According to the Chronicon Altinate (11th century) the first settlement in Venice on Rivus Altus dates back to 25 March 421, therefore today it’s the 1600th birthday of Venice! The inhabitants of the mainland sought refuge in the lagoons, following the various waves of barbarian invasions that followed one another from the fifth century, in particular that of the Huns (452) and the Longobards guided by Alboino (568). However Venice appeared then as a group of small settlements still very heterogeneous, while some neighboring centers such as Torcello, Ammiana, Metamauco assumed greater importance. At the same time, the major religious institutions were transferred to the lagoon, such as the Patriarch of Aquileia in Grado and the Bishop of Altino in Torcello. On the 25th March 421 the tradition says that the first stone of the church of San Giacometo – on the banks of the Grand Canal - was posed; recent studies have however shown that San Giacomo di Rialto is much later, dating back to the mid-twelfth century.
On the 25th March 2021 Venice is 1600 years old!