Secrets of the Lagoon: The Ghostly Bells of Torcello

​When looking out at the Venetian Lagoon from Riva Rialto, the water seems peaceful, hiding centuries of secrets beneath its shimmering surface. If you venture north towards the island of Torcello, you will find a place where time stands still. But beneath the nearby waters lies Ammiana, a once-thriving Roman city that completely vanished centuries ago, swallowed by the rising tides and shifting mud.

​The Echoes in the Fog

Ammiana was rich with churches, monasteries, and grand palaces. Today, nothing remains above water. However, local fishermen and sailors swear that on cold, foggy autumn evenings, when the lagoon is dead silent, you can still hear the faint, muffled sound of church bells ringing from beneath the waves.

​Legend says these are the bells of the sunken monastery of San Felice. They are not rung by human hands, but by the movement of the tides, serving as a ghostly reminder of the fragile balance between Venice and the sea that embraces her.

​Respecting the Sea

This hauntingly beautiful tale reminds us of the immense power and generosity of our lagoon. The sea gives, and the sea takes. At Riva Rialto, we treat the sea with the utmost respect. The fresh seafood we serve every day is a gift from these historic waters, prepared with the care and reverence that a city built on water truly owes to its greatest protector.