Story Highlights
- Historical event
- 25 March 421
- The Rialto area is considered the oldest in Venice. The name comes from "Rivo Alto" (Italian: high coast).
According to legend, Venice was founded on on this day in 421, exactly at noon. The founding was characterized by the sanctification of the first church, that of St. James (San Giacomo) at the Rialto.
Thus, the Rialto area is considered the oldest in Venice. The name comes from “Rivo Alto” (Italian: high coast).
It is assumed that Venice was founded by the residents of cities on the mainland (Padua, Aquileia, Treviso), who sought to use the local sand dunes to protect themselves from the hordes of Germans and Huns who penetrated into northern Italy and plundered the neighboring towns.
Venice’s position in the middle of lagoon protected its inhabitants from any assault from the mainland, because the barbarians were not skilled in handling the ships with which they could reach Venice.
