Soon the air became unhealthy and snakes settled on the isle. Actually people believe that hundreds of them still live within its
walls. The entrance door has been walled to prevent raids.
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Sant'Ariano isle has a surface of 2.5 hectares and lies on the Northern Lagoon, between Torcello and La Cura, north of La Centrega marsh. In the old days, a bridge linked it to other small isles, now submerged. In 1565 the isle was surrounded by a wall to preserve the bones and ashes dug out of Venice cemetery when more room was needed on those grounds. 
Behind Oreste's shoulder, in the photo above, you can see the thick vegetation hiding the ossuary. 
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In the photo on your right, view of the steeple and church of Torcello isle, clad in mist, a typical feature of the lagoon, on hot sticky days. |