Bertolome Zorzi

Bartolome Zorzi was the 13th century merchant and troubadour from a noble Venetian family whose biography is known only from his “vida” which seem to fairly be accurate.

According to his “vida”, while he was travelling with a large group of merchants to Constantinople in 1266 they were captured and imprisoned by the Genoa, which was at the time in war with Venice. During his custody many of his poems were created, and 18 of his works survived to the present day.

After seven years peace was finally concluded, and Zorzi was able to return to Venice. The doge granted Zorzi castellanies of Coron and Modon in southwestern Morea. According to his “vida”, there he fell in love with a beautiful local noblewoman and spent the rest of his life.

He died about 1300.