Many people who read this blog are seasoned visitors to Venice. You know a lot about her history, her treasures and her environment. And, above all you know that no matter how much we learn there's always more to know. On this short list, there may be something you did not yet know about Venice...
Venice is, largely, for the birds!
The historical significance of Murano glass beads:
From the 16th to the 20th centuries Murano glass beads were traded as currency between the merchants of the Venetian republic and, particularly, the people's of West Africa who placed a much higher value on decorative objects than they did on European currency. So highly valued were these beads that they were used to pay for the purchase of human beings, earning them the ominous name "slave beads".
Venice is rice country.
The cultural, social and political impact of the Republic of Venice goes well beyond the visual arts.
Venice is (still) bigger than the historic center.
Why, one could even go hiking in the morning, have a risotto for lunch, do a little shopping for Murano glass beads and pop into a document archive in the afternoon before gliding off on a sunset bird-watching cruise of the lagoon. Now that sounds like an amazing day in Venice!