Venice:
The Foundation of the City
Porta di Terra, Arsenale
According to tradition, the city of Venice was founded in the year 421; and there is an oblique reference to that year at the Porta di Terra, the land entrance to the Arsenale.
The entrance is framed by two pairs of marble columns and inscribed into the bases of the columns are two sets of Roman numerals: MXXXVIIII and MCCCCLX. The latter refers to the year (1460) the Porta di Terra was built, while the former refers to the number of years that had passed since the city was founded, namely 1039.
The entrance is framed by two pairs of marble columns and inscribed into the bases of the columns are two sets of Roman numerals: MXXXVIIII and MCCCCLX. The latter refers to the year (1460) the Porta di Terra was built, while the former refers to the number of years that had passed since the city was founded, namely 1039.
Ab Urbe Condita
The numerals on the base of the left column are preceded by a Latin phrase: AB VRBE CON[dita] (From the Foundation of the City). A simple calculation reveals that 1460 minus 1039 equals 421.
AB URBE CONDITA, often abbreviated to AUC, was most famously used by the ancient Romans, who traced the origin of their city back to the year 753 BCE.
AB URBE CONDITA, often abbreviated to AUC, was most famously used by the ancient Romans, who traced the origin of their city back to the year 753 BCE.
The Annunciation, Scuola dei Calegheri Tedeschi
Few cities can pinpoint their year of origin, let alone the day and hour, but Venice can do all three.
According to legend, the city of Venice was founded at noon, on the Feast of the Annunciation, in the year 421. And March 25th would mark the start of the Venetian year until, at some point, March 1st was chosen as a more convenient date. The Venetian New Year would start on March 1st, and not January 1st, until the collapse of the Republic in 1797.
According to legend, the city of Venice was founded at noon, on the Feast of the Annunciation, in the year 421. And March 25th would mark the start of the Venetian year until, at some point, March 1st was chosen as a more convenient date. The Venetian New Year would start on March 1st, and not January 1st, until the collapse of the Republic in 1797.