1602 years ago, Venice was born

Tradition holds that the Serenissima was established on March 25, 421. In truth, the emergence of the lagoon city was likely a lengthy and intermittent process that cannot be traced to an exact date. Nonetheless, legend asserts that 1602 years ago today, on the Feast of the Annunciation, the foundation stone of the Church of San Giacomo di Rialto, also referred to as San Giacométo, was placed. The construction of the church was the result of a pledge made by a carpenter named Candioto.