Culture
& Entertainment
Museums & Galleries
Gallerie dell' Accademia
 A
former church and convent of Santa Maria della Cartia now it contains
the most complete and important collection of Venetian paintings in
existence, dating from the 14th to the 18th century. Closes at 14:00
on Mondays and 20:00 on Sundays. Masterpieces include Paolo Veneziano's
polyptych "Coronation of the Virgin", "The Tempest"
by Giorgione and "Cycle of St Ursula" by Carpaccio.
Campo della Cartia, Dorsoduro 1050, Venezia.
Tel: 041 522 22 47
Correr Museum
 The
museum occupies most of the "Procuratie Nuove". Founded
by the nobleman Teodoro Correr in 1830, it houses a collection dedicated
to the art and history of Venice. Napoleon converted the building
into his royal palace and pulled down the church on the western side
to replace it with his ballroom "Ala Napoleonica". The Procuratie
were used as residences and offices for the procurators of the cathedral
(San Marco) who were in charge of the administration and upkeep of
the Basilica.
Piazza San Marco, San Marco 52, Venezia.
Tel: 041 522 56 25
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Museo del '700 Veneziano
Ca' Rezzonico
 On
June 30, 2001 Ca' Rezzonico (the 18th century Venice Museum) reopened
after a period of repairs. For the tourists and for the city too
this is surely a good news because Ca' Rezzonico is one of the most
important museum of Venice and now it's even more beautiful.
The sumptuous palace, which took its name and luster from the Rezzonico
family was built in 1649 by Baldassarre Longhena and completed in
1750 by Giorgio Massari. Its character as splendid aristocratic
18th century home was refurnished by the Venice Municipality from
1935 with valuable collections of furniture, hangings, sculpture
and paintings from the Correr Museum. Ca' Rezzonico hosts many tapestries,
lacquerwork and armchairs typical of the 18th century and many works
by Canaletto, Rosalba Carriera, Giambattista Tiepolo and Francesco
Guardi. In October 2001 the Ca' Rezzonico Museum will host a new
division that will be called "Egidio Martini Picture-Gallery"
and that's the result of an important gift.
Ca' Rezzonico (S. Barnaba boat stop)
Tel: 041 520 40 36 / 041 241 01 00
Opening Times: 10 am - 6 pm (closed on Tuesday)
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Festivals
Festa della Sensa (Festival
of the Ascension)
 For
the Venetians, the Ascension did not have just a religious significance
(Jesus' Ascension into Heaven). It also meant 2 weeks of festivities,
banquets and regattas for the marriage of the sea and the Doge on
the Bucintoro, the large ceremonial ship kept for his use during solemn
festivals and above all for the sailing out to sea on Ascension Day.
A military venture in Dalmatia gave rise to the Festival of the Ascension,
which dates back to 997. That year, in fact, saw the end of a battle
that had gone on for centuries between the two banks of the Adriatic,
so different and so differently inhabited. On one side the Venetians
and on the other the Croatian "Slavonians".
Festa del Redentore
 It
is a religious festivity, which is associated with a very popular
traditions of having dinner on boats in St. Mark's basin, watching
at fireworks on the lagoon. This festival is very special.
The religious festivity dates back to the year 1576 when, because
of a terrible plague that was raging in the city, the Republic's
Senate vowed to build a temple on the Giudecca island in honour
of Christ the Redeemer, also solemnly promising to go there in procession
every year on the third Sunday in July.
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Carnevale Di Venezia
(Carnival of Venice)
 The
Carnival in Venice was probably born in 1162 A.D., as a celebration
for the victory of the "Repubblica della Serenissima"
(the name of the State of Venice in those times), in the war against
Ulrico, Patriarch of Aquileia. St. Mark's Square was - as nowadays
- the heart of the feast. One of the most ancient tradition was
the Flight Of The Angel, the opening of the Carnival: a tightrope
walker reached the seat of the Doge (the governor) from St. Mark's
Bell Tower. This ceremony was cancelled in past years for safety
reason; at the 2001 Carnival the tradition was renewed by an acrobat,
Ms Katiousha Triberti. On its opening day, Venice welcomed 90,000
tourists
Festa della Madonna della
Salute
This religious celebration is very popular in Venice; it dates back
to the plague, which raged in Venice as a result of the war against
Austria in 1630. The Senate and Doge Nicolo Contarini decided to
resort to the Virgin Mary's intercession, vowing to build a temple
in her name as soon as the scourge had ceased. In November 1631,
the plague finally over, the Government made haste to fulfil the
vow. Construction began on the temple, designed by the architect
Baldassare Longhena; it was completed 56 years later and solemnly
dedicated to the Madonna della Salute
(Our Lady of Good Health).
On 21 November every year this feast is celebrated with a procession,
led by the Patriarch, that leaves St. Mark's and crosses a pontoon
bridge across the Grand Canal to come to a solemn end at the Salute
Church. The Venetians go in thousands to seek pardon in front
of the Madonna, radiant among hundreds of candles brought by the
faithful themselves. Along the way and in front of the church there
are stalls, which sell candles and sweets of every kind.
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Nightlife
Whatever your plans, be it dinner in a sophisticated restaurant, live
music in a bar or just chatting with friends in a Campo, you will
find that Venice gives it that distinctive flavour, because here the
atmosphere which reigns by night is truly unique. |
