Chioggia, a little out of the canonical tourist destinations, I like to define it as a little Venice with cars. Despite being only an hour away from my home, I had only been there once and, instead, thanks to the Consorzio Con Chioggia SI in collaboration with the web agency MM One Group, I was able to visit it better and grasp the aspects that I would otherwise have overlooked.
CHIOGGIOTTI FISHERMEN AND CHIOGGIOTTI FARMERS
Chioggia is not Venice, let's set the record straight. They are close but not too close, they are similar but not too much. Do not mistake a Chioggiotto for a Venetian and vice versa, both, very proud of their roots, would be offended. Chioggia was born as a town of fishermen and farmers, even if a small distinction must be made here too. There lagoon has waters that not everyone knows how to navigate, only those who know them know where to fish and how to tame the waves, the fishermen of Chioggia derive from the first inhabitants of these lands, while those who inherited the fields, descended from Genoese prisoners of war, who Venice he decided to confine himself to dry land so that they would not steal the secrets of lagoon fishing.
THE ORIGIN OF CHIOGGIA
If you look at its structure you will notice a fishbone shape, typical of Roman settlements, yes, it seems that these territories had been colonized by the Clodius in 80 AD about. Chioggia consists of a central course, Corso del Popolo, and 72 side streets, 36 on each side.
Chioggia became famous above all for its salt flats and was once really something precious, since it helped in the preservation of food.
It is also said that part of the Venetians who settled the islands that now form Venice fled from Chioggia after the barbarian invasions. Marco Boscolo, President of the Consortium with Chioggia SI, tells us these pills of history with a light in his eyes that reveals his love for the city where he was born and raised.
CURIOSITY
But let's get to the curiosities, first of all the one concerning a watch. Yes, in Chioggia there is the oldest clock in the world. At the moment the mechanisms are modern but inside the tower of Sant'Andrea you can still admire the authentic gears. One of the documents concerning the clock mechanism and which has come down to us is dated 1386, this makes you understand how old the tenant of the tower is and it must be said that he still wears them quite well!
The other curiosity I want to reveal to you concerns the fish market. To this market not to buy fish, even if it would be worth it, but to admire the entrance door all worked and to discover that there is a reason if the market is dominated by the color red. In fact, red alters the atmosphere inside the market a little, the fish takes on a whole other aspect, so much so that it is able to deceive the most experienced buyers and maybe even be able to sell fish a little less fresh. Smart isn't it?
