Francesco's Mediterranean Voyage

This book gives tantalizing glimpses into a subject that I knew nothing about - the Venetian empire, which lasted for five hundred years, and as a glossy book of a TV series, the text is accompanied by absolutely wonderful photographs.

Apart from the photographs, the really striking thing about this book is the way that it gives a sense of a broad sweep of history and geography through selected highlights. In physical scope Venice's possessions spanned several countries and cultures, from part of the former Yugoslavia, to Greek islands, and the Venetians were a major power in Constantinople before that city became Istanbul. In time their empire went from the Middle Ages until the early modern period (Venice was finally defeated by show more Napoleon), and some of the places that it ruled have been inhabited since before written records.

Francesco himself is very much a part of this - a native of Venice who clearly loves the city, and belongs to a family that has been part of the aristocracy and civil service there since the medieval period (!). In many ports he finds not only traces of long Venetian occupation alongside modern life, but also connections to his own ancestors, who were merchants, navigators, ambassadors, and colonial governors throughout the existence of the Venetian empire. show less