The constant tension between Venice's deteriorating physical structure and the efforts to preserve its historical legacy serves as a metaphor for the broader struggle between tradition and progress. Berendt expertly illustrates how this physical decay mirrors the social and cultural transformations within Venetian society.

Through detailed portraits of Venice's elite families, artists, and preservationists, Berendt exposes the intricate web of relationships and power dynamics that govern the city. The investigation of the Fenice fire becomes a lens through which to examine how influence is wielded in modern Venice.

The book explores how Venetians grapple with their cultural identity in a city that increasingly caters to tourism and global interests. The destruction of the Fenice becomes a symbol for the larger questions about authenticity and cultural preservation in a changing world.