What Every Visitor Should Know About Venice

1. Who is the patron saint of Venice?

Saint Theodore

Saint Mark

Saint Venezio

St. Theodore was one of the early patron saints of the city, but he was replaced by St. Mark in 828 when Venetian merchants in Egypt "acquired" his remains and brought them back to Venice, to be interred in the new church of San Marco. (And shame on you if you answered St. Venezio -- there is no such person!)

Explanation

St. Theodore was one of the early patron saints of the city, but he was replaced by St. Mark in 828 when Venetian merchants in Egypt "acquired" his remains and brought them back to Venice, to be interred in the new church of San Marco. (And shame on you if you answered St. Venezio -- there is no such person!)

2. The buildings of Venice are supported by...

...tree trunks sunk into the mud

...stone piles sunk into the mud

...a gigantic serpent that bites its tail

They are not supported -- they float on the water

The first time I saw the city, it sure looked like the buildings were just floating, but in fact the city is supported by wooden piles. The tree were chopped down on the other side of the Adriatic Sea in Croatia and brought to Venice by ship. The wood is now petrified and provides a sturdy foundation for the churches and houses.

Explanation

The first time I saw the city, it sure looked like the buildings were just floating, but in fact the city is supported by wooden piles. The tree were chopped down on the other side of the Adriatic Sea in Croatia and brought to Venice by ship. The wood is now petrified and provides a sturdy foundation for the churches and houses.

3. What is a "stocking company"?

A guild that makes stockings

A social club

A group of men who wear stockings

Everyone in Venice knows that a stocking company is a social club for young noblemen. There are several such clubs--the Immortals, the Royals, the Loyals, etc. And of course lots of men wear stockings, but what is special about a stocking club is the particular pattern and colors that each club wears as part of their uniform.

Explanation

Everyone in Venice knows that a stocking company is a social club for young noblemen. There are several such clubs--the Immortals, the Royals, the Loyals, etc. And of course lots of men wear stockings, but what is special about a stocking club is the particular pattern and colors that each club wears as part of their uniform.

4. The sewers in Venice...

... run under the city

... run through the buildings

There are no sewers in Venice

It's true! All that terrible stuff is just dumped into the canal, and twice a day the tide washes it out to sea. [Ed: And this is still as true today as it was in Elena's time.]

Explanation

It's true! All that terrible stuff is just dumped into the canal, and twice a day the tide washes it out to sea. [Ed: And this is still as true today as it was in Elena's time.]

5. Venice is the capital city of what nation?

The Republic of Venice

The Veneto

The Republic of San Marco

Also known as The Most Serene Republic of Venice. [Ed: The Republic of San Marco was the name of a 19th-century break-away state, and the Veneto is one of the modern "regions" of Italy, though both of them cover much of the same territory as the republic did in Elena's time.]

Explanation

Also known as The Most Serene Republic of Venice. [Ed: The Republic of San Marco was the name of a 19th-century break-away state, and the Veneto is one of the modern "regions" of Italy, though both of them cover much of the same territory as the republic did in Elena's time.]

6. The English traveller Thomas Coryat who visited Venice in 1611 estimated the number of gondolas as:

4,000

7,000

10,000

According to Coryat, there were six thousand private gondolas for the nobility and four thousand more that were rowed by freelance boatmen who charged money to transport passengers from one location to another.

Explanation

According to Coryat, there were six thousand private gondolas for the nobility and four thousand more that were rowed by freelance boatmen who charged money to transport passengers from one location to another.

7. The city of Venice was founded...

... in 50 AD by Saint Mark

... in 154 AD by Roman soldiers as a camp site

... in 421 AD by Roman citizens escaping Attila the Hun and his barbarians

When Saint Peter sent Saint Mark to Christianize Italy, Saint Mark's boat was blown off course by a storm and landed in a marshy area along the coast. Here an angel came to him in a dream and told him his body would eventually be buried on this spot. [Ed: current opinion goes with the Attila theory, though there is not much evidence supporting this either.]

Explanation

When Saint Peter sent Saint Mark to Christianize Italy, Saint Mark's boat was blown off course by a storm and landed in a marshy area along the coast. Here an angel came to him in a dream and told him his body would eventually be buried on this spot. [Ed: current opinion goes with the Attila theory, though there is not much evidence supporting this either.]

8. How many bridges cross the Grand Canal?

1

3

5

It is am amazing fact that, as long as the Grand Canal is, only the Rialto Bridge in the center of the market district links one side with the other. So how do you get from one side to the other? Why, by boat, of course!

Explanation

It is am amazing fact that, as long as the Grand Canal is, only the Rialto Bridge in the center of the market district links one side with the other. So how do you get from one side to the other? Why, by boat, of course!

9. Which one of the following answers lists the Italian cities is in the order of size by population with the the largest city first?

Rome, Venice, Florence

Venice, Naples, Florence

Rome, Naples, Venice

Around 1500 the population of Venice was about 115,000, Naples was around 100,000, the plague cut Florence down to about 60,000, and Rome had only about 50,000 inhabitants.

Explanation

Around 1500 the population of Venice was about 115,000, Naples was around 100,000, the plague cut Florence down to about 60,000, and Rome had only about 50,000 inhabitants.