City of Falling Angels

On January 29, 1996, a suddenly ignited fire almost completely destroyed the famous Venetian opera house "La Fenice" — only the walls remained of the 18th-century architectural monument. John Berendt, who arrived in Venice three days after the tragedy, witnessed how the disaster changed the daily life of the city. By communicating with locals and expats, Berendt gradually reconstructs the chain of events that led to the fire. Against the backdrop of this almost detective story unfolds the millennia-old history of Venice and its inhabitants, past and present, geniuses and villains, all equally bright, interesting, and ready to tell the stories of their extraordinary lives.