The island was known as Riva Alta, and could not fail to attract the first inhabitants of Venezia, who already in 810 decided that this was the ideal place for the markets. In this district there was not only the market, but also the first ducal residence, prisons, courts, city warehouses and military barracks.

If San Marco was the political heart of Venezia, Rialto was undoubtedly the commercial center of the city, where bargained barges arrived at dawn and unload boxes and baskets on the quay along the Grand Canal.

The Rialto Market at the time was already divided according to the product categories for sale, the main areas are the Erbaria, which from 1097 until a few years ago, housed the general fruit and vegetable market, located in Campo Erbaria, Beccaria became a public slaughterhouse, the Casaria the cheese market, the Pescaria became the fish market set up in a covered Gothic building.

Unlike the canals of the city where the fish was sold directly from the fishing boats, wooden fish stalls were set up here, and the Ruga degli Speziale, where the spice merchants with their original showcases recall the exotic abundance that once upon a time. characterized the Venice market.

From here it was proclaimed the officers to the people, but the Venetians used it to denounce abuses, negligence and other injustices. Also worthy of note are the marble plaques which, already centuries ago, regulated the minimum size of the fish allowed according to the various species. Today the local production mainly includes the succulent asparagus and artichokes from the islands of Sant'Erasmo and Vignole which characterized the market of Venezia.