Editing World of A Song of Ice and Fire (section)

====Braavos====
Unique among the Free Cities, Braavos was not a Valyrian colony, but a secret refuge from Valyrian expansion.{{sfn|''A Feast for Crows''|loc=Cat of the Canals, pp. 722–728}} It is a city spread over hundreds of tiny islands in a lagoon on the northwestern end of Essos, where the Narrow Sea and Shivering Sea meet.{{sfn|''A Game of Thrones''|loc=Jon V, p. 447}}{{sfn|''A Dance with Dragons''|loc=Map}} Braavos is home to the 'Iron Bank', one of the wealthiest banks in the known world.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.businessinsider.com/game-of-thrones-everything-to-know-about-the-iron-bank-of-braavos-2017-8#what-is-the-iron-bank-of-braavos-1|title = Everything you need to know about the Iron Bank of Braavos, which will be important on 'Game of Thrones' next Sunday|website = [[Business Insider]]}}</ref> Braavos is also known for its swordsmen known as 'bravos',<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.ign.com/wikis/game-of-thrones/Braavos|title = Braavos - Game of Thrones Wiki Guide - IGN| date=5 April 2012 }}</ref> and its mysterious assassins, the Faceless Men. It is also famed for the Titan of Braavos, both a fortress and a statue. The ruler of Braavos is known as the Sealord and it is from the sea that the city's power and wealth flows. The hulls of Braavosi ships are painted purple{{sfn| ''A Dance with Dragons''|loc=Davos, pp. 194}} and their merchant ships sail to many distant lands and bring their trade and wealth back home.{{sfn|''A Game of Thrones''|loc=Arya IV, pp. 530–531}} Braavos has many moneylenders and the Iron Bank of Braavos lends money to foreign nations, especially The Crown, which has borrowed millions.

Braavosi dress in flashy colors while the very rich and powerful dress in black and in blues that are almost black. Officials of Braavos, called keyholders and justiciars, wear drab coats of brown or grey. The city is also renowned worldwide for its [[courtesan]]s. Every courtesan has her own barge and servants to work them. The beauty of famed courtesans has inspired many a song. They are showered with gifts from goldsmiths and craftsmen beg for their custom. Nobility and rich merchants pay the courtesans large amounts of money to appear alongside them at events, and bravos are known to kill each other in their names. The character Syrio Forel, former first sword of the Sealord of Braavos, introduces Arya Stark to a unique form of Braavosi sword fighting, called Water Dancing.{{sfn|''A Game of Thrones''|loc=Arya IV, pp. 530–531}} The style is a refined form of fencing in which the practitioner stands sideways and wields a slender blade. Pugnacious bravos fill the city, frequently dueling to display their skill.

Braavos was inspired by [[Venice]], Italy.<ref group=S name=FrankelBook/> It was filmed in Croatian towns of [[Šibenik]], and [[Kaštel Gomilica]] In the TV series, locations used as Braavos included the [[Croatia]]n town of [[Šibenik]] and the [[Spain|Spanish]] town of [[Girona]].<ref group=S name=Skyscanner/>