A silent sentinel stands here. It marks a boundary between water and land. This is Cippo di conterminazione lagunare n. 50.
Let’s explore its story. It is a story of Venice and its lagoon. These boundary stones are called Cippi di Conterminazione. They defined the limits of the Venice Lagoon. It happened in the late 18th century. About one hundred Cippi were placed.
These stones marked a legal boundary. They also marked an administrative boundary. It was a geographical and landscape boundary too. It separated water and land.
Originally, they were brick. They had an Istrian stone slab. The slab featured the Lion of St Mark. Later, the slabs were replaced with stone artifacts. These Cippi have watched the lagoon change for over two centuries.
The Republic of Venice needed to define its territory. They wanted to protect the lagoon. So the boundary was marked. The first plans were made in the 1600s. The Senate approved the line in 1784. In 1791, the Cippi were placed. There were 100 of them. They separated the areas subject to salt water and the mainland. This was to protect Venice and its lagoon.
Originally, the Cippi were made of brick. In the 1800s, they were replaced with Istrian stone. Some have been removed. Some were destroyed. Others are hard to reach. They are isolated by water. Some are covered by plants. Others are buried. But some can still be seen along roads or embankments.
The “La Laguna dei Cippi” project investigates changes in the lagoon. It documents what the Cippi witness today. It shows what kind of lagoon they “see” now. It is over 200 years since they were installed. Project participants take photos. They show the Venice Lagoon from the perspective of the Lions on the stones. This gathers information to understand how the lagoon has changed.
The original line was established between 1791 and 1792. Ninety-nine brick markers were erected. Later, between 1846 and 1898, they were replaced. They used Istrian stone. It was more resistant. The line was about 157 km long. It marked the lagoon territory. It separated salt water from the rest.
In 1924, the line was changed. The new line followed the old one. But it excluded areas like Conche and Fogolana. These were in the southern lagoon. Thirty concrete markers were added. They were similar to the 19th-century ones.
In 1990, the line was updated. This was to reflect natural and human-caused changes. The current boundary includes the three port entrances. It also includes the island of S. Erasmo.
The old decrees set serious penalties. These were for building inside the lagoons. They were also for taking space from the waters. Many old Cippi have an inscription. It warns against harming the waters. The waters were seen as the city’s walls and defense. Letting in more fresh water was thought to bring “mal aria.”
The Magistrato alle Acque was in charge. They controlled the waters. They governed them.
So next time you see a Cippo, remember its story. It is a story of boundaries. It is a story of protection. It is a story of Venice and its lagoon.