the lagoon city and on the origins of the Venetians. And because Marin Sanudo talks about it centuries later (perhaps referring also to this document) in his diaries. “Solum remained standing the church of San Giacomo di Rialto - writes - which was the first church built in Venetia of 421 on 25 March, as in our chronic lessons ".
At the heart of this hypothesis is the church of San Giacomo di Rialto (San Giacometo, as the Venetians call it), the oldest in Venice. The laying of the first stone, or perhaps its consecration, would be traced back to that March 25, 421. In reality, recent studies have shown that San Giacometo dates back to the mid-twelfth century. And in any case we are talking about an era of great migrations in which, to the settlements of the first inhabitants in the islets of the lagoon, those of the Venetians who fled from the mainland due to the assaults of the barbarians were gradually added.
A year of celebrations in Italy and around the world
To remember and celebrate the sixteen centuries of history of the Serenissima, the Committee for the celebrations of 1600 years (wanted by the Municipality and took office last December) has launched an international call. 235 proposals submitted by 135 subjects arrived. Venice is a heritage of Italy and the world, events can be held locally, nationally and internationally.
The common thread that will bind them to Venice will have to be a historical and cultural link with the city, in its two dimensions of water and land. Because Venice has always been a city open to meeting, cultural exchange, contact and relationships between different peoples. Despite the pandemic, the program includes a year of celebrations.
Venice between images and music: the homage of Rai 2
IThe first national appointment will already be today with a broadcast, at 18.30, which will be broadcast by Rai 2. Before the greetings from president Sergio Mattarella, then the story of Venice between images and music, the latter performed by the orchestra and choir of the Theater The Phoenix. Arias written specifically for Venice and its theater are on the program. The Otello which in the final of the third act pays homage to the city, the Traviata, premiered at the Fenice as the Ernani, the Attila composed just for the Teatro La Fenice in 1846 ... Between images and music the voice of the famous actor Alessio Boni which will act as a link between the stories of the past and those of the present, in view of a difficult future but which for Venice represents an important challenge to be won, as it has always been in its history.
"Thinking - as the Patriarch Francesco Moraglia pointed out - with courage, with prudence, with moderation, but also in a big way, the challenges of the future. All cities are beautiful, Venice is unique ".
