What is the Chèba?
The Chèba was a particular instrument of torture used in the Republic of Venice. A wooden or iron cage suspended at a certain height from the ground, within which the condemned was locked. It could be attached to a chain hanging from a pole coming out of the wall of a building, or leaning directly against its masonry.
During the period of the sentence, which varied according to the crime committed, the prisoner could feed himself through a string with which he could drag bread and water to drink.
Where does the term Chèba come from?
The term, coming from the Venetian dialect, in Italian means cage..
It was primarily designed to punish clergymen guilty of sodomy, murder, forgery and blasphemy, and remained in use until the late 15th century.
It is said that this sentence was imposed on 24 dicembre 1391 to Jacopo Tanto, parroco della chiesa di san Maurizio, che aveva ucciso un altro prete. In quell’occasione la pena fu a vita.
A chèba (once) at the bell tower of San Marco
For a couple of centuries the bell tower of San Marco housed a chèba, probably built of wood and strengthened with iron, and hung with chains or a rope to a beam that protruded from a hole in the middle of the brick barrel of the bell tower, above the bakers' shops.
The cage. was removed in the sixteenth century after welcoming its last guest, the priest Francis of San Polo, who had blasphemed for the adverse luck to the game.
The prisons of Palazzo delle Prigioni in Venice
The Palazzo delle Prigioni offers the opportunity to view the instruments of torture, prisons and period clothes still today, as well as learn about the stories and legends of a distant Venice. A piece of history witnessing the death and torture machines once used as instruments of justice.
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