The remarkable history of the city of Venice, from the 5th century when the first settlers retreated to the safety of the lagoon and began to create their homes on its tiny islands; through its glorious years as a maritime republic adept at trade, exploration, diplomacy, and protecting its independence; to the fragile city of the twenty-first century. Francesco da Mosto, a descendant of one of the oldest and most distinguished Venetian families, provides unique insight into the places, events, and people that have sculpted Venice through the ages.