 Venice Today
What is there to say about Venice that is not a cliche? And yet the cliches are accurate. It is romantic, unique, mysterious, decadent, and mystical but the many charms of Venice have been a burden to the city itself. The price of living here is becoming beyond the reach of Venetians. The average age of the population is 50. Most of the beautiful palazzi or even its modest apartments are owned by foreigners. The population of the historic center is currently around 74,000 compared to quarter million at the city's zenith. In spite of its staggering beauty which continued to draw droves of tourists, for a while it seemed the city was sagging in spirit as much as sinking into the sea. As Yogi Berra would say "No one goes there any more. It's too crowded." Suddenly, when it seemed in danger of becoming an amusement park of its former glory, Venice is back. It's population has been increasing, lights are on in the residences at night, cafes are staying open later... Like Le Fenice rising from the ashes, Venice is emerging again as a city of contemporary vitality. Italians are moving back, opening new restaurants and cafes, and its art scene is thriving. New York TImes Slideshow
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Venetian Painting
The luminous essence of the city inspired a school of painters whose work was characterized by unique qualities of spontaneity and brilliant use of color. Their paintings had mood, drama, and dynamic movement--an artistic quality that continued in the music of Vivaldi in the 17th and 18th centuries.
We will encounter the masterpieces of the great artists of the Venetian School at the Accademia, Santa Maria Gloriosa dei Frari, and other sites on our visit.
Bellini, Titian and Giorgione (link from NGA)
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Tiziano Vecellio _ Titian Paintings
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From the Boston Museum of Fine Arts
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Titian, Tintoretto, Veronese: Rivals in Renaissance Venice
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Veronese, Tintoretto, Tiepolo
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Paolo Veronese _ Renaissance Painter
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Link to Metropolitan Museum of Art Tiepolo Slideshow
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Piazza San Marco and the Basilica
Piazza San Marco
St. Mark's Square is the heart of Venice. Napoleon called it the finest drawing room in Europe. The piazza opens onto the Grand Canal through the Piazzetta San Marco with its two granite columns crowned by "Marco" and "Todaro" brought from the Orient in 1172.
To see what's going on in Piazza San Marco at this moment, click this link:
webcam venezia.
The Basilica Built in the 9th century to hold the relics of St Mark (stolen from Alexandria in 828) the Basilica of San Marco was consecrated in 1094. Its facade and dazzling interior are like the rest of Venice-wholly unique and mystical in its Byzantine character. Basilica of San Marco website |
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Doge's Palace
 The palace was the residence of the Doges of Venice , seat of its government and a symbol of its power and glory for approximately 900 years. The palace was also a prison that once held Casanova. Like the Basilica, the palace is a combination of architectural styles - Byzantium, Gothic and Romanesque. The masters of Venetian painting competed with one another here. Tintoretto's masterpiece Paradise decorates the Sala del Maggior Consiglio . Doge's Palace website |
Prosecco, Polenta and Cicchetti
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Venice, Italy: Chowing on Cicchetti
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The culinary main stay of the city of the lagoon is seafood: Granseaola, poached crab with olive oil , lemon juice, salt and pepper is a typical antipasto. You will find Broeti, savory fish stews, scampi alla busara, with tomato and chilli pepper, and seppie alla veneziana cuttlefish cooked in their ink. For meat lovers, specialties are fegato all veneziana, liver with onion and vinegar, and masoro alla valesana, wild duck. Creamy polenta and risotto paired with fish, meat and vegetables...but the most particular gastromic tradition of Venice are cicchetti. Something like tapas, cicchetti are exquisite little appetizers served in cozy wine bars known as bacari.
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