From the historian's notes

Venice, 1500

Italy · Europe · November 1500 · autumn

What it was high

a maritime republic of over 100,000 people, one of Europe's richest citieson the lagoon islands from the 5th century

That year

• Jacopo de' Barbari's bird's-eye view of the city is printed on six woodblocks, the largest print anyone has made 1500 higha city seen whole for the first time
• Aldus Manutius is printing small, cheap editions of the Greek and Latin classics these years highbooks that fit a pocket
• News from Lisbon: the Portuguese have reached India by sea, and pepper may stop coming through Venice since 1499 highthe spice trade turning away

Who held it high

the Republic of VeniceDoge Agostino Barbarigoa war with the Ottomans is going badly: the fleet was beaten at Zonchio last year, and the ports of Modon and Coron fell in August

Its name high

Venezia; Venexia in VenetianWritten in Latin

The date, there high

1500the Venetian year begins on 1 March (more veneto)The bells of San Marco, and the new clock tower on the Piazza, finished in 1499, where two bronze figures strike the hours.

Money medium

the Venetian gold ducatsilver soldi and small piccolibread for a few soldi

Weather medium

November: damp and grey, fog on the lagoon, the first high tides

Things

Objectsgold ducats; printed books; Murano glass; maps and portolan chartsFoodpolenta; fish from the lagoon; spiced dishes from the eastern trade; wineClothsilk and velvet; wool from the mainlandGetting aboutgondolas and barges; on foot over bridgesIn the airthe lagoon at low tide; pitch from the shipyards; spice warehouses

What she'd hear

Venetian in the streets; German at the Fondaco; Greek and Turkish among traders.

Where she could stand

• the Rialto bridge — the wooden drawbridge over the Grand Canal, the stone one still a century away
• the Fondaco dei Tedeschi — the German merchants' warehouse and lodging on the Grand Canal
• the Arsenal — the state shipyard building galleys
• a printing shop — presses, type cases and stacked sheets

Researched for this card · confidence high