Once upon a time, it was not uncommon for Venetian girls to be orphaned or without a dowry, and often, unfortunately, the only option open to them was prostitution. To deal with this sad reality, centers were founded where these young women could grow up and learn a trade, so that they could later find legitimate work and live with dignity. One of these centers was the church of the Zitelle on the Giudecca. Over time, a real lace school was created here, which became famous throughout Europe for the amazing products that these so-called ‘zitelle’ created.
