The allotment of districts in Venice goes back to 1771 at the time of the Doge Vitale Michiel II. The districts were divided according to their location in respect to the Grand Canal. The districts "de citra", were San Marco, Castello, and Canareggio. The districts "de ultra", were on the other bank of the Grand Canal and include S.Croce, S.Polo, Dorsoduro and the island of the Giudecca. San Marco takes the name from the basilica and at the time it was the political and commercial center with the palace of the Doge, the seat of the government, and the offices of the Procuratie…the magistrates and courts.