HIDDEN TREASURES

Anecdotes and Curiosities about Venice and the Veneto region: secrets revealed by a tour guide

Discover, through the legends and mysteries told by our tour guide Francesca, a different side of this wonderful region.

Hidden Treasures is a weekly column on venetoinside dedicated to those who wish to learn about legends, secrets and mysteries of the hidden Venice and the Veneto region... Curated by Francesca – an expert tour guide from Venice – Hidden Treasures wants to share the hidden treasures of Venice and Veneto through anecdotes, secrets, legends, mysteries and curiosities, a different and rarely discussed side of Venice, the Venetian lagoon and the Veneto region.

History and folklore, mysterious places and famous works of art, monuments and ancient traditions: our guide will open for you the doors to discover all the hidden secrets of Venice and Veneto! With an original series of stories, anecdotes and curiosities of Venice and its region, all based on a foundation of historical fact, week after week Francesca will reveal fascinating aspects of history, art, culture and the traditions of some incredible places.

Hidden Treasures is a real guide to the lesser-known Venice and Veneto to uncover the mysteries still hidden. Make yourself comfortable! Expect an exciting reading based on anecdotes, legends and hidden Venice secrets that will tantalize your curiosity even more about the city, the lagoon and its wonderful region.

The Hidden Treasures of Venice and curiosities column is also present on the Facebook page of venetoinside! In order not to miss any of the anecdotes that we publish every week, go to our page and click 'like' button!

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Highlights

The graffiti of the ancient merchants on Fondaco dei Tedeschi in Venice

Each building located along the Grand Canal has an amusing story or a mystery to tell... After having been the Post Office building for two centuries, the Fondaco dei Tedeschi was recently reopened after a long period of restoration that has transformed it into a luxurious shopping centre. The palace was built in 1508 after a big fire destroyed the previous building. It was initially meant to be used for the arrival and storage of goods transported by German or Flemish merchants... At the time, the Serenissima Republic was cosmopolitan and all foreign merchants were welcome, though always closely monitored by the authorities! Inside the building, after going up to the first floor, you will find numerous marine inscriptions, monograms and symbols engraved on the marbles of the balconies by German merchants: a collection of over two hundred evidences that still represent an example perhaps unique in the world of Renaissance corporate symbols. Even the façade overlooking the Grand Canal is full of surprises, such as the depiction of a double-lily and a sort of pentagram formed actually by two clubs which are under the sills of the central windows. According to some scholars these are probably coat arms related to the Fugger brothers, the most prestigious German bankers in Europe in the 1500s. Would you like to discover other fascinating buildings in Venice? Contact us to arrange an exclusive private tour with our expert guides!