About the book: year / On January 29, 1996, a sudden fire that broke out almost completely destroyed the famous Venetian opera house La Fenice - only the walls remained from the 18th-century architectural monument. John Behrendt, who arrived in Venice three days after the tragedy, saw with his own eyes how the disaster changed the daily life of the city. Communicating with local residents and expats, Behrendt gradually reconstructs the chain of events that led to the fire. And against the backdrop of this almost detective story unfolds the thousand-year history of Venice and its inhabitants, past and present, geniuses and villains, but equally bright, interesting and ready to tell the stories of their extraordinary lives.