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One upon a time in Venice an old fisherman lived and worked. This honest and hardworking man had few possessions besides his boat and nets but he was happy with his lot. Every night when he finished his work, he rowed up beneath the large marble bridge near the palace of the Doges, anchored and slept there soundly till morning. He loved his simple life and regarded this sheltering bridge as his ‘marble palace’!
Storms often hit Venice during the winter months but the fisherman was usually safe tucked under the bridge. But one night in February, a terrible storm brewed and raged for three days; Venice was being battered by angry wave torrents and swollen tides! The swirling waters of the canals broke the moorings of the fisherman’s boat and he was swept out into the open. He finally managed to clamber to shore at the steps beside the Riva of San Marco.
He was forced to wait and watch his tied up boat being battered by the high waves. As he watched the storm, a man came down the steps to stand beside him.
One upon a time in Venice an old fisherman lived and worked. This honest and hardworking man had few possessions besides his boat and nets but he was happy with his lot. Every night when he finished his work, he rowed up beneath the large marble bridge near the palace of the Doges, anchored and slept there soundly till morning. He loved his simple life and regarded this sheltering bridge as his ‘marble palace’!
Storms often hit Venice during the winter months but the fisherman was usually safe tucked under the bridge. But one night in February, a terrible storm brewed and raged for three days; Venice was being battered by angry wave torrents and swollen tides! The swirling waters of the canals broke the moorings of the fisherman’s boat and he was swept out into the open. He finally managed to clamber to shore at the steps beside the Riva of San Marco.
He was forced to wait and watch his tied up boat being battered by the high waves. As he watched the storm, a man came down the steps to stand beside him.
The fisherman knew many in Venice but this man was unknown to him. The stranger asked him to row him across to the island of San Giorgio. The old man frowned and pointed out the harsh conditions of the water, warning that his boat could be smashed to pieces in such a battle with the sea! But the stranger pleaded, saying it was a matter of great urgency and that he would reward him greatly for his bravery.
Sighing, the fisherman agreed and he rowed the stranger with great difficulty over to the island. There the stranger got out and returned with a handsome young knight and requested that they be brought to another island to pick up someone else.
After much debating, the old man relented and continued with his wearisome quest. They picked up a bishop before rowing out towards the mouth of the sea.
Sighing, the fisherman agreed and he rowed the stranger with great difficulty over to the island. There the stranger got out and returned with a handsome young knight and requested that they be brought to another island to pick up someone else.
After much debating, the old man relented and continued with his wearisome quest. They picked up a bishop before rowing out towards the mouth of the sea.
There the old fisherman saw an evil sight, a large ship filled with black demons whose shrieks would chill you to the bones! The old man crouched to his knees and prayed in terror but his three passengers stood and made a sign of the cross as the evil ship drew near.
Suddenly the storm ceased and the demon ship and its crew disappeared with a loud crack! Then the stranger asked him to row them back to their pick up locations.
Amazed the fisherman obliged without argument this time and finally when they reached the Riva di San Marco, the stranger told him who he was. He was St. Mark, patron saint of Venice and his two comrades were St. George the Knight and St. Nicholas the bishop. Together they saved Venice from awful peril and he bade the fisherman to tell the Doge in the morning what he had experienced.
‘But how will they ever believe my tale?’ pleaded the old man. St. Mark gave him a ring and told him the Doge would believe his every word on presentation of it.
True enough, this ring had been reported missing from the palace treasuries that morning and the Doge concluded that only St. Mark himself could have taken it.
The old fisherman was rewarded greatly for his bravery and upon his death, a marble carving was made in the very bridge he lay under all his life as a token of his part in helping the saints saved the city of Venice from a ship full of demons! Read about other incredible mythical stories of Italy, including a fascinating collection of the legends of Tuscany!
Suddenly the storm ceased and the demon ship and its crew disappeared with a loud crack! Then the stranger asked him to row them back to their pick up locations.
Amazed the fisherman obliged without argument this time and finally when they reached the Riva di San Marco, the stranger told him who he was. He was St. Mark, patron saint of Venice and his two comrades were St. George the Knight and St. Nicholas the bishop. Together they saved Venice from awful peril and he bade the fisherman to tell the Doge in the morning what he had experienced.
‘But how will they ever believe my tale?’ pleaded the old man. St. Mark gave him a ring and told him the Doge would believe his every word on presentation of it.
True enough, this ring had been reported missing from the palace treasuries that morning and the Doge concluded that only St. Mark himself could have taken it.
The old fisherman was rewarded greatly for his bravery and upon his death, a marble carving was made in the very bridge he lay under all his life as a token of his part in helping the saints saved the city of Venice from a ship full of demons! Read about other incredible mythical stories of Italy, including a fascinating collection of the legends of Tuscany!
Photo credits
picture 2: Chene Beck / CC BY-SA 3.0;
picture 2: Chene Beck / CC BY-SA 3.0;