The Roman Empire

Once Roman influence spread to north-eastern Italy, there followed a prosperous period of 300 years that favoured the arts and architecture, peaceful agriculture and trade. Unfortunately, however, after the fall of the Roman Empire in AD 476, the region was invaded and plundered by barbarian hordes and much was lost. Ever resourceful, though, the people of the destroyed cities took refuge in the coastal lagoons and established new towns such as Venice, Chioggia, Caorle and Grado.