Post by The Areopagite on Feb 28, 2021 18:19:58 GMT
As the pale morning sun rises over a shimmering blue lagoon, a lone galley approaches, its passengers wearied by the toils of seafaring & exhausted by the length of their undertaking, eager to finally achieve their voyage on solid ground. Scanning the horizon they begin to make out dots of light, faintly shimmering through the blue – the glint of a thousand guilded spires. Pressing on the outline of an opulent dome begins to take shape...
And there before their very eyes, through the rising mists, they perceive it – crowning jewel of canals & palaces, sprawling in all its serene magnificence: Vᴇɴɪᴄᴇ, Queen of the Adriatic.
Benvegnù te Venèçia! We are delighted to see you have taken the time to join the forums & are very glad to have you with us in this, the Most Serene Republic. Hopefully by now you will have registered for citizenship; if you not, do not worry – you can do so here.
“So, what are these beautiful buildings I see here?” you ask. Well, this is the Dogana da Mar & Santa Maria de ła Sałute, the Customs House & the Church of Saint Mary of Health. To most humble merchants – such as yourself – these would be the first sights upon arrival. It would be here that they would declare themselves to the city authorities & specify what business they had, what goods they had brought.
Now, naturally, we do not expect a customs declaration from anyone, however well it would fit with the theme of the region. Instead, we welcome everyone to introduce themselves here & say hi to the community. You will find it is from the Dogana that the rest of the City opens up to all endeavours...