Friendinvenice Let’s discover Venice & the history of its courtesans PT

Venice, this wonderful city rising out of the water, was one of the wonders in Europe, and during the 15th and 16th century one the richest in the Mediterranean Sea with a population of approx. 170.00 thousand inhabitants.
More than 11.000 were courtesans…In a cosmopolitan and active city like Venice, at the time of the Serenissima the courtesan phenomenon found fertile ground. The Republic was not only the beating heart of a thriving commercial activity, but also a center of passage for merchants , for pilgrims, people on the move, foreigners of all sorts .Many were those who went to the lagoon due to the high number of precious relics. As many as those that arrived in the wake of the oriental routes for the sale of luxury goods. The phenomenon of prostitution flourished in this purely male environment. Like most activities it was not only controlled by the city government but also used as a tool to maintain public order
Let’s explore the Venetian courtesan culture

Ponte Della Donna Onesta(the honest woman)

Some courtesans lived and worked in this area

But who were the courtesans?

There were 2 classes of courtesans:

1) Cortigiane Lume, (the courtesan of the light) a lower-class courtesan.

CORTIGIANE DI LUME

Called like this because in order to be recognized and attract customers they ‘d light a candle at the window. They lived in unhealthy hovels and were frequented by the populace.

They wore canvas jackets, shirts and men’s breeches. On their heads they had a veil , which jutted out over the head to cover the entire forehead. The honest courtesans chose the client, as opposed to the light ones that were chosen by the customer.

2) Cortigiana Onesta the Honest courtesan

The courtesans called “honest” were defined in this way not for their rectitude, but because they were honored and respected.

They were often born into patrician or merchant families, very well educated and cultivated, they could attend public libraries and they spoke different languages

They were very independent and many of them were artists, poets, singers and intellectuals with social and conversation skills, intelligence and companionship.

They were very beautiful, with very good manners ready to participate in a variety of topics ranging from Art to Music to Politics.

Some courtesans were very successful, and they could enjoy a very luxury life because

they were supported and maintained by their patrons. Moreover, courtesans often went out into society in the company of their protectors, accompanying them in social functions and sometimes even taking the place of their legitimate spouses.

Fondamenta del Buso
It was the little dock from where clients took the gondola ferry to go to the red light district.(the word “buso” in Venetian also has the meaning of female sex).Venice, a land of merchants, a port where goods and people from all over the Mediterranean converged, was in fact also known for its beauty. Not the architectural or artistic ones, but those in flesh and blood. Just from “Calle del Buso” opens what could be called the sex itinerary, which allowed the inhabitants of the lagoon and the many adventurers to immerse themselves in the pleasures of the city, including the “graces” of courtesans and prostitutes. In short, the ancient stones of the Rialto Bridge, if they could talk, they would have so many spicy stories to tell to be able to fill a beautiful tome, and maybe even get a good script for a red light film, what do you say?

The Tits Bridge and ‘Carampane’ in Venice
In San Polo in Venice, there is a bridge with a very unique name: the Bridge of Tits. In fact, near the bridge there were several brothels and prostitutes often came to their windows ‘exposing the goods’. At the time of the Venice Republic this was a red light neighbourhood, regulated by the government in a very precise way.

It seems that the government of the Republic imposed prostitutes to show their breasts to entice passers-by; homosexuality was widespread among Venetians and the government tried various ways to counter it.

Also, not far away is the Rio terà of Carampane, another name connected with the oldest profession in the world. In fact, there stood the homes of Mr. Rampani, which were used as a hospice for old and retired prostitutes. In Venetian cà means ‘house’, and so from that moment on, the word carampana indicated an old untidy woman, a term which still used today.

)Fashion

They were very charming, elegant and fashion trend setters.
Their bright-colored costumes, nice décolleté, nearly naked breasts, with very richly embroidered sleeves, a bavero, a neck piece made of beautiful handmade lace.
They wore elegant “zimarra”, velvet coats with gold buttons, with “vaio” squirrel fur and surcoats lined with “garter fur”, satin or ormesino long skirts. The most famous walked the salizzade and the calli followed by pages and servants and wore precious jewels.
They usually curled their hair and dyed it blond, collecting it with silk ribbon cors in a gold net. They followed the advice of a famous alchemist, the noblewoman Isabella Cortese, who in 1500 published the book “Secreta”, dedicated to female cosmetics.
Famous for their appearance, the courtesans were used by artists as models in paintings, especially where female nudity appeared, perhaps in mythological or biblical contexts. There were also numerous paintings that depicted them individually, such as those of Veronica Franco, famous for her poems. Veronica Franco – The luxury and beauty of Venetian courtesans
The coiffure consisted of hair forming 2 crowns decorated with gold and silver and fresh flowers.Extremely high platform shoes (20-inch The Luxury and beauty of Venetian courtesans captured the attention of a large part of the cultured and high-place male world, which spread an almost mythologized image of these women

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• Friendinvenice Let’s discover Venice & the history of its courtesans PT
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