Ackroyd, P. Venice. The City of Saint Mark (Translated by Kulagina-Yartseva, V. S.)

Abstract: The status and nature of Venice was completely changed when the hallows of St. Mark appeared there back in 828. St. Mark became the synonym of Venice and St. Mark’s hallows turned Venice into an independent city. St. Mark’s winged lion symbolizes Venice magnificence. From the very beginning Venice has been the shelter for outsiders and travelers. It has been an open city which readily assimilates everyone who enters it. German habitation was created for German traders, Armenian had their districts, too. A colony of Turkish merchants lived there and Jewish people also started to live in the city since XII. The first ghetto was created in 1516. Doves from St. Mark’s Square are the most cherished and spoiled birds in the world for they are protected by the old city tradition.

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