Un ritratto della società veneziana

Historians writing about the History of Venice have rarely dealt with or mentioned the year 1868: to trace this moment it is essential to make direct reference to the Gazzetta di Venezia of that same year. Another useful source is the diary of Elena Pesaro Maurogonato (1853-1876), daughter of Isacco Pesaro Maurogonato (1817-1892), a central figure in the Venetian Jewish community and an important political figure. Among the most important events are the celebrations in St. Mark’s Square on the occasion of the Carnival, the representations at the Teatro La Fenice and events related to the translation of Daniele Manin’s ashes. This essay also traces a portrait of the social situation in Venice, ranging from the identification of differences between social classes to the creation of the ‘myth of Venice’, a collective cultural identity resulting from the association of several popular traditions.