Francesco da Mosto

[1] The family's previous Venice residence, the Ca' da Mosto, which can be seen from the Rialto market by the Grand Canal, was lost through marriage[5] in the 17th century, when Chiara da Mosto, a female member of the family, married four times, with each husband dying of natural causes – thus enabling her to become one of the wealthiest people in Venice.

[1] Unfortunately for the da Mosto family, the childless widow had a falling-out with them and on her death in 1603 she left everything to Leonardo Donà dalle Rose, a nephew of her second husband, who went on to become Doge.

[1] Da Mosto lives in his family home in Venice, with his South African-born wife Jane,[7] his four children, and his parents.

[8] When BBC Two decided to make a four-part series about the history of Venice, they contacted Francesco to be the host.

[12] Da Mosto's series Francesco's Italy: Top to Toe, broadcast on BBC Two, shows his journey from his home city of Venice to his mother's origins in Sicily.