Campo dei Mori

 Campo dei Mori is the square of the Moors. The three statues set in the walls of the square are three Mastelli brothers – Rioba, Sandi and Afani. According to the little that is known about them, they were silk or spice traders and took refuge in Venice in 1112 where they built Palazzo Mastelli – recognizable by the camel bas-relief.

One legend has it that they defrauded a woman who prayed to Santa Maria Maddalena to curse the brothers. As a result, the Mastelli brothers were turned into stone statues as a warning to anyone who passed by.

The most famous statue is that of Antonio Rioba. His nose was replaced with a piece of iron in the 19th century. Legend has it that rubbing his nose will bring luck.

A short distance away, there’s a bas-relief on the facade of Palazzo Mastelli showing a man with a turban leading a camel – refering to the brothers’ trade.

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