History of Venice Podcast

Art and Culture 08. Pin Floi 22.05.2026 45min

It’s an unexpected change of direction for us this week. We’ll explain why in the episode. Stand by for a Venetian story of music, spectacle, and poor decision-making, as we explain what on earth “Pin Floi” is and why it's an indelible memory for anyone who was there. You can listen to Pitura Freska’s “Pin Floi” here, with the lyrics on screen in Venetian. Sing along with the chorus when you feel confident: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dImVV5yQv9g There’s plenty of footage of the event available online. If you can make it through the adverts, this is a two and a half minute piece that aired on the TG2 news on the day after the concert. I don’t have the space for a full translation, but the pictures tell their own story for those who don’t understand the words. The “toilet” scene that we mention at the start of the episode is right at the end of the piece: https://www.ilgazzettino.it/video/nordest/pink_floyd_venezia_25_anni_dopo_tg_rai_raccontarono_evento_2-145557.html Email us at histvenicepod@gmail.com, or find us on Bluesky, Facebook, and Instagram. Intro and outro music is from Vivaldi’s Gloria, used under Creative Commons licence from musopen.org

061. Booty Call 15.05.2026 56min

Today we want to try to understand what kind of place Venice was as the 13th century dawned; how much it had changed in the hundred years since we last took a close look at it, back in Episode 31; and how the arrival of fresh artworks and spoils of war from the east would fuel both its own ongoing beautification and the historical narratives and myths that the city’s public appearance was aiming to promote. Email us at histvenicepod@gmail.com, or find us on Bluesky, Facebook, and Instagram. Intro and outro music is Primavera from Vivaldi’s Le Quattro Stagioni, used under Creative Commons licence from musopen.org

060. Top Doge (12th Century) 06.05.2026 41min

Sebastiano Ziani and Enrico Dandolo battle it out for our vote as the Top Doge of the 12th Century. Find out who we pick and tell us whether you agree. Email us at histvenicepod@gmail.com, or find us on Bluesky, Facebook, and Instagram. Intro and outro music is Primavera from Vivaldi’s Le Quattro Stagioni, used under Creative Commons licence from musopen.org

059. Did that just happen? 29.04.2026 1val

We're away on holiday this week, so there's no time to research and write a normal episode. So we've quickly rounded up what eventually happened to most of the characters we've been following on the Crusade story, and then had a final broad chat about what on earth just happened. Email us at histvenicepod@gmail.com, or find us on Bluesky, Facebook, and Instagram. Intro and outro music is Primavera from Vivaldi’s Le Quattro Stagioni, used under Creative Commons licence from musopen.org

058. Putting Humpty Together Again 22.04.2026 40min

The Crusade was over. The Crusaders had won. They had pushed Humpty Dumpty off the wall, and now they were the kings of all the broken pieces. If this had been their plan all along, then whoever was responsible for working out what came next had been asleep at the wheel. Once the celebrations of Easter Week 1204 brought an end to the initial rush of looting and vandalism, all semblance of this being a united force with a common goal vanished into the springtime air like dandelion seeds in the breeze. Email us at histvenicepod@gmail.com, or find us on Bluesky, Facebook, and Instagram. Intro and outro music is Primavera from Vivaldi’s Le Quattro Stagioni, used under Creative Commons licence from musopen.org

057. The View from Constantinople 15.04.2026 1val 32min

We're joined by two very special guests this week to discuss what the Fourth Crusade looks like from the perspective of Constantinople. Marco Cappelli from Storia d'Italia podcast and Robin Pierson from the History of Byzantium podcast share their fascinating and well researched perspectives. You can find Marco's show at: https://italiastoria.com/ You can find Robin's show at: https://thehistoryofbyzantium.com/ Both are highly recommended by much more discerning sources than us, and are well worth your time and support. You know where to find us, of course. Email us at histvenicepod@gmail.com, or find us on Bluesky, Facebook, and Instagram. Intro and outro music is Primavera from Vivaldi’s Le Quattro Stagioni, used under Creative Commons licence from musopen.org

056. Downfall 08.04.2026 44min

April 1204. Constantinople. The story of this ridiculous crusade finally reaches its climax. You probably know how it ends, but for the participants the peril is off the scale as both sides fight for their survival. Email us at histvenicepod@gmail.com, or find us on Bluesky, Facebook, and Instagram. Intro and outro music is Primavera from Vivaldi’s Le Quattro Stagioni, used under Creative Commons licence from musopen.org

055. Raising Eyebrows 01.04.2026 36min

The Crusaders’ stunning victory in July 1203 had resolved nothing. They had won, perhaps by default, but it can hardly have been a surprise that the people of Constantinople had never welcomed them. After a few months of phoney peace, by December the war was back on again. As the Crusaders overwintered in Galata, a new, more aggressive opponent emerged in Constantinople. Will the man known as Big Eyebrows save the Empire? Email us at histvenicepod@gmail.com, or find us on Bluesky, Facebook, and Instagram. Intro and outro music is Primavera from Vivaldi’s Le Quattro Stagioni, used under Creative Commons licence from musopen.org

054. Out of the Frying Pan 25.03.2026 42min

There’s no more room left on the knife-edge that’s balancing everyone’s fortunes on the night of 17th July 1203. Daybreak will bring unexpected clarity, and a victory for one side or the other. But when you find yourself gratefully jumping out of the frying pan, where do you land? Nowhere good, that’s for sure. For all its apparent success, this Crusade has the reverse-Midas touch, rapidly transforming gold into dusty death. And it’s only getting worse. As one war ends, another one soon begins. Email us at histvenicepod@gmail.com, or find us on Bluesky, Facebook, and Instagram. Intro and outro music is Primavera from Vivaldi’s Le Quattro Stagioni, used under Creative Commons licence from musopen.org

053. Someone Else's Civil War 18.03.2026 59min

The “crusade” has finally reached Constantinople. This ragged coalition has agreed to stick together, at least for now. The proponents of this preposterous diversion have one shot at persuading the people of Constantinople to accept their puppet Emperor. With the shambolic history of this Crusade so far, it’s a plan that should stand almost no chance of success. Stand by for adrenaline-fuelled action as the Venetian navy and a ragtag band of French chivalric misfits attempt the impossible. Email us at histvenicepod@gmail.com, or find us on Bluesky, Facebook, and Instagram. Intro and outro music is Primavera from Vivaldi’s Le Quattro Stagioni, used under Creative Commons licence from musopen.org

052. Let's Make Poor Decisions 11.03.2026 32min

The crusading army has successfully captured a Christian town that was under the protection of a Christian King. The Pope is furious. But it’s only going to get worse from here. Because on New Year’s Day 1203, messengers arrive in the camp with a spectacular offer that will rid them of all their money troubles. The only catch is that it involves going to completely the wrong target. The diversion to Constantinople is on, and there’s every chance that it’s going to tear this crusade apart. Email us at histvenicepod@gmail.com, or find us on Bluesky, Facebook, and Instagram. Intro and outro music is Primavera from Vivaldi’s Le Quattro Stagioni, used under Creative Commons licence from musopen.org

Art and Culture 07. Legend of the Golden Ring 04.03.2026 20min

We got a bit sidetracked with all the work that we put into the Intelligent Speech conference last week, so this is a bonus episode telling the story of a Venetian legend, to give us a bit of breathing space to get back into the main research on the Fourth Crusade narrative, which will return next week. The story of the three saints and the gold ring is a curious tale which tells us something about how the medieval Venetians liked to view themselves. We hope you enjoy it. Email us at histvenicepod@gmail.com, or find us on Bluesky, Facebook, and Instagram. Intro and outro music is from Vivaldi’s Gloria, used under Creative Commons licence from musopen.org

051. Excommunication? What Excommunication? 25.02.2026 43min

It’s four years since the Crusade was originally called, and the under-sized army is still stuck in Venice, hopelessly unable to pay their hosts for the magnificent navy that has been prepared for them. A very questionable deal has been agreed that the Holy Army will take a short diversion, to help Venice to recapture the nearby Dalmatian port of Zara. But with the Pope very definitely opposed to the plan, can this fractious and unstable coalition stay together long enough to avoid the entire venture collapsing into a chaos of bitter recriminations? Email us at histvenicepod@gmail.com, or find us on Bluesky, Facebook, and Instagram. Intro and outro music is Primavera from Vivaldi’s Le Quattro Stagioni, used under Creative Commons licence from musopen.org

050. Show Me The Money 18.02.2026 44min

The contract of 1201 was simple. Venice will build a fleet for 33,500 men, and the crusaders will pay for it, spreading the cost across four instalments. Well, Venice has now built that fleet, and the accounts are overdue. But where are the crusaders, and where is their money? Email us at histvenicepod@gmail.com, or find us on Bluesky, Facebook, and Instagram. Intro and outro music is Primavera from Vivaldi’s Le Quattro Stagioni, used under Creative Commons licence from musopen.org

Casanova Part 8 Bonus. Remebering Henriette 14.02.2026 32min

So, what happened after Casanova and Henriette parted in Geneva on that cold morning early in 1750? We had a chat about the rest of the story after the end of the recording of the main episode, so if you'd like to know about the two further times that they met each other later in life, and some theories about who she might really have been, tune in for this bonus Valentine's Day special. Music is from Vivaldi's "Estate" (Summer) from Le Quattro Stagioni, used under Creative Commons licence from musopen.org

Casanova Part 8. His Greatest Love 11.02.2026 57min

"Tu oublieras aussi Henriette". The words scratched with diamond on a window of the finest hotel in Geneva remained scored on Casanova's soul for 50 years. This week, we tell the story of the woman he adored without reservation. If you're looking for a love story for Valentine's Day, look no further. Email us at histvenicepod@gmail.com, or find us on Bluesky, Facebook, and Instagram. Intro music is Estate (Summer) from Antonio Vivaldi’s Le Quattro Stagioni. Closing music is from the Adagio (mis)attributed to Tomaso Albinoni. Both are used under Creative Commons licence from musopen.org

049. The Conspiracy 04.02.2026 1val 15min

Christmas 1201. Hagenau, Alsace. While the faraway Venetian shipyards are busy building a massive fleet for the crusading army, two men with ambitions to rule the Eastern and Western Empires respectively are hatching a cunning plan. It's a long shot, but it might just work. Join us as we consider the Conspiracy of Hagenau with author and podcaster Marco Cappelli. ------------------------------ For more information about Marco's Storia d'Italia podcast, and to buy his excellent books: Website: www.italiastoria.com Books "Per un pugno di barbari" sulla crisi del III secolo "Il miglior nemico di Roma" sulla storia dei Visigoti "Quando Venezia distrusse l'Impero romano" sulla Quarta crociata --- Other links: https://linktr.ee/italiastoria ------------------------------------------- Don't forget that we'll be at the Intelligent Speech conference on 28 February this year. Tickets are available from: https://intelligentspeechonline.com/tickets/ Use the discount code VENICE for 10% off at the checkout. _________________________________________ Email us at histvenicepod@gmail.com, or find us on Bluesky, Facebook, and Instagram. Intro and outro music is Primavera from Vivaldi’s Le Quattro Stagioni, used under Creative Commons licence from musopen.org

048. Crusaders Assemble 28.01.2026 53min

Pope Innocent wants a Crusade. The Venetians are good and devout Catholics, but what they really want is trade. How do these two forces combine in the preparations for the Pope’s glorious attempts to recapture the lost territory of the Holy Land? In the second part of our epic series on the 4th Crusade we look at how the early fateful decisions were made, as the Doge agrees a contract with the Marshal of Champagne. Everything that happens later flows from here. Email us at histvenicepod@gmail.com, or find us on Bluesky, Facebook, and Instagram. Intro and outro music is Primavera from Vivaldi’s Le Quattro Stagioni, used under Creative Commons licence from musopen.org

047. Introducing the Crusade of the Liars 21.01.2026 53min

We've finally reached the Fourth Crusade. To kick us off with the background, we speak to history podcaster and author Marco Cappelli, whose recent book "Quando Venezia Distrusse l'Impero Romano" lays out the whole story in colourful and captivating detail. We ask him about the political environment in the crusading movement and in Byzantium when the new Pope Innocent III calls yet another crusade in 1198. It's going to be a bumpy ride. Email us at histvenicepod@gmail.com, or find us on Bluesky, Facebook, and Instagram. Find Marco's podcast, Storia d'Italia, on all good podcast providers. Storia d'Italia website: www.italiastoria.com Join Marco's mailing list Read his books: - "Per un pugno di barbari" sulla crisi del III secolo - "Il miglior nemico di Roma" sulla storia dei Visigoti - "Quando Venezia distrusse l'Impero romano" sulla Quarta crociata Intro and outro music is Primavera from Vivaldi’s Le Quattro Stagioni, used under Creative Commons licence from musopen.org

046. Blind Man's Promise 14.01.2026 52min

In 1192, Venice elects a new Doge. In an age of warrior kings, the Venetian electoral college picks an 85-year-old blind man. It’s time for us to meet the legendary Enrico Dandolo. Recommended reading for this episode: Thomas Madden “Enrico Dandolo and the Rise of Venice”. Email us at histvenicepod@gmail.com, or find us on Bluesky, Facebook, and Instagram. Intro and outro music is Primavera from Vivaldi’s Le Quattro Stagioni, used under Creative Commons licence from musopen.org