Just a few steps from St. Mark’s Square, passing under the Clock Tower, about 20 meters ahead on the left, you can see — high up on the first floor, just above the Sotoportego Calle del Cappello Nero — a marble relief sculpture of an elderly woman holding a vase, with a stone plaque below bearing the date: 15 June 1310 (XV Giugno MCCCX). This commemorates a serious historical event that occurred on that very day, one that marked the history of the Venetian Republic.
A group of noble families conspired to overthrow the Republic and the Doge.
The conspirators gathered just beneath the window of the elderly woman before launching their attack.
Leading the rebellion was Bajamonte Tiepolo, and Signora Giustina Rossi — from her window — dropped a stone mortar, of the kind used to pound dried codfish (stoccafisso) with oil and garlic (a traditional Venetian dish), onto the standard-bearer’s head, fatally injuring him. The conspirators were thrown into confusion and fled the scene. The rebels retreated to the Rialto Bridge, where they barricaded themselves.
The sculpture remains as a tribute to the foiled conspiracy and to the woman known as “la vecia del mortèr” (the old lady with the mortar), who later made only two modest requests:
that neither she nor her heirs ever have their rent increased (the home was owned by the Procurators of St. Mark), and that she be allowed to display a commemorative banner from her window every year.
Both requests were granted, and the banner was displayed every year on St. Vitus’ Day, until 1797. The last remaining example of the banner is preserved in the Correr Museum.
