A Month In Venice

The Venetian culture scene is dying by all accounts. Swamped with tourists this city caters only to the middle class patrons who can only stay for a week or so and in that short time period have little time to take in all that Venice has to offer. But this was not always the case. Venice was once the center for baroque music and this is where Vivaldi had clear reign over much of the music scene.

If you were to catch a play or any other type of musical performance it would be at La Fenice on Tronchetto island which is more of a mere tent placed outside on the island. The original structure where these performances occurred burned down in 1996 and I guess the mayor Venice did not think it worth his time to build a more permanent structure.

In order to get to La Fenice on Tronchetto you would need to take a Vaparetto from St. Mark’s square. You can find this Vaparetto because it is marked as La Fenice so it should be pretty easy to spot. A typical ticket to see a performance would cost you around 15.50 Euros per person and can be purchased two hours before the show begins.

I think part of the reason that Venice is no longer the hub of music and theatre that it once was is because many of the great performances occur in Verona and Padua. These two cities it seems overshadow the once grandiose nature of Venice in its heyday. Now while both of these cities are certainly worth a look I believe that in order to preserve the city of Venice you should take in some of its culture by going to the local performances.

So then how do I go about find about the local performances? Glad you asked. I came across a great website called A Guest in Venice that lists all of the major cultural events that this city offers. From University lectures to shows of all types this website has it all. Certainly well worth a look before you plan your trip to see what you can take in while you are staying in Venice.

Eating out in Venice or Italy can be daunting if you do not want to get cheated. To get a truly Italian experience it is always best to eat where the locals eat. This means that the menu will be written only in Italian and you are expected to know what all of these items are on the menu. If you have special dietary concerns then this will be even more of a struggle if you do not understand some of the common items on the menu.

Fortunately I have gathered some of the most common terms for you and translated them so that it should be much easier to understand when you to out. I am seriously considering a Italian word of the day email to help my readers learn Italian. Or perhaps I could find a sponsor that has this that will be of service to those that read my blog regularly.

Here are some of the more common dishes used.

Antipasti – Appetizer
Antipasto misto – a mix of appetizers
Carcifi – This is some sort of artichoke dish served in oil
Gamberi el fagloli – shrimp and white beans
Prosciutto – this is a cured ham that is normally served with melons but can be used in any appetizer dish

Minestre (Soups) and Pasta
Cacciucco – this is a spicy fish soup
Cappelletti – Small ravioli with a light broth
Frittata – An Italian omelet
Minestrone – This is a beef soup with vegetables and pasta
Panzerotti – This is ra avioli filled with mozzarella, anchovies and an egg mixture
Polenta – This is a cake made of corn
Spaghetti alle vongole – This is a pasta dish with a clam sauce

Meat Dishes (carne)
Abbacchio – milk fed lamb
Agnello – lamb
Anatra – duck
Arista – Pork loin
Cervo – Venison
Cinghiale – boar
Coniglio – rabbit
Fagiano – pheasant
Lingua – tongue
Lombo di malate – pork loin
Ragu – meat sauce
Vitello – veal

Fish (Pesce)
Aragosta – lobster
Aringa – herring
Baccala – dried salt cod
Branzino – sea bass
Brodetto – fish stew
Calamari – squid
Gamberetto – shrimp
Gamberi – prawns
Gamberi di flume – crayfish
Granchia – Crab
Sogliola – sole
Squadron – monkfish
Tonna – tuna
Vongola  - small clams

This is just a small sample of what is available. Perhaps I could include a new word with each new post so as to help us all learn the Italian language. I am really kicking around some ideas here and hopefully soon I should have something in the works. Well I hope this helped someone out there.

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.