Caorle

Infobox CityIT
name = Caorle
official_name=Comune di Caorle
img_coa= Caorle-Stemma.pngregion = Veneto
mayor=Marco Sarto
province = Venice (VE)
coordinates = coord|45|36|N|12|53|E
elevation_m = 1
area_total_km2 = 151.52
population_total = 11801
population_as_of = 2004
population_density_km2 = 75
frazioni = Porto Santa Margherita, Duna Verde, Ca' Corniani, Ca' Cottoni, San Giorgio di Livenza, San Gaetano, Brian, Brussa, Castello di Brussa, Ottava Presa, Marango, Villaviera
neighbours = Concordia Sagittaria, Eraclea, Portogruaro, San Michele al Tagliamento, Santo Stino di Livenza, Torre di Mosto
postalcode = 30021
telephone= 0421
istat = 027005
catasto = B642
gentilic= Caprulani or Caorlotti
saint= Santo Stefano
day= December 26
website = [http://www.comune.caorle.ve.it www.comune.caorle.ve.it ] Caorle (Ca'orle) is a coastal town in the province of Venezia, Veneto, Italy, between estuaries of Livenza and Lemene.

History

The ancient name of the city was "Caprulae" (possibly because of the wild goats that grazed in this area, or in honour of pagan goddess Capris); Caorle was founded in the 1st century BC, as a Roman bench mark. Many archeological findings confirm that; for istance the sacrificial altar called "Ara Licovia" (from Licovi's Roman family), today kept in the cathedral.

Caorle gained importance when people from Concordia Sagittaria looked for a refuge because of the barbarian invasions. In that period, the Paleo-Christian church was built, some remains of which are today kept in the cathedral museum. In the 11th century the current cathedral was built, the see of many bishops. During the following centuries, Caorle became one of the nine important cities of the Republic of Venice; the witness of that are the many Istrian flagstones which composed some monuments in the city, and also the ancient structure of the city, with bridge and canals, like a little Venice. At the end of the Serenissima Republic and with the napoleonic invasions, Caorle went into decline; the diocese was moved to Chioggia and Caorle was attached to Patriarch of Venice; for a memory from ancient times Caorle still is an ecclesiastical titular see.

In the recent past, Caorle was an important strategic location in World War I, until the Italian Army started its counteroffensive from the Piave.

Main sights

Cathedral

The Cathedral of St. Stephen is the most important monument of Caorle; built in 1038, it is a particular example of Romanesque and "Byzantine-Ravennate" style. Its façade is simple; near the central door there are two bas-reliefs (left St. Agatonico, right St. William); the interior is organized with a nave and two side aisles, divided by pillars and columns which support semi-circular arches, and it has a truss-beam roof. There are many masterpieces of the Venetian school of art; the most important piece is "The Last Supper", painted by Gregorio Lazzarini (master of the famous painter Tiepolo). The central apse has the remains of a seventeeth-century fresco; above the see there is the "Pala d'oro" (golden altar-piece), given by the queen Catherine Cornaro when, after a shipwreck, she found refuge in the Caprulan coasts. It is made up of a set of six panels, two for the "Annunciation" (Archangel Gabriel and Blessed Virgin Mary) and the other four for the prophets and Christ. From the roof, a fifteenth-century crucifix hangs above the modern high altar (the ancient one was sold along with many others; only four altars remain today). Outside, the characteristic bell tower, of 1048, rises to a height of 48 meters. It is a typical example of romanesque style, but it has a cylindrical structure, and it is surmounted by a cone-shaped cusp, that makes it unique in the world.

Belonging to the cathedral, there is the liturgical museum, inaugurated on September 13 1975 by Patriarch Albino Luciani (future Pope John Paul I) in the old bishops' chapel; it keep vestments, altar cloths and holy vessels of the Caprulan bishops, and of the Pope John XXIII, who was very attached to Caorle since he was also Patriarch of Venice. When he became Pope, his servants were two Caprulan brothers. In the museum, there are also a precious silver "Capitular Cross", six icons of the apostles (which formed the ancient iconostasis, painted by Venetian school of art in XII - XIII centuries, and a silver-gold reliquary, said of "the most precious Blood", which, according to tradition, contains a lot of ground where the bleeding Jesus Christ passed before he was crucified. Another important piece of the museum is the St Stephen reliquary, that contains the skull of the Saint, Patron of Caorle.

Blessed Virgin of the Angel church

The church of Blessed Virgin of the Angel is built on a little promontory on the sea. In ancient times, the church had three naves, but the sea repeatedly destroyed one of them. So in eighteenth century the church was rebuilt, with the structure that it has today. The legend says that one day a number of fishermen saw a light on the sea; when they approached it, they found a statue of the Virgin Mary with Child, and they carried it to the shore. The bishop and the townspeople tried to carry the statue to the cathedral but it was very heavy; so the bishop called a group of children (because of their innocence) and they succeeded in carrying it to the nearby church of Archangel Michael (for this "Virgin of the Angel").

Devotion to the "Virgin of the sea" is very important for Caprulan people; to her are dedicated two festivals: the annual "feast of incoronation" (during which there is the traditional "fire of the bell tower", with fireworks) and the five-year feast of the Virgin of the Angel (Pope John XXIII wanted it to take place every five years).

Tourism

Caorle is a small city, but in every season it fills up with tourists. The old town centre is still structured as a little Venetian corner, with its coloured houses, "calli" and "campielli". In summer there are many activities for families on the long beach and also in the caprulan lagoon (one of the examples of Venetian lagoons), where many characteristic "casoni" stand (the huts where fishermen lived in the winter while fishing).

Notable people

Recently, the city of Caorle gave honorary citizenship to Rigoberta Menchú Tum (Nobel Peace Prize) and to Cardinal Angelo Scola, Patriarch of Venice.

External links

* [http://www.webcamcaorle.it.] 4 Webcam live in history city and west/east beach with meteo station live.
* [http://www.caorlevacanze.it/eng/index.html CaorleVacanze.it] Official Portal site about Caorle, Duna Verde, Porto Santa Margherita.
* [http://www.caorle.it/ing/ caorle.it] All the information about Caorle.
* [http://www.caorle-tourism.com Caorle Tourism] , On this website you can find helpful information about the city, accommodation, restaurants, excursions, etc. in Caorle.
* [http://www.caorle.com/eng/ Caorle.com] Portal about Caorle with information and tourist resources.