Venice

Whilst Rome has been and will always be Italy’s most sought-after destination for pilgrims, Venice once was the ultimate market-place for merchants from all over the world, who brought splendour and riches to the city. In later ages also came the admirers of all forms of art, and this has never changed. The city seems to patiently accept all its visitors, at whatsoever time of the year or day they come. Pigeons everywhere, but also expensive as well as cheap little shops with tacky souvenirs overcrowd the streets, but the complete picture also gives imposing palaces, beautiful, ancient dwellings and of course, lots of waterways in which the rich variety in colours and forms is reflected.

There is so much to tell about Venice…

so it is not surprising that there are a lot of travel-guides, video’s etc to be bought; The past of Venice is depicted in all the forms most appealing to the individual, but one should not forget the present, the day-to-day life. To experience this, one really should be there, in person. Art students form part of Venice’s daily life just as much as the workshops where arts and crafts are sold, e.g. glassware in more varieties than you knew existed and relative prices, splendid works of art in writing paper, woodcuttings and –engravings, the most “noble” cloths, papier-mâché, high quality chocolates and hand-made pasta’s.

Religious feasts and festivals Throughout the year there are feasts and or festivals, to start with the famous carnevale in February. This is a real “must” for carnival-lovers, because throughout the ages the Venetians have made the design of their costumes and masks into a fine art. All through the city, you will find the most wonderful or strange figures, posing for a picture or enjoying a beverage in one of the many cafes to chase the oft damp chill of winter from their bones.

In March, there is the “Su e zo per i ponti”, a city walk for professionals and amateurs, who walk up and down the numerous bridges of the city.

Then, in April, the feast of Saint Marc is celebrated, the “Festa di San Marco”. Gondola’s run for first place from Sant’Elena to Punta della Dogana. Customarily, the men then offer a red rose to their loved ones.

And now, we are in the month of May, when the Mayor of Venice is the one to celebrate the so-called wedding with the sea, “La Sensa”. This picturesque celebration dates back to an age-old story, when the ruler of Venice, the Doge, threw a ring into the sea to mark the wedding of the city with the sea, the partner to be kept friendly with a costly present. One Sunday later, there is a boat-race of 32 km. from the Piazza San Marco to Burano and back, the so-called “Vogalonga”, with at least a hundred boats participating.

Once every two years, the city hosts the world famous “Biennale”.

In July, the wide canal of the Giudecca is largely filled with pontoons to celebrate Venice’s deliverance from the pest in the year 1576, the “Festa del Redentore”. On this day, all true Venetians hang around in their boats, to finally end the feast with lots of fireworks.

The film festival is in September at the Lido, and also the famous “Regatta Storica”, a historical, costumed feast with a procession of boats and gondola’s on the Canal Grande, followed by a race between rowers and gondoliers.

Finally, to honour the great Santa Maria della Salute, the Canal Grande is filled with pontoons as far as the church of this name. In this way, the end of the pest epidemic in 1630 is celebrated.

Venice for those who love a little drink…

When evening is falling, when the tourists for a day left the city and the pigeons have settled for the night, then the real Venice is awakening. And then, especially during the winter months, you will have special reasons to enjoy a walk through the windy little streets because the “ombre” will taste like nectar! An “ombre” is a glass of wine, accompanied by tasty antipasti such as olives, onion-rings, mushrooms and the like. It seems that some Venetians start their “walk in the shadows” already at 11 o’clock in the morning, perhaps reasoning that somewhere in the world, the evening is already falling! A romantic, nightly boat-trip on the Canal Grande could then offer you the crowning glory of a day full of impressions, colours, sight-seeing and experiences.

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