Dear All,
I wish you a wonderful holiday season, looking forward to meeting you in Venice
The principle aspect of my personality
Changing while remaining the same.
The quality that I desire in a man
Good taste.
The quality that I desire in a woman
Selectivity.
What I appreciate most about my friends
Presents, visits and a laugh.
My main fault
Humidity.
My favorite occupation
Lying.
My dream of happiness
Chilled Prosecco, green olives, crisps and some cicchetti. I provide the setting.
What would be my greatest fear
Apart from sinking, global warming, coastal erosion and a resurgence of malaria in the Mediterranean, I tend to stay positive.
What I should like to be
Slightly taller.
The country where I should like to live
I am a country on my own.
My favourite colour
Water green.
The flower that I like
Artemisia coerulescens.
My favorite bird
I’d prefer a winged lion.
My favorite poets
Dante, enough with Antonio Lamberti’s La Biondina in gondoleta, Giorgio Baffo strikes a chord..love the foresti Ezra Pound and Josif Brodskij.
My heroes in fiction
I won’t forget Fornaretto.
My favorite heroines in fiction
Zanetta Farussi and her characters.
My favorite composers
Oldies but goldies:
Te vogio ben, ma mai no stago quieto
Perchè i t’à messo nome Morosina,
E no voria balar a quel baletto
Che divertir m’ha fato a la Pasina,
Cò me voleva ben siora Costanza
Che col bel impianton m’ha dao l’usanza..
Popular songs, classical music and Luigi Nono on odd years like the Biennale.
My favorite painters
Here I’m in real trouble if I forget anyone, so I say all artists, all of you out there that have spent time, talents, money and energies in giving me multiple lives.
My heroes in real life
Actv water bus commuters.
My heroines in history
The female musicians of La Pietà.
My favorite names
Serenissima but I don’t mind Benátky, Benechia – ベネチア , Benechia / Penech’ia – 베네치아 , Benetke , al-Bunduqīya, Enetía-Ενετία, Feneyjar, Fenis, Mleci, Vaniescha, An Veinéis, Velence, Venècia, Venecia, Venēcija, Venecija, Venecija – Venecija , Mletke, Veneciya – Venecija, Veneciya, Venecija, Veneco, Venedig, Venedik, Venesia, Veneetsia, Venetía – Βενετία, Veneţia, Venesië, Venetië, Venetik, Venetsia, Veneza, Venezia, Venezja, Venise, Venetsye – װענעציע, Weinisi – 威尼斯, Wenecja, Venetië / Venies, Vignesie, Unieja, Venexia.
What I hate most of all
Pigeons.
Historical figures that I despise the most
Let sleeping dogs lie.
The military event that I admire the most
I still recall the war of Chioggia, the rest is smoke.
The gift of nature that I would like to have
I was told that I have to rely on this “new” engineering project against high water, they call it Mose, otherwise a pair of inflatable wings might be handy.
How I want to die
In my sleep, as late as possible.
My present state of mind
Bubbling.
Faults for which I have the most indulgence
Temporary amnesia.
My motto
Pax tibi Marce.
§
Interview: Proust Questionnaire compiled by Carla Bonollo @Venicebyvenice
Photo: courtesy of NASA
#From the Accademia to Piazza San Marco
One can walk along the Zattere till the tip of Dorsoduro, the Punta della Dogana, now hosting the Museum of Contemporary Art.
From this privileged location we can admire Saint Mark’s basin and the island of San Giorgio, the homonymous church was designed by Andrea Palladio. The island is the headquarters of the Fondazione Cini.
Round the corner we encounter the Salute, the 16th century’s project was by Baldassarre Longhena, Palladio’s closest follower.
On the way back to Accademia, we spot from afar the famous Palazzo Dario; for those interested in ghost stories, this building has an impressive record of deaths and suicides. Almost all the residents who had the misadventure to live in its magnificent rooms died a violent death.
In the same area the Guggenheim Collection, always worth a visit.
Near the Accademia Bridge, the beautiful Gallerie dell’Accademia, one of the finest collection of ancient and modern paintings in Venice.
Across the bridge on your right-hand side Palazzo Pisani, hosting the school of music Benedetto Marcello.
In the wide campo the unmissable Paolin, if you love ice-cream, an old café with outside tables. Now we talk…
When we leave Campo Santo Stefano on calle del Spezier we can go to Santa Maria del Giglio and then proceed quite smoothly along Calle Larga XXIII Marzo to Piazza San Marco.
In calle Vallaresso the famous Harry’s bar, more than a place a microcosmos..managed by the Cipriani family.
Now, we’re ready to reach the only piazza in Venice: Piazza San Marco.
§
What are you waiting for?
For more info, you can contact me via e-mail: cbvenicebyvenice@gmail.com
Things to ponder before planning a visit
It might be busy on the following dates, you’re strongly advised to book in advance.
Carnival time, immediately before the Christian celebration of Lent, forty days before Easter, ending on Shrove Tuesday (Martedì Grasso).
25th April San Marco, Festa del bòcolo (Feast of the rosebud)
Venice’s patron saint, St. Mark. Men traditionally give a single rosebud to the women they love. Just to give you an idea, look what they have organised last year.
25th April Liberation Day
Anniversary of the end of the Second World War and the end of the Nazi occupation of the country.
La Biennale di Venezia
International Art Exhibition, held every odd-numbered year from May to November. If you enjoy art, this is a must-see.
Festa della Sensa (Feast of the Ascension, Sensa in the Venetian language)
May 8th 2016 /May 9th 2016
May 25th 2017
Celebrated by the Republic of Venice, it commemorated two specific historical events; the first occurred on May 9th 1000, when the Doge Pietro II Orseolo rescued the denizens of Dalmatia imperiled by the Slavs. The second event took place in 1177 when the Doge Sebastiano Ziani, Pope Alexander III and the Holy Roman Emperor, Frederick Barbarossa agreed to the Treaty of Venice which ended the long standing differences between the Pontificate and the Holy Roman Empire.
The ceremony of the Marriage of the Sea is a vital part of the festival. The Mayor of Venice takes on the traditional role performed by the Doge.
Festa del Redentore
It takes place the third Sunday of July, commemorating Venice’s deliverance from plague, back in 1576. It’s one one the most suggestive events to see.
Mostra Internazionale del Cinema, Venice International Film Festival
It takes place in late August or early September on the island of the Lido, Venice, Italy. The 72nd Festival starts September 2nd and ends September 12th. More info here.
Regata Storica (Regattas)
It’s held on the Grand Canal on the first Sunday in September.
November 21st Festa della Salute
It marks the end of the 1630 pestilence. The beautiful church, located on the Punta della Salute, was built as a sign of gratitude to the Virgin Mary. The project is by Baldassarre Longhena. It’s a religious feast, attended mainly by locals.
Are you ready?