Traces of China: How silk put Venice on the map

Traces of China continues its journey into the enduring influence of Chinese aesthetics on Europe, this time through the story of silk - the most coveted fabric of the ancient world.

Carried along the Silk Road from China to Venice, silk became a bridge between East and West. So precious was the material that a few garments could buy a palace, its shimmering textures igniting Europe's imagination.

By the 12th century, the secrets of sericulture had reached Italy, giving rise to thriving silk centers in Venice, Lucca, and Florence. At the Palazzo Mocenigo Museum, fragments dating back 2,500 years reveal textiles as early forms of cross-cultural communication.

At historic workshops like Luigi Bevilacqua, traditional looms - including designs by Leonardo da Vinci - still produce exquisite velvets and silk fabrics. The Rubelli family's collection showcases centuries of craftsmanship, while modern institutions like CREA-AA research contemporary applications for silk.

Today, Italian silk once inspired by China now attracts Chinese buyers, closing a circle of cultural exchange. At Iuav University, young designers continue the tradition, reimagining silk for a new era.

From ancient trade routes to modern runways, silk endures as a luminous thread of connection across millennia.