Hello everyone, today I'm going to introduce you to the island of Toscello, an ancient place that was once home to a wealthy population, with many people eventually migrating to what is now Venice. Today, it's a quiet area with a sparse population, but it remains a remarkable site with ancient Byzantine architecture.
This place was once a great metropolis in the 10th century. Toscello had a population of over 20,000 people, flourishing and wielding more power than the island itself at that time. However, by the 12th century, the area had become a swamp, resulting in malaria outbreaks and flooding that prevented ships from entering, forcing people to migrate to Burano, Murano, and Venice. Today, only about 10 to 15 people remain permanently inhabited; it's almost deserted, but still a tourist attraction.
Furthermore, it boasts world-class architectural and artistic treasures. The mosaics inside the Santa Maria Santa Basilica, built in 639 AD, are one of the most important Byzantine works of art in Northern Italy.
Attila's Throne is the most famous stone sculpture on the island; a large, ancient marble chair located behind the basilica square. Legend says it was Attila's throne. The formidable leader's chair from the fifth century, which historians believe was actually used by a ruler for judicial proceedings, is said to grant anyone who sat in it the gift of a return to the island.
Furthermore, the stone and decorative panels showcase Venetian Sentai art, including beautifully carved marble columns inside the church.
The ancient statues are classical sculptures, featuring figures from Roman and Greek times, as well as smaller statues of various gods, displayed in relief patterns found on the island and in the surrounding area.
We visited this place in early April, as mentioned in a previous post. It was an island hopping trip, and this was the last island on the tour. The weather was quite hot that day. The tour boat docked, and we walked to the island.
We strolled along the path. It seemed very peaceful; there appeared to be no one there except for our group of tourists. The atmosphere was natural, with trees providing shade and a canal revealing a deep path. Looking around, the island seemed very tranquil.
Upon arrival, you'll see the Devil's Bridge, a unique bridge with an interesting legend. This bridge has no railings, a rare occurrence in all of Venice, and retains its original appearance to this day. It's a two-tiered stone bridge, constructed from brick and stone between the 10th and 15th centuries, with some parts built on ancient foundations.
According to legend, a young woman made a pact with a witch on this bridge, exchanging seven children for the life of her lover, the Austrian president. The witch reportedly died before successfully delivering the children's souls to the devil. Therefore, every night of December 24th, the devil appears at the bridge near the Black Cat shop to collect the souls as promised. This area is a popular tourist check-in point, with many visitors taking photos with the Parliament building. It's located along the waterway leading to the central area of the island and the cathedral.
As you walk closer to the cathedral, you'll see small shops open. As mentioned, it was very hot, so we bought ice cream each while waiting to continue admiring the ancient architecture.
We couldn't go inside the cathedral because we weren't considered appropriately dressed that day. It wasn't really that inappropriate, but it was the weather. We just walked around and enjoyed the atmosphere and architecture. I've taken these photos to share with everyone.
The place is still beautiful; even though some things look old, the traces are still visible. We took pictures and admired the beautiful art. It was a memorable experience as a child. We walked around, took photos, and enjoyed the atmosphere for a while before heading back.
On the way back, there weren't many people, so I took pictures on the Devil's Bridge, a popular check-in spot. I saw tourists waiting in line, so I took my photos on the way back.
And this is Tercello Island, another beautiful and historically significant place near Venice. If you're visiting Venice, don't forget to stop by and see this island; it's not too far. Seeing it in person was wonderful. I hope you enjoyed my post and photos. Thank you for following. It was a good day.
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