PH by Joan Porcel Pascual
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Discovering a Less Known Island of the Venetian Lagoon: Lazzaretto Nuovo
For over two years, during the pandemic, we were concerned with terms such as “isolation”, “social distance”, “quarantine”… but do you know from where all these terms, and behaviors, came from? In this post you will find out how the Venetian Republic would cope in the past with epidemics and how life was like in isolation in the Venetian Lazarets.
The enigmatic painting by Giorgione The Old Woman in the Accademia Gallery in Venice
When visiting the Accademia Gallery in Venice you should not miss this revolutionary painting The old Woman (La vecchia) by Giorgio da Castelfranco. It was an unknown, unusual and unthinkable subject for the time, destined to remain a unique work of art. Let us try to learn more and decode together this painting.
The prisons of the Doge’s Palace in Venice: how and who designed them and who escaped
The prisons in the Doge’s Palace in Venice: How and who designed them? Was it possible to escape? From the “pozzi” and the “piombi”, dungeons with little consideration for human needs, to the new prisons, a fascinating post talking about “beauty, comfort and security”.
Roberto Piffer, a young tailor in Venice
Roberto Piffer is a young tailor, he opened his atelier towards the end of October 2021,
right here in Venice, near Ruga Giuffa, just off Campo Santa Maria Formosa. Authenticity, custom work, sensitivity and attention to detail: Roberto Piffer is all of this and, moreover, he is for me a wonderful presence in the world of Venetian craftsmanship, a precious bridge between the past and future of this profession.
The “Miracle of the Slave” by Jacopo Tintoretto: an absolute Masterpiece
Tintoretto was one of the most important painters of the Venetian Renaissance. He produced lots of works of art both for churches and for Scuole Grandi (Great Schools).
At the Gallerie dell’Accademia one of his masterpieces is displayed. Originally painted for the Scuola Grande di San Marco, the ‘Miracle of the Slave’ was completed in 1548 and it was a real and complete revolution from the artistic point of view: colors, figures, diagonals and much more. Let’s discover it together reading the following post.
Venice, an odyssey: hope, anger and the future of cities
Cristina Gregorin reviews the book by Neal E. Robbins “Venice. An odyssey. Hope, Anger and the Future of the city”, a text that well describes the difficulties of a city that is emblematic for many other historic cities, caught between the tourism industry and its fragility.
Isabella Canali Andreini and the job of acting
Isabella Canali Andreini was the one who really started the profession of actress, ennobling this often discredited and opposed profession. Besides, her name, Isabella, coincides with a specific character of the Commedia dell’Arte, that of the “Innamorata” or “l’Amorosa”, such was her skill in giving depth and credibility to the characters she played on stage.
City views and natural landscape in the background of some Venetian paintings
In Venetian paintings you will find interesting backgrounds, which sometimes fascinate almost as much as the main scene: the lagoon, St Mark’s square, the Veneto mainland with its hills or Dolomites appear as true paintings in the painting!
Pietro Piffetti, the Savoy royal cabinet-maker and his writing desk in Ca’ Rezzonico in Venice
A beautiful Piedmont writing desk by the cabinet-maker Pietro Piffetti dominates the Lazzarini room on the first floor. This writing desk was made of burr walnut wood, with precious exotic woods and embellished with ivory and tortoise shell inlays
In Venice with Kids: how is Venice built?
Hey kids! Are you looking for an adventure to experience in Venice? Why don’t you join us in one of our special tours for families?
Take a look at this blog post by our Best Venice Guide Monica Gambarotto: you can have an example of our programs that we have projected for you. It will be a lot of fun for the whole family! Join us in our adventures!
the Barovier Cup of the Glass Museum in Murano
The most famous piece of glass displayed in the Glass Museum in Murano is the blue Barovier Cup decorated in the late 15th century. What do the enamel paintings and golden decorations of ladies riding horses and bathing in a fountain and the portrait of a couple mean?
Tours in Venice for the blind and visually impaired visitors: the Carnival tour
A guided tour in Venice for blind or visually impaired visitors: let’s explore the world of the 18th century in Venice, in particular through the tradition of the mask in papier-mâché and chocolate, a drink that became quite popular, albeit quite expensive, exactly in those years. We will visit a workshop where masks are made and then enjoy a chocolate tasting in an artisanal laboratory.
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