History
Trade and Decay
Trade
Though its economic power was reduced and slow because of the fights against Eraclea, by the barbaric invasions, Jesolo grew and strenghtened its trades with in-land towns and with the East by sailing on the sea, exporting fish, salt (there were 32 salt-mines) and manufactured products and imported wood, spices and fabrics: its port frequented by travellers and merchants who stopped for the precious wares brought by the sailors of Jesolo. In 1000 the Doge Orseolo left from the port of Jesolo with its fleet steering towards the Istrian and Dalmatian costs, defeated the pirates who infested the upper Adriatico and submitted them.
Decay
After a couple of centuries of prosperity there came a decay.
Few people remained in Jesolo slowly abandoned by nobles, with their capitals and servants, who preferred to move to Rialto and Venice, new political and economic capital of the lagoons, and those who remained were unable to face the floods of the Piave. In the autumn of 1466 Pope Paul II suppressed the Diocese remained without believers and the territory was joined to the Patriarchate of Venice.
At the beginning of the 14th Century the Bishops of Jesolo began to stay in Venice most of their time and went seldom to Jesolo and only for urgent reasons leaving the cure of the dying episcopate to canons of the cathedral.
Marco Cornaro (wrote between 1442 and 1443), thought that the abandon of the lands of Jesolo was due to the growing desolation of the environment; Jesolo had been destroyed by the floods of the two rivers Piave and Livenza, the land, turned into a marsh, had been gradually abandoned though the past architectural richness of its many churches.
The last pinnacle of the Cathedral of the 10th – 11th Century is still there to show visitors the splendour of the past. Buried under a few centimeters of ground the ancient town is waiting for diggers-archeologists and enthusiasts who could bring back to light its structure, showing to everyone the grandeur of the civilization of Jesolo.
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