Chioggia

Chioggia stands among the channels at the southern end of the Venetian Lagoon. Its salt pans helped the town recover after early medieval destruction, and fishing and boats became central to life on its islands. A commune and bishop's seat from the twelfth century, Chioggia retained a distinct identity within the Venetian world.

During the war between Genoa and Venice, Genoese forces captured Chioggia and threatened Venice from the lagoon during the War of Chioggia. The Venetians then surrounded the occupied town and its Genoese defenders and recovered it in June 1380. Chioggia retained considerable local autonomy but remained subordinate to Venice thereafter. Its fishermen, lace makers and crowded waterways later provided the setting for Carlo Goldoni's comedy about quarrels among the townspeople.