Torcello Island in Venice was the first island in what expanded to become the vast lagoon city of Venice. It’s the oldest region of Venice to have been continuously populated by people since the downfall of the Roman Empire.
Many Venetian people fled the marshland to seek refuge from barbarians and looters on the marshy lagoon island of Torcello.
Choose from a beautiful range of holiday villas in the Venice area where you can visit Torcello Island and other famous attractions in Venice.
Many Venetian people fled the marshland to seek refuge from barbarians and looters on the marshy lagoon island of Torcello.
Choose from a beautiful range of holiday villas in the Venice area where you can visit Torcello Island and other famous attractions in Venice.
In later centuries Torcello grew in importance as a trading centre due to its close business ties with Constantinople city. Between the 7th and 11th centuries, the population grew to over 20,000 venetians.
Many of the beautiful religious, civic and military buildings constructed on Torcello Island during this Byzantine period still stands well preserved today for tourists to explore.
As Venice expanded out to envelop other islands, many left Torcello to live in the newer busier area around what is now the Rialto Bridge in Venice city centre.
Now Torcello has less than one hundred inhabitants but is still a much visited island because of it being the ‘mother island’ of Venice.
Many of the beautiful religious, civic and military buildings constructed on Torcello Island during this Byzantine period still stands well preserved today for tourists to explore.
As Venice expanded out to envelop other islands, many left Torcello to live in the newer busier area around what is now the Rialto Bridge in Venice city centre.
Now Torcello has less than one hundred inhabitants but is still a much visited island because of it being the ‘mother island’ of Venice.
Learn about the fascinating story behind the ‘Devil’s Bridge’ here and enjoy a visit to the magnificent interior of the Basilica of Santa Maria Assunta here. The apse dome within is lavishly decorated with golden mosaics depicting scenes from the bible.
This is the oldest religious monument in Venice and is certainly one of the most beautiful church interiors in all of Europe!
Spend a few hours learning about Torcello’s history from the archaeology museum here as well as discovering many other wonderful attractions on this ancient island of Venice!
This is the oldest religious monument in Venice and is certainly one of the most beautiful church interiors in all of Europe!
Spend a few hours learning about Torcello’s history from the archaeology museum here as well as discovering many other wonderful attractions on this ancient island of Venice!
Photo credits
picture 1: Serviziocultura / CC BY-SA 3.0;
picture 2: Remi_Mathis / CC BY-SA 3.0;
picture 1: Serviziocultura / CC BY-SA 3.0;
picture 2: Remi_Mathis / CC BY-SA 3.0;