Dalmatia and Venice, united by centuries and centuries of history. On the day of the Annunciation we remember March 25, 421.

Tradition tells us that the Queen of the Adriatic founded her first settlement on a small island higher than the others. For this characteristic it was called Rialto, from Rivus Altus.

In Rialto, the church of San Giacometo was built thanks to Candioto (or Eutinoto) who made a vow after being saved from a fire. There are traces of March 25, 421, the date on which the birth of Venice is attributed, in the Chronicon Altinate dating back to the XNUMXth century and in the Diarii di Marin Sanudo of the XNUMXth century.

Yesterday, Friday 25 March, at the celebratory Holy Mass in the Basilica of San Marco with the Patriarch of Venice HE Francesco Miraglia and the highest authorities (here is the full text of the Homily), the delegation of the Dalmatian School of Venice of Saints George and Tryphon led by the Guardian Grande Piergiorgio Millich. Solemnity of the Annunciation of the Lord, in the 1600 years since the traditional dies natalis of the city of Venice and in spiritual union with the Pope for theAct of Consecration of Russia and Ukraine to the Immaculate Heart of Mary.

We Dalmatians have Venice in our hearts. In September 1953 at Palazzo Ducale, first official gathering of Dalmatians at Palazzo Ducale and 6000 people in Piazza San Marco.

After 10 years, a new gathering of Dalmatians in Venice in 1963 and the establishment of our Association of Italian Dalmatians in the World – Free Municipality of Zara in Exile. Various material can be found in the book by Luciano Monzali “The Italians of Dalmatia and the Italo-Yugoslavian relations of the twentieth century” published by SDSP of Venice.

Then, we Dalmatians, have been able to re-propose in the contemporary the bond between Venice and Dalmatia that lives again through the celebration of the "Marriage of the Sea". For centuries, with the Festa della Sensa (this year it will be celebrated on May 29th also in the context of the International Boat Show), shines the ring that the Patriarch of Venice throws into the sea in front of the Church of San Nicolò del Lido. Since 2005, “our” three Dalmatian Pillars commissioned by Franco Luxardo and the late Tullio Vallery have stood tall in Venice.

The Sensa originated following the memorable doge's enterprise of the year 1000, that of Pietro II Orseolo (26th Doge of Venice) in aid of Dalmatia threatened by the Slavs. Doge Pietro II Orseolo is considered as the founder of the Maritime State. A skilled diplomat, he brought together all the Venetian nobility to then weave collaborative relations with the Western and Eastern Empires.

Venice, under the Doge Pietro II Orseolo, consolidated and developed its maritime influence over Istria and Dalmatia and established alliances with the Greeks. It freed the populations of Dalmatia from Slavic slavery and defeated the Narentine pirates when, with the favor of Byzantium, the banner of San Marco was raised for the first time.

The Venetian naval operation led by the Doge was a great success in Poreč, Pula, Osor, Cherso, Veglia, Rab, Zadar, Sebenik, Trogir, Split, Korčula, Lagosta and Ragusa. Byzantium awarded the Doge the title of "Duke of Dalmatia". Later there was the wedding between Giovanni and Maria, that is, between the son of Peter II Orseolo and the niece of the Byzantine Emperor Basil II.

The links between the Venetian territories, the north-east and Dalmatia are even deeper and deserve to be well valued. The islands of the Venetian lagoon were already inhabited in Roman times, just as Zara was. In the “very early Venice” there are many facts narrated in the phase of transformation of the Western Roman Empire. The letter of 537-538 by Flavius ​​Aurelius Cassiodorus, a historical figure in the role of Roman senator minister of the Ostrogoth kings, explains the task of organizing the maritime transport of food supplies from Istria to Ravenna passing through Venice. Rich salt trade where Venice was Altino.

We will certainly have the opportunity to delve deeper into the ancient facts that unite Venice to Dalmatia and Dalmatia to Roman Italy. In the meantime, let us remember Odoacer, called “King of Italy”, who in 480 took Dalmatia until he reached the borders of Greece.

Curated by Victor Baroni
Councilor for Communication of the Association of Italian Dalmatians in the World – Free Municipality of Zadar in Exile 

Source: Dalmatians.org