A Month In Venice

One of the lesser known festivals in Venice is The Feast of the Redeemer. Originally it was to celebrate the end of the bubonic plague which ended in 1576 and ended up killing tens of thousands of citizens of Venice. Certainly not your typical celebration by any means as this is a celebration truly unique to this city.

This time of year is the only time when the island of Giudecca is accessible by foot as a floating foot bridge is constructed to allow for the Doge of Venice to cross to this island. As you probably can guess the majority of the celebrations for this festival occur on this island
as Giudecca becomes a center for activity in the city.

This celebration is marked by many fireworks that can be seen throughout the city but are best viewed in the Dorsoduro district. Also many Venetians choose to eat elaborate meals on their boats at night in the Grand Canal in order to honor those that died and to give thanks for those that continued to live on. What you might expect at this time of year is many bands and street performances similar to what you would see during a historical regatta or Carnvale. This celebration typically lasts for an entire week and begins about mid July around the 16th of the month.

For many Americans you can consider this a celebration of thanksgiving similar to what we have in November. Like in America this celebration is steeped in tradition and centers around the family. Unlike the American celebration of thanksgiving many festivities occur outside of the home and with other families that are also celebrating. So there is a contrast in cultures that exists between these two celebrations. For some that are just visiting I would check to see what your hotel offers during this time of year. Since you are not a local you might feel left out but sometimes a hotel will try to include you in the celebration and make you feel more like a local.

The island of Giudecca was originally called Spinalunga most likely after the shape of the island. You see Spinalunga means a long spine of rock which is pretty much the shape of Giudecca. This island is in the Dorsoduro district of Venice and it is right off the Grand Canal so it should be easy to get to.

The term Giudecca is derived from the Jewish inhabitants who used to live there at one time. Later the island became more of an industrial center with even a film studio located there. Now this is one of the most exclusive places to live in the entire Venetian lagoon as it is sought after for its many palaces with gardens that you do not see in the city of Venice.

This part of Venice is where most of the real inhabitants live and work. This is definitely not a tourist trap however there are more and more hotels opening all the time. If you want to really get a feel for living in the city I would stay on this island as the people here are real and the surrounding atmosphere is not catered to just tourists.

However you may wonder what is there to see on this island? Well for one you can see the historical gardens that you do not find anywhere else. As there are many short term apartment buildings here you should not have trouble staying for a period of time here.

I would like to point out that Giudecca is not just one island but it is a chain of eight islands like Venice all networked by a bridges. You may not see the ornate work that some of the other bridges have in Venice as this is a place overlooked by many tourists who only come for a day.

There are plenty of restaurants on this island and a lot of them are fairly good. You certainly should not find too many tourist traps here. However as this island is not as frequented by tourists the locals might not be willing to speak to you in English so having a moderate grasp of the Italian language will go far here. One of the eyesores of the island is the industrial section.  You see the industrial section of this island lost most of its work after the second world war. So in contrast with some of the main islands you will see some abandoned and ruined buildings in an old industrial park. It really does not add much character to the island and I am sure that eventually these eyesores will be replaced with something better, hopefully soon. One of the worst things the city rulers can do is turn this island into another tourist trap. I would much rather see this part of Venice kept as real as possible.

The Carnavale of Venice is perhaps one of the defining festivals of the city. You cannot go anywhere near the Rialto bridge without seeing some masks and other costume wear for sale. Other websites even have the masks as symbolic icons to represent the city of Venice.

For this year, 2008, the Carnavale is schedule to happen around January 25th to February 5th as it follows the Catholic month of lent. Like other carnivals the one in Venice is meant to celebrate the time after lent. However unlike other carnivals the one in Venice is by far more grand.

The typical food served at this time are fritole and crostoli which are fried sweets that are made in all the coffee shops in the city. If you are visiting there are numerous rental shops that offer costumes for you to wear during this time.

However in order to gain a proper perspective on this celebration one must consider its history and influence in Venice and the Italian culture. The root of this festival is from early pagan sources and was adapted to fit into Catholic rituals. However the oldest record found in regards to this festival dates back to May 2nd, 1268. There is real no evidence that this celebration, in its current incarnation, occurred before this date however it would be logical to assume that it did since it does have early pagan origins.

Since masks hid the persons true identity this time of the year all residents of Venice were considered equal to one degree or another. However several laws were passed in order to ensure the safety and dignity of various groups. For instance it was illegal to talk to nuns with a mask on as this could most likely cause various unsavory people to spread gossip. Also to wear a mask with religious clothes were also strictly forbidden to keep the priest class free from controversy.

The number of disguises that one could wear were immense as you could pretend to be just about anyone you wanted during this time. Costumes for fishermen, barbers, butchers and the gambit were all available during this time. Believe it or not you could actually dress up to be a demon during this festival. Each of these disguises served their purpose for the short period that they were in use. I am sure that this festival kept the populace entertained and rid them of their more unsavory desires for the rest of the year. Either way the festival of Carnavale in Venice is sure to please some that enjoy this type of entertainment.

Harry’s Bar is perhaps one of the most famous of Venice’s landmarks and it is certainly one of Italy’s most famous restaurants in the country. The service at this cultural institution is outstanding and the food unparalleled in its quality. What has made this bar so famous was the generous mention of Ernest Hemingway in his book Across the River and into the Trees and following this many other notable people have walked through the doors of this establishment. If you are going to eat out in Venice and choose to splurge a bit I would definitely drop by this place as it is well worth it. Of course I would be sure to check to see if you need reservations beforehand as you will most likely will need to do so.

This is the bar where the famous Bellini drink was first made. Also the drink the Montgomery cocktail was also invented here as well. World renowned for its cooking the bar has its own cookbooks that you can pick up in any well stocked book store or Amazon.com.

This one bar has spawned an entire line of restaurants all throughout the world. From this bar the bars Harry Cipriani, Cipriani 42nd Street and Manhattan’s famous Rainbow Room as well as a catering company. As well the Cipriani’s, the owners of Harry’s Bar, have a line of their own olive oils, cook books and kitchenware.

Now it has been said that this is an over-hyped landmark with well overpriced food but you can say that about any restaurant in your own town. If you do choose to visit this bar I w ould be sure to sit upstairs as the view is far better and you look upon the Chiesa di Santa Maria della Salute and I am sure that this view is not easily matched anywhere else. Besides do you not want to go to a place visited by some of the most famous people who have walked this Earth?

Visiting Venice is perhaps one of the best things you can do if you are traveling to Italy. In fact I believe that you will not truly gain the essence of what an Italian life is like without visit to this city. However with this in mind I am sure that for many Venice is just one part of a series of destinations. So then you may ask from where can I visit Venice? What other attractions are worth my time before I go? It turns out there are many cities and places to see before you visit Venice as the surrounding area is just as rich in history and culture as any other part of Italy. Let’s face it if your country is credited with the start of the modern
western civilization then you are sure to have something to see everywhere you go.

It is quite well known that the area surrounding Venice is one of the wealthiest in the whole of Europe. So finding cheap accommodations can be a bit of a challenge however I am sure that many astute travelers will know how to cope.

Verona
Verona has been listed by UNESCO as a world heritage site due to its many historical buildings. One of the buildings that this city is best known for is its amphitheatre or arena which was completed around 30 C.E. and was the sight for many gladiator and other forms of entertainment that drew crowds from all around the city. Another site to see is the Basilica of San Zeno Maggiore which is really indicative of Romanesque architecture and I am sure is a sight worth seeing if you are at all into history or architecture.

Verona is also known as the place where Julius Caesar went to relax from his duties as Emperor of the then growing Roman Empire. As well Verona is the setting for the Shakespeare play Romeo and Juliet. A balcony claiming to be the balcony that inspired one of the most famous scenes in the play is a tourist destination and a place where a bronze statue of Juliet stands and it is believed that if you rub her breast you will receive good luck.

Padua
Padua is the communications hub of the Veneto province and is also listed by UNESCO as a world Heritage site due to its many historical buildings. Like Verona Padua also has a connection to Shakespeare as this is the setting for the play The Taming of the Shrew. This city claims to be the oldest city in the area however that is not really verified. Padua did not come into the rule of the Venetians until quite late in 1405. This city has a rich history that is worth exploring especially if you are into art and architecture. Many Roman soldiers came out of this city and there are many archeological remnants still being discovered.

Vicenza
This city is a short train trip away from Venice as it is only 60km away. This should make for a quick day trip either from or to Venice. Like the other cities above this city is also listed as UNESCO world heritage site due to its many historical buildings. This city did not become part of Rome until 45 B.C.E. when all inhabitants of the city obtained Roman citizenship. There is little left of the Roman architecture except for some still standing aquaducts. There are however many examples of Palladio’s works left in this city such as the Villa Capra and the Basilica Palladiana which stands in Vicenza’s Piazza dei Signori. Further sites to see are the Teatro Olimpico which was built for the Accademia degli Olimpici. As you can see there are many sights to see that is surrounding the city of Venice.

A quick day trip out of the city is sure to change the pace a bit for those that are either interested in art, architecture or history as there are many examples all three located everywhere in the Veneto region.