THE DARK SIDE OF VENICE

The layout of Venice was meticulously planned to reflect fundamental metaphysical principles. The dark north side of the city is linked with the obscure aspects of life and death. Several of its buildings were associated with the Rosicrucians and other secret societies, and featured arcane symbols such as black madonnas and allegorical bas-reliefs related to the cult of Cronus and Rhea. There was also a Moorish enclave, an Orthodox Christian quarter, and a gated community called Ghetto where the Jewish community built five synagogues. The Great Council of Venice was strongly opposed to the Papal Nobility who controlled most of Italy at the time, and a number of Venetian historic figures were freemasons.