Charming Chioggia - small Venice with many bridges and water channels (part I.)

Small fishing port Chioggia in Veneto, Italy is charming town with many water channels, old stone bridges and nice colorful ancient houses. It is really worth visiting. Every year middle of June alives with big and well known medieval event - narrow ancient streets are full of wandering musicians, crafsmen and courtiers in nice historical clothes. Procession through the city is live in italian televison. We visited Chioggia during this medieval action and we could taste something from this event. Do not miss the opportunity and try to visit Chioggia next year during this event.

Something about history...

Settlement on this place is very old - even Romans had here their town. There was reservoir of salt water and Romans got in their time 200 times more of salt necessary for the town. Salt was also source of income for people here and town got big importance. Unfortunately, with the fall of Roman Empire, also Chioggia had to fight with dark age of medieval. Luckily already around year 1100 started again time of prosperity. Many buildings from this time are until now in this town and not only here but also in the whole area.

During whole history, there were some fights between Republice of Geona and Republic of Venice but until year 1797 was Chioggia without any break part of Republic of Venice. Town was very important port and it was controlled in the same modern way as Venice. In the year 1797 was conquered by Napoleon and one year after was joined to Austria. Chioggia was part of Austria until unfification of Italy by Giuseppe Garibaldi.

Charming Small Venice

Chioggia is beautiful town mainly due to its unique position on the island surrounded by Adriatic Sea. Even though in Po Valley, proximity of the sea gives it unrepeatable magic (same as in Venice). Dense network of water channels with nice fishermen boats, clapping of seagulls, smell of sea water, this all brings wonderful experiences. You can sail on the boat or just only walk around and look at your surrounding.

Chioggia is not sleeping town as some small towns in Umbria or Tuscany, but living city, full of tourists (mainly from Italy). If you want to calm you down, there are many opened churches and other historical buildings waiting for you.

Main water channel is Canale della Vena. You can find here 9 ancient stone bridges, the biggest one is Ponte Vigo. While walking in old town, just follow this channel and you cannot be lost. Streets are built in the shape of fish bone, this design is not often in Italy. You can also take ferry to island of Pellestrina, which is one of the many islands in lagune of Venice.

In the following post, I will write you about the most interesting churches in Chioggia and about the famous medieval event...