In 1113 the Mastelli family, a merchant family who traded in silk and spices, arrived in Venice from the Pelepponesus in Greece, and they quickly bought much of the property in this campo, which is called “Campo dei Mori” in their honour: they were called “Mori”, “Moors” due to their dark complexion. The three Mastelli brothers can be seen in Istrian stone nestled in the wall near the bridge, plus one of their servants with a camel to show their distant origin. The statue on the corner of the wall next to the Osteria is the eldest brother Rioba, whose nose fell off and was replaced with a piece of black metal. Some say that rubbing the nose will bring good fortune, and there’s no harm in trying.
