According to the tradition, Venice was founded in 421 AD on April 25th, Saint Mark’s day, who is the patron saint of Venice. during the Romanic period Venice was not the name of the city we know now but it was the name given to the northern region of Italy. It was just after the fall of the Empire and the arriving of the Longobards that the name started to be used in indicating the settlements that born in a group of small islands in the lagoon. For nearly 1400 years, the two or three miles of shallow water separating Venice from mainland Italy, had protected and isolated Venice from invaders and from the Italian political life.
Untouched by the Pope and imperialism warfare, feudalism and territorial squabbles, they fixed their attention toward the East and the rich market of Levantine and Constantinople. It was in this way that started the grand trade empire of the Venetian Republic. After having fight against Romans, Arabs and pirates to maintain its autonomy, in 1000 Venice started spreading its commercial boundaries. Then Venice took part to the Crusade to enlarge its business opportunity. Manu works of art were taken to Venice as a booty: for instance, the four bronze horses of St. Mark’s.
