It is in fact nothing but market gardens, a few houses where Venetian sportsmen stay when they shoot duck and are royally fed by kitcheners whose brass and copper make the mouth water, and a great forlorn solitary cathedral.
History tells us that in the sixth century, a hundred and more years after the flight of the mainlanders to Rialto and Malamocco, another exodus occurred, under fear of Alboin and the invading Lombards, this time to Torcello.

The way was led by the clergy, and quickly a church was built to hearten the emigrants.

Of this church there remain the deserted buildings before us, springing from the weeds, but on a scale which makes simple realization of the populousness of the ancient colony.
The charming octagonal little building on the right with its encircling arcade is the church of S.Fosca, now undergoing very thorough repair: in fact everything that a church can ask is being restored to it, save religion.

No sea cave could be less human than these deserted temples, given over now to sightseers and to custodians who demand admittance money.

The pit railed in on the left before the cathedral's west wall is in the ancient baptistery, where complete immersion was practised.