Venice islands: San Pietro di Castello
San Pietro di Castello is an island in the Venetian Lagoon, forming part of the Castello sestiere, linked to the main islands of Venice by two bridges. It is the oldest settlement in the city of Venice.
The island was the site of a castle (italian castello) from at least the sixth century, and it is from this that the island and the sestiere are named. In the seventh century, it became the seat of the Bishop of Venice, a position it held until 1807. The Church of San Pietro was the seat from the ninth century, while other attractions on the island include a campanile and the greenery of the Campo San Pietro.
The "Campo" in front of the church is a heaven of tranquillity and silence. Nearby you find the busy via Garibaldi, still a pretty authentic street full of locals and lively bars and restaurants.
Curiosity:
Today the Carnival of Venice strikes off with the historic procession of the “Festival of the Marie”.
The first chronicle of the “Festa delle Marie” dates to 1039, though already by the beginning of the 9th century, the twelve most beautiful maidens were chosen to represent the whole city and gathered together with their betrothed in the Church of San Pietro di Castello - at that time the city’s cathedral - to received the collective nuptial blessing.
In 946, a group of Dalmatian pirates surprised the gathering at the ceremony and kidnapped the pretty Marys. Immediately the Venetians managed to overcome the kidnappers in the sea off nearby Caorle.
On their return to the lagoon, the liberators were acclaimed with such warm-hearted enthusiasm that the Doges (at that time the Doge was Pietro Candiani III) from then on always celebrated the event. In the modern pageant seven Venetian girls from 18 to 30 years old, on the first day of Carnival, take part in the colourful historic procession from the island of San Pietro di Castello to Piazza San Marco in the company of over three hundred medieval personages from various European countries.
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