Written and narrated by John R. Hale
"If you knew how everybody hates you your hair would stand on end. You are alone and the rest of the world is against you."
Those are the words of an enemy of Venice four centuries ago. Now she is no longer without friends but in her greatest days she was one of the powers of Europe. From her reedy islands huddling in the lagoon she extended her empire right across the Mediterranean. She brought to Europe great wealth and uncountable treasure - but at the heart of this rich and gorgeous city lay an exceptional genius for tranquillity - an achievement she was never to pass on. In this new programme in the Chronicle series John Hale sets out to tell the story of the rise of this unique Republic whose citizens called her 'La Serenissima.'