Dave Duncan - The Alchemist's Code

Piazzetta an extension of the Piazza, flanking the palace

Porte or Sublime Porte, the Sultan’s government in Constantinople

Quarantia the Council of Forty, very roughly equal to a supreme court but with administrative duties also. The three chiefs of the Quarantia are also members of the Signoria salone a reception hall salotto a living room sbirro (pl: sbirri) a police constable scuola (pl: scuole) a confraternity (restricted to commoners) sequin a gold coin equal to 440 soldi (22 lire)

Serenissima, La the Republic of Venice

Signori di Notte young aristocrats elected to run the local sbirri

Signoria the doge and his six counselors, plus the three chiefs of the Quarantia soldo (pl: soldi) see DUCAT

Ten see COUNCIL OF TEN

Three the state inquisitors, a subcommittee of the Council of Ten traghetto a permanent mooring station for public-hire gondolas; also the association of gondoliers that owns it

Tuscan the language of Florence, which became modern Italian

Veneziano the language of Venice vizio Missier Grande ’s deputy

Wells the prison cells on the ground floor of the Doges’ Palace zonta a group of extra members added to a committee