A Month In Venice

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.

The history of Venice is quite vast as the city has been around for many years. Founded in 421 C.E. on April 25th or what is known as St. Mark’s day that of course is the icon of the city of Venice. The very reason the city was founded was because of the tribes of barbarians that would come down to sack the various Roman cities. It is out of fear and the preservation of culture that these islands off of the Italian mainland were built upon.

For many years the isolation of Venice kept it from being embroiled into the everyday politics of Italian life. Because of this Venice became a mercantile capital of the region and most likely was responsible for its later influence in world affairs. The city’s wealth came from the surrounding sea, from the salt and fish, that they could trade for what they did not have. From this humble beginning a glorious city was created.

The building of the city invented new and improved methods of construction. Because of each successive wave of invaders brought more and more refugees larger structures were necessary to house all the people. Land reclamation at that time was primitive and needed to be improved. The pilings that many houses of Venice sit upon were placed there over a thousand years ago and have never been replaced by something more substantial. It is this reason that the city of Venice is now sinking and efforts are in place in order to preserve it.

The city did not really become a cohesive whole until later when a sea wall was built to keep away pirates and the various storms. When the Venetians felt safe and isolated then the culture of the city and the later Empire started to come to fruition. So we can see that the start of Venice was really to keep home and hearth safe from barbarian hordes that were sweeping down into the Roman Empire. From fear arose a great city and Empire that would rival many other in the area. This city has been a haven for many others as well as this is a center for art and music as the wealth of the city started to be distributed to these craftsmen.

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?

If you want to eat in Venice on a budget then you must be a bit creative. As I have stated many times in this blog Venice is an expensive place. Many Italians will scoff at your idea of trying to survive in that city on a small budget. They should know as they are the experts in their hometown. However it is possible to save at least some money when trying to see all that Venice has to offer.

Here are some few tips and tricks to save money while in Venice. First be sure to visit the various baccari that are all throughout the city. These are the wine bars that serve what would be approximate to Spanish Tapas. If you want to find a good wine bar I would ask a local that you trust. If you can tell ahead of time if the restaurant you want to go is a pizzeria, a trattoria or ristorante then this will surely save you some money. The least expensive of the three is the pizzeria and the most expensive is the ristorante while a trattoria fits somewhere in the middle of the three classifications. There is really no sure way to tell from the outside but it is a safe bet that if there is linens on the tables then that is most certainly a ristorante and if you are on a budget I would only go to those sparingly.

Fortunately I did find a few good recommendations of some more notable restaurants to eat in Venice that will not break your bank account or cause you to open a second mortgage.

The first restaurant that I would recommend would be Rosticceria Teatro Goldoni which is perhaps one of the best examples of classical Venetian fast food. It is a cafeteria style establishment that is well known for their fresh salads that seem to be the favorite to the American crowd.

Secondly I would visit Osteria a la Campana which is quite a find in Venice. The fine wood paneling of the place does not match the inexpensive yet high quality meals that are served here. There is no menu as the waiters come to your table and tell you what is available for the day. It is a real experience that a traveler should experience and hopefully the tourists will keep away from as that would surely wreck the place.

Lastly the final restaurant I would recommend Vini da Pinto which is best known for its fresh seafood. This place is just right off the fish market so it should be easy to spot but overlooked by many tourists. If you enjoy seafood at all I would definitely go here to experience what would be a real Venetian lunch with the locals.

There are a few more restaurant recommendations I could give but this should keep you busy on your stay in Venice. Not spending an enormous amount of money in Venice can be difficult but with the help of some locals you are sure to find the gems that this city has to offer.

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.