TORCELLO

Description

Essentials about Torcello in brief

Those who have a little more time for their visit to Venice should make a small detour to the island of Torcello. Torcello is located in the so-called “laguna morta”, the northern part of the Venetian Lagoon, where the tides are no longer noticeable. The island, which covers about 44 hectares, is hardly inhabited today, but is still a tourist attraction. The reason for this is the Cathedral of Santa Maria Assunta, the oldest surviving church in the Venice region, and the excellent gastronomy on Torcello.

The history of Torcello

The great time of Torcello was the period from the 8th to the 10th century. At that time it is estimated that the island had up to 20,000 inhabitants and was even larger and richer than Venice itself. At that time, the island was home to a large number of monasteries, churches and chapels. After the 12th century, this period of prosperity ended and Torcello sank to insignificance. The lagoon around Torcello became marshy and malaria epidemics threatened. The inhabitants left the island for Venice or Murano, taking with them everything that could be used as building material, so that the town was almost completely demolished.

The sights of Torcello

Of the once magnificent buildings on Torcello, little remains. Of the original twelve parishes and sixteen convents of the diocese, which also included other islands to the north of the lagoon, only the Cathedral of Santa Maria Assunta, which dates back to 639, with its rich Byzantine mosaics, and the 11th century Church of Santa Fosca remain. In addition, there are two 14th century palazzi that house a small museum dedicated to the history of the lagoon and the island of Torcello.