Different kinds of bread were produced in Venice at the time of la Serenissima

In Venice starting from the Middle Ages two types of bakers were distinguished: the “pistori”, who kneaded the bread and the “fornai”, who cooked and sold bread.

Both professions were associated with the same guild of arts and crafts and were protected by the competent magistracy.

The stele

Not far away from Campo Santi Apostoli there is a stele that reports which penalties and punishments were imposed on those who did not respect the rules. The most frequent ones were related to baking bread illegally and not in a suitable place, as well as selling foreign bread.

Bread was a staple food in the everyday diet. Many kinds were prepared such as: the “buffetto” with the white bread of fine flour, especially in loaves and served during feasts and banquets; the gray bread called “ tritello” was of fine flour mixed with fine semolina or made with coarse semolina for common people;

Other cereals or vegetables, butter or eggs could be used for breads of different quality.

The baicoli

The pan biscotto was special bread of long conservation and very complicated preparation, intended for soldiers and sailors, to be cooked alone in special ovens chosen by the Serenissima.

Like all other types of bread, the rules were very strict and its ingredients, methods and cooking times were controlled. Depending on how long it should be preserved, it could be cooked two or four times, it was also aged for months, and then dry again in the oven.

Andrea Vicentino’s painting in Sala dello Scrutinio (1587)

Bread was used as a ploy to win a battle in the 9th century against the king of Italy, Pippin, son of Charlemagne. The Venetian soldiers filled their baskets of bread to be catapulted into the enemy camp to make believe that they could withstand their attacks during the siege and that they still had enough food to continue the battle. In this way the Venetians won and Pippin returned to France.

“The Vine Angle”: the Drunkenness of Noah

At a first glance the facades of the Doge's Palace in Piazza San Marco seem very simple. In truth, looking at them carefully, you can see sculptures in all its corners that recall episodes from the Bible.

Noah next to a vine tree, medieval sculpture, mid 14th-century

One of these on the corner of the Doge’s Palace towards the canal represents Noah next to a vine tree. John Ruskin called this corner of the Palace: “the Vine Angle” because of Noah’s drunkenness.

The episode recalls the Old Testament. Noah drank a lot of wine and went to sleep naked. One of his sons, Ham, saw him while he was sleeping and wanted to make shame of him. He told his brothers, Shem and Japhet, what happened. Walking backwards and without looking at their naked father they took a blanket and covered him. When Noah awoke and understood what happened, he scolded his son.

Noah is in the foreground, while his sons can be seen behind him. One of them is holding a cloth.

There are different interpretations of the vine tree.

The artist, probably Filippo Calendario, used a biblical episode to affirm a moral concept linked to the wise behavior of Noah’s sons, while Noah represents the foreshadowing of Christ’s birth and redemption.

As the sculptures are located on the facade of the Doge’s Palace, they are connected to a cycle that follows the same theme, that of divine justice.

By using religious and political self-imagery the Venetian government aimed at justice and harmony, at the moral rectitude and role of the government in upholding the law.

Ponte di Rialto, the most famous bridge in Venice

The Rialto bridge is still the most famous bridge in Venice and one of the four that spans over the Grand Canal.

Rialto bridge today, built in 1588-1592

In the 16th century the bridge was built for its last time in a very elegant shape.

But how did the Rialto bridge look like in the past ?

There are no traces left of the first bridge but from ancient documents it is assumed that it was a sort of pontoon bridge used to connect the two sides of the Grand Canal.

It was called “Quartarolo” from the name of the coin, a small quarter, in use in Venice from the end of the 12th to the beginning of the 14th century. The bridge was then later replaced with a drawbridge, that let the Venetian

galleys pass through from one end to the other of the Grand Canal.

Detail from Jacopo de Barbari map

Unfortunately the bridge collapsed several times due to fire or to the weight of people who lurked on it during celebrations.

In 1524 the government of Venice decided to reconstruct it in stone.

The bridge was historically documented by a famous painting by Vittore Carpaccio at the Academy Gallery .

Palladio’s project

Many famous architects took part in the competition for its reconstruction such as Palladio, who together with other architects suggested the construction of a 3-arch bridge which was immediately excluded.

The competition was won by a Venetian architect whose name was Ponte, that means bridge. Although he rebuilt it with a single arch, this did not however allow the passage of the galleys under it due to the height of their tree. This decision caused considerable damage to the Venetian trade in crisis for years.