The loggia of the fish market in Rialto

One of the sites recommended for those visiting the city of Venice is definitely the Rialto market. It is in fact the oldest part of the city and home to the city market since 1097. Here, once it was possible to buy all kinds of food, exotic oriental spices and fabrics.

The Fish Market is the heart of the Rialto market, as Venetian cuisine is based on fish.

The loggia that houses the Rialto fish market looks ancient but it was actually built in 1907 in a neo-Gothic style by the architect Domenico Rupolo; often those who go there to buy fish, do not pay particular attention to the capitals or the colourful stalls of the columns supporting the perimeter of the New Fish Market. Each capital is in fact different and carved by Rupolo on a design by painter Cesare Laurenti (his name is engraved in the capital).

At the centre there are four heads representing the authors of the work (including the signature of Rupolo); in one of the side columns some boats with large baskets called vieri are carved, used to keep the fish in fresh water, in other capitals there are different sea creatures, such as crabs, lobsters, fish, octopus, scallops, bovoli, crabs and seahorses but not only: in fact there are also floral and sailing emblems (like the rose of the winds) but also esoteric symbols (sun, moon, stars), typical of the beginning of '900, a decidedly Symbolist era.

A visit to the Rialto market is included in the route of two thematic private fascinating itineraries, the Casanova Tour and Seductive Venice Tour...Why? At one time in the early morning, after the transgressive nights of the Carnival, the young Venetians used to gather among the market stalls...