This presentation, the last for the 2020/2021 season, was a brief history of the city and state of Venice from the 400's to the present day illustrated with his Chris’s own photographs and the works of artists through the centuries.

Chris divided his presentation into chapters - an introduction, Byzantine, Venetian Gothic, Hope and finally Sex! A really nice idea to lead us through the story of Venice. Particularly helpful was the 'plan' of the lagoon with Venice and the surrounding islands.

The city is built in a lagoon on thousands and thousands of trees driven into the mud with a level platform on top! Chris' images of these man made islands were a joy to see. The Byzantine period with their square windows and simple arches are to be found all over the city and indeed allow us to compare the paintings of Canaletto with a photo taken from the same spot today.

In the Venetian Gothic period, 1100 - 1450, Venice grew its wealth despite the fact they could not grow meat or veg! Instead they traded in salt, dried from the salt water of the lagoon. It was this period that the Ducal system began; such a good system of government that it lasted 1,100 years! Chris gave us the story of Enrico Dandolo, the Massacre of The Latins and the first Crusade including the Shameful Glory.