Cippo di conterminazione lagunare n. 55

Across centuries, the Venice Lagoon has been both a lifeline and a threat to Venice. Standing before us is the Cippo di conterminazione lagunare n. 55, a silent sentinel in this watery realm. It’s one of ninety-nine such stones, markers of a boundary as vital to Venice as its canals. Imagine, in the time of the powerful Venetian Republic, the need to define their dominion over these waters. The Cippo di conterminazione lagunare n. 55 and its brethren marked this invisible line, the “conterminazione lagunare”. This boundary was more than just geographical; it represented the Republic’s authority and control over its most precious resource. To violate this boundary, to encroach upon the lagoon, meant incurring severe penalties decreed by the Republic. On many of these stones, you can still make out the inscription: “arrecar detrimento all’acque” – to cause harm to the waters. These cippi, whether crafted from the original terracotta or the more enduring Istrian stone, stand as a testament to the foresight of the Venetian Republic. They symbolize Venice’s enduring relationship with the lagoon, a relationship marked by respect, protection, and an understanding of its vital importance to the city’s very existence.