Chapter 1, "An Evening in Venice" Summary

In chapter 1, John Berendt, the main character and author, arrives in Venice three days after the fire has ruined the Fenice, a historic opera house. His arrival in Venice is purely coincidence as the trip was planned months before the fire. He is discussing the fire with the taxi driver who is driving him into Venice. The reader discovers that there are two Venices; the one in which the tourists inhabit and the one inhabited by the true citizens, the Venetians. Upon his arrival, he notes that the tourist part of Venice is pretty much shut down. Hotels are closed, shops are empty, and gondolas are tethered to poles.

The other Venice is going about its daily business. However, the mood is not as lively as usual, but is instead subdued. The Venetians...