Green Door

Description

“Green Door, What’s that secret you’re keeping?” – went the song. Wander the back canals of the Venetian sestieri and contemplate the wealth of fascinating doorways na buildings of one of the worlds most complex historical/architectural/political sites. What secrets and stories must be there.

The grand houses and palaces of the Grand Canal are familiar to all visitors to Venice. However, behind the scenes in the back canals lurks an intriguing vista of the lives of a wealthy middle class.

Venice is well known as a major trading emporium of the middle ages and the Renaissance. Its wealth was expanded by other activities such as the Doge Dandelo-inspired, sack of Constantinople, suppression of Genoese and Amalfi competitors, and a subsequent maritime empire extending to Crete, Corfu,  Castlerosso, and as far as the Black Sea. Wealth flowed to the businesses, artisans and manufacturing activities that supported the core trading industry. The benefits can be seen in the architecture of the other areas of the city. The houses and other buildings in these areas show a love for style and decoration, in addition to the more basic necessities. Creative masonry and balustrades are commonplace , together with an endless variety of ironwork found on the bridges and facades, particularly on lower windows; the Venetians are very untrusting of their fellow citizens!  (Also, illustrating this aspect of their lives can be taxing).

However, given the gentle decline of the city over the centuries, much of the architecture shows gentle decay, requiring perpetual renovations of varying efficacy. The effect of high tides and the maritime environment is seen in the crumbling stucco and brickwork. Unhappily, due to centuries of waste disposal into the canals, the waters are frequently turgid or frankly foul, especially at times of extra low tides. Hopefully current technological programs will improve things.