Chioggia History

According to the legend, after the destruction of Troy, Clodio escaped with Aeneas and reached Italy founding Clodia (the current Chioggia). On the other hand, historians state that Cluza (Chioggia) was founded around 2000 Before Christ by a population coming from Thessaly.

The present urbanistic structure witnesses the Etruscan period. In ancient times, the “Corso del Popolo” (cardo maximus) crossed in the middle with a street (decumanus maximus) in a plan which was later adopted by the Roman “castrum”.

During the seafaring Republic period, a decisive battle between Venice and Genoa took place in Chioggia. Genoa besieged and devastated the whole town (1379). It was rescued by Venetians in 1380.

Chioggia found it difficult to recover from its destruction and it started its submission to the Venetian supremacy. The decay went on for the next three centuries. Plagues and famines succeeded one another. Popolation decreased. The trade of salt only fed home needs. In 1797, the French occupied Chioggia, which became one year later under Austrian domination with the Campoformio treaty.

People rose up against the new oppressors and in 1806 the French domination resumed power. The new ruling class governed till 1814, when Austrians regained the territory.

During the “Risorgimento”, the Garibaldi's campaign made Chioggia free in 1866.

The town made every effort to recover from the world wars and nowadays Chioggia is one of the most important seaports in the Adriatic.

Chioggia Today

Chioggia develops along the main road “Corso del Popolo”, called by the inhabitants “la piazza” (= the square). It runs through the whole Island from Vigo square (where the column with a small St. Mark's lion rises) to S. Maria gate (the only remained trace of ancient Medieval walls). It is the “cardo maximus” of the Roman urban scheme “castrum”.

The Town is crossed by three canals: Vena, St. Domenico and Lombardo. The most picturesque is the first one. It is always rich in colours thanks to many small moored boats and in social life during the daily fish, fruit and greens markets. St. Domenico and Lombardo canals are the natural moorings for sea-going fishing boats.

In a urban scheme which recalls a herring-bone pattern, Chioggia is animated by 74 “calli” (narrow streets) which intersect between the “Corso del Popolo” and the Canals. They are the heart of city life... streets where local work and chats from one balcony to the other are still expression of a simple world linked with tradition.