Description of the attraction
Chioggia is a commune in the Venetian lagoon, 25 km from Venice, located on several islets that are connected to the mainland by a bridge near the resort of Sottomarina. According to the latest census, about 52 thousand people live in the commune, which spreads over an area of 185 square kilometers.
The first mentions of Chioggia are found in the days of the Roman Empire by Pliny, who called the city of Fossa Clodius after its founder Clodius. And the name Chioggia first appears in documents from the 6th century, when the city was part of the Byzantine Empire. In the 9th century, Chioggia was destroyed by the troops of King Pippin and rebuilt around the salt marshes. Already in the Middle Ages, the city became one of the largest fishing ports in northern Italy. The right to rule over Chioggia at Venice was contested by the great Republic of Genoa itself. In 1378, the city was even captured by the Genoese, but just a couple of years later it was conquered by the Venetians, who retained control over it for several centuries.
Today Chioggia with its canals, the main of which is the Vienna Canal, is considered a miniature copy of Venice. The characteristic narrow streets of the town are called "kalli" and invariably attract tourists. Local attractions include the Romanesque Cathedral of Santa Maria, built in the 11th century and reconstructed by Baldassar Longhena in the middle of the 17th century, and the 18th century Sant Andrea Church with an 11-12th century bell tower and one of the oldest observation towers in the world. The interior of the temple is decorated with the Crucifixion of the Elder Palma. Other medieval churches have also survived in the town, most of which were reconstructed in the 16th and 17th centuries - during Chioggia's heyday.
One of the areas of Chioggia is Sottomarina, a popular seaside resort with 60 hotels and 17 campsites.
