Campo San Bortolomio

The bronze statue of Carlo Goldoni stands in the center of Campo San Bortolomio, his hand extended as if he is inviting the crowd into a play. He was a Venetian playwright who brought realism to the Italian stage, shifting drama away from masked improvisation toward written scripts. Locals used to call the spot where he stands the fish market, because it actually served as one until the late nineteenth century. Now, the open space acts as a meeting point for people navigating the city.