A Month In Venice

The island of Burano is not really in Venice but it is in the Venetian lagoon. Like Murano this island has its specialty craft, in this case hand made lace. Burano is not just a single island but a network of islands or an archipelago. Many have equated Burano to be the Lego land version of Venice. This is mostly because all of the buildings are much smaller and the place is much more brightly painted then the main city of Venice giving it a almost toy like feel to the place.

The origins of this island are still in doubt and the name of the city has two very distinct stories as well. Some believe the island of Burano came from people who settled from an other island called Buranello which is five miles south of the city. Others however believe that this island was settled by members of the Buriana family. The island did not gain any prominence until the 16th century when the craft of lace making was refined here. A school was later built to teach the craft and much of the work of the island was exported to all parts of Europe who were eager to buy the lace.

So what is there to do on the island of Burano? Well unlike Venice this island is not swamped with as many tourists and hence it is much easier to get around. If you wanted to know what Venice felt like earlier this century then visit this island as it is like stepping back in time. The island is very popular with artists who prefer the brightly colored homes over the contrasted stark nature of the buildings in the city of Venice. There are a few attractions to see on this island such as the Church of San Martino and the Museum and School of Lacemaking.

I certainly would not consider this island to be hub of a bustling young nightlife as it is truly an Italian city which is pretty laid back as most people just enjoy a night out with friends and family. However if you should get the time to see this island I am sure that most will enjoy it.

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.