Mosaïc

Everything was covered with thousands of gold tesserae forming a vast mosaic, a profusion of gold that had endured through the centuries, bearing witness to the supreme power of the Serenissima, the succession of Doges, the prayers of merchants, and the velvets of the nobility. I know you have a story to tell me for each of these golden tiles, Venice. About the lands from which this shining metal came, your journeys to the Orient, your centuries of power, the silks, precious spices, and the passions of men. How could I ever forget you? The road from Byzantium to Venice is paved with endless stories, secrets, jewels, and treasures.