Song of the Sea

Venice had originally been a fishing village. When the Roman Empire split in the fifth century, inland residents, harassed by the Huns and Lombards, moved there in droves. In 687, its first Doge emerged, and the Republic was established.

The Doge's Palace, now a must-see attraction in Venice, was built in the ninth century. The building was Byzantine in style. During the early days of the Republic of Venice, it was subordinate to the Eastern Roman Empire, gaining independence at the end of the tenth century. Thanks to its favorable geographical location and its convenience as a transit point for trade between East and West, it gradually became a wealthy commercial state.

From the eighth century onward, Viking pirates had constantly raided Europe's coastlines and the British Isles. Their footprints spanned the vast territory from continental Europe to the North Pole. The Normans of northern France were descendants of the Vikings.

During the Middle Ages, affected by the onset of the Little Ice Age, the peninsula was far colder than it had been in other periods. Unable to endure the sudden extreme cold, the Vikings who had once called it home began moving south.

Merchants and pirates were natural enemies. To deal with these elusive Viking pirates, the Venetians formed a powerful navy. For helping Byzantium repel the Norman attack, Venice was granted permission in 1082 to establish trading posts within the Byzantine Empire and conduct trade tax-free.

Venice and Hungary were separated by Slovenia, a mountainous country. After entering Hungary, the international train had to turn, and it was expected to arrive in Venice around three in the morning.

Although Venice was a major station, this train's final stop was Florence, which it was due to reach around seven in the morning. Slow trains were generally delayed, but people