"Mendicoli" means beggars, by which takes name, together with the Campo and the Church, also the district, living by an humble and poor population of fishermen and craftsmen, the Nicolotti, one of the two faction whose Venice was divided until ancient time. The little popular community of Nicolotti had an own standard and a Column with a winged lion, existing also today in the Campo of San Nicolò, near the Church. The Nicolotti, until the fall of the Republic of Venice, continued having a representative of themselves, called "Gastaldo" or "Doge of Nicolotti" and he was the chief of the fishermen of the district, elected during a meeting of inhabitants of the parish in the church of San Nicolò, with the presence of a representative of the domination. The Doge of Nicolotti wore, during public ceremonies, a garment in satin and red cloth with the wig and the typical gentlemen cap; worn in this way, the day after the election, amidst a big crowd of people, he went to Palazzo Ducale where he was received by the Doge with whom exchanged a fraternal hug. The Church of San Nicolò is one of the most ancient and popular Venetian churches, founded perhaps during VII century and later rebuilt and modified many times. Nearby the church, there is the stately square bell tower, built in Venetian - Byzantine style (end of XII century). In front of the principal facade of the church, that present still some parts dated from 1200, was reopened, with old material, a little portico with pillar, built during XV century, similar the one present in many other Venetian churches, almost disappeared everywhere, used for house for poor religious women. Although the later changes, inside the church the structure type basilica appears clearly.