Venice Unveiled: Charlie Hall’s Captivating Talk on the Marine City.
10 November 2025 - Academic
Last week, pupils and staff enjoyed a captivating talk by Charlie Hall on Venice: The Marine City. Charlie took us on a journey through the origins, geography, history, art and culture of this extraordinary city built on water.
We learned how Venice’s unique location (rising from saltwater canals) shaped not only its architecture but also its artistic legacy. One particularly intriguing insight was how the saline environment made traditional fresco painting impossible. Instead, Venetian artists turned to canvas, originally used for ship sails, as their medium. This innovation led to Venice becoming a pioneer in oil painting on canvas, giving rise to masterpieces by artists such as Bellini and Titian.
Charlie also shared the astonishing fact that beneath one Venetian church, there are more than over a million wooden piles, trees driven into the lagoon floor to support the city’s buildings. This remarkable engineering feat highlights the ingenuity required to build and sustain Venice over centuries and the hidden forest that lies beneath.
Charlie’s engaging delivery and deep knowledge left the audience with a renewed appreciation for Venice not just as a tourist destination, but as a symbol of resilience, innovation, and cultural richness.
A big thank you to Charlie Hall for such an enlightening and thought-provoking presentation.
Emma Bowen.
Head of Higher Education.
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