As the Lombards sweep through the north-east of Italy, some of the inhabitants of the Byzantine province of Venetia retreat to form new permanent settlements on the islands of the long, narrow coastal lagoon. The foundation stone of the Basilica of Santa Maria Assunta on the island of Torcello dates from 639AD, giving us the first evidence of permanent buildings in the scattered settlements that will eventually coalesce to form the city of Venice.
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