This week Be Venetian participated in the filming of a documentary on the Lazzaretto Novo. The island of Lazzaretto Novo is the oldest quarantine station in the world.
All travellers arriving in Venice from the late 1400s were subject to a health check. Those suspected of being infected with the plague were quarantined on the island of Lazzaretto Novo, until they were deemed safe.
A special “plague doctor” performed these health checks. From the early 1600s the plague doctor wore a distinct protective dress, which included a beaked mask.
We participaged in the part of the documentary where the plague doctor travels across the lagoon towards the Lazzaretto Novo island.
The Lazzaretto Novo is now a museum, open for guided visits on weekends.
