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Love 2014: New Year’s Eve in Venice

Joining Venice for Love in 2014 event means to wish for yourself a Year of Love …!
This year the New Year Venetian will again throbbing hearts in one of the most important nights of the year dedicated to love.
Once again, the event of the New Year will culminate in a choral, big kiss in unison as a message of love, peace and brotherhood. The appointment of new year is richer with LOVE New Year 2014 in Venice that will involve thousands of people in this great kiss to seal the new year at the stroke of midnight.

A simple and meaningful gesture that will start the new year, and an event intended to be the focus of media attention as a symbol in the memory of the city and of all those who will be part of this new, unforgettable magical Venetian night.

The musical entertainment will be accompanied by the usual toast, and at midnight the Bacino di San Marco will become the scene of a fireworks display: spectacular fireworks light up the New Year’s Eve.
Two squares are allocated to this great performance: Piazza San Marco in Venice and Piazza Ferretto in Mestre, the latter location in “support” of the most romantic heart of Venice and suitable for a younger audience. The actors are all those who decide to celebrate the first day of the new year in the spectacular setting of the city of the lagoon, one of the most romantic places in the world. And how can we celebrate the location with the largest group kiss you’ve ever seen? The performance will be followed by a lot of animation course in both squares: music, dj-set, fireworks and special effects, with guests of great appeal.
But everyone will be there, in the shadow of the Palazzo Ducale and the Campanile of the Basilica, wait for the countdown that will lead at 00:00 of the new year, to be able to kiss your partner or maybe, why not, the person close to you as a gesture of good luck for the coming year full of love.

History of the event

The New Year “Love” was a truly incredible success since it was launched in 2008 and since then it has been seen as a way to celebrate the strongest feeling in the world, but it certainly is not just participate in a kiss record here that attracts thousands of tourists and that makes Venice (along with Naples), the city in Italy that is more inclined to celebrate their anniversaries in the square. In fact, if midnight will be marked by the passion of the group kiss, the “before” and “after” kiss promises are not to be outdone.
The events related to the celebrations are so many, starting from the Bacino di San Marco where there will be a futuristic spectacle of fireworks that light up the New Year’s Eve that, thanks to the mirror of the lagoon and some special effects, will multiply to give great suggestions. During the evening there will be anywhere performances of street artists, projections on buildings, Christmas lights and to follow, of course, lots of music live (to know the artists we refer to our study on New Year’s Eve concert in the square, constantly updated).
In truth every channel, every square, every corner of the most hidden secrets of the city, will host an event, whether spontaneous or organized in collaboration with the City or the Province, involving tradition, culture, entertainment and glamour of course, as the city of Dogi imposes. There are also alternative proposals, such as midnight on a boat, watching the show directly from the sea: for this opportunity, please contact directly to one of the many small travel agencies Venice.
For the square of Mestre, here too is expected to go wild with music, along with entertainment and DJ recall.

Getting around the schedules of Love 2014, the advice is to arrive in the square chosen quite on time, for the past editions of the event have become a symbol for the media own very large number of participants involved.

Last year, for example, when the theme of Love in 2013 was “White Venice” with carnival inspiration, saw the approaching (26 January) the start of the other big event that introduced the lagoon city in the world , the persons present at midnight in Piazza San Marco have been about 70,000. The main problem will still be the approach to the city: if you arrive in the late afternoon of 31, parking will be a very difficult undertaking!

Still top secret the theme of the event this year, but according to rumours it will probably still “White Venice” and it will still be communicated shortly to allow those who decide to exchange at midnight this sign of universal peace to choose accurately the dress-code of this peculiar Venetian night, undoubtedly the longest in the piazzas.

If you love music, you can double the fun with the events in Teatro La Fenice in Venice for New Year 2015 also proposes a series of concerts with the great conductor Daniel Harding to the direction of the orchestra. Between the end of December and beginning of January there will be three performances of this unmissable concert, where they will perform the Symphony no. 7 by Beethoven and pieces of Italian operas.

The New Year’s concert in 2014 at the Teatro La Fenice in Venice will be held December 30 to 17, 16 and December 31 to January 1 at 11:15. The last concert will be broadcast live on Rai 1.

“Sestrieri” and clouds in Venice

St Mark’s Basilica CC BY-NC 2.0, Charles W. Bailey Jr.

Venice and its six Sestieri (districts) are the heart of the old city centre. Let’s go and discover them in a nice and experienced little tour.

Cannaregio, with the Jewish Ghetto is divided in two parts: Ghetto Nuovo (New Ghetto) and Ghetto Vecchio (Old Ghetto). Curiously the New Ghetto is actually the older one. A very tolerant atmosphere welcomed the Jews in Venice until the beginning of XVI century with the expulsion from Spain (1492). As a consequence, the Ghetto was built and ,while there were catholic celebrations, Jews were forced to remain in the Ghetto. With Napeoleon the gates of the Ghetto were abandoned but during the fascism, Jews in Ghetto were deported. 5 beautiful synagogues are still there, surviving all this difficulties experienced by the Jews.

Castello is the greatest Venetian sestiere with the Arsenal, where together with the Giardini is part of famous Biennale d’arte di Venezia.

Dorsoduro is one of the most comfortable place in the town (and in the world) and hosts the main part of the famous University of Venice.

Santa Croce, with Piazzale Roma and the island of Tronchetto, is next to the Grand Canal that is the main waterway in Venice, and goes from Piazzale Roma to St. Mark’s Square. It’s over two miles long and features three bridges: Rialto Bridge, Bridge of the Barefoot and Academy Bridge with their scenic views of centuries-old palaces such as Palazzo Grassi, Ca’ Barzizza,Rialto Bridge, Ca’ Pesaro, Ca’ d’Oro, Mocenigo Palace, Venier Palace and Fondaco dei Turchi among the others.
Last but not least, we have Lido di Venezia, the only area of the old city centre where cars can enter. The Lido di Venezia is also the main land barrier between Venice and the Adriatic Sea and becomes very popular and populated at the end of August/beginning of September because of the International Venice Film Festival.

Venice for all ages and tastes: an unforgettable visit

Are you in Venice and you are about to taste its delicious cuisine? Lucky you! Venetian cuisine has pretty traditional and has remained intact for centuries. Are you ready for a journey inside the restaurants and the osterie to taste gnocchi di San Zeno, bigoli, Baccala and frittole?
Venice’s cuisine is based mostly on sea-food, but some not-to-forget meals because they are delicious are polenta, a simple dish made of cornstarch, rice, beans and vegetables. And in Veneto region you have to taste Polenta fasoà with bean soup and enriched with lard of pork.

First courses includes Polenta and osèi (birds), Bigoli with agole, Bigoli with duck, Farfalle merlot, and among the rice-dishes you can order Riso alla trevigiana (with radicchio and cheese), Risi and bisi, Risotto with frogs (!), Risotto with Peoci.

Gnocchi di San Zeno served with melted butter and cheese, a culinary tradition from Verona, back to XVI century and spread during Carnival’s festivity: potatoes, flour and eggs.

And the secondo courses? As rich as the first ones: try and taste Brasato all’Amarone, Fegato alla Veneziana, Pork with milk,
Patè di tonno, Bisato in tecia, Anguilla in tegame!!!

But the codfish is the king here and Baccalà Mantecato, mostly served with the polenta, is worthy more then a go!! It is also very good also the Baccalà vicentino: it is cooked two hours with milk, or with potatoes or vegetables.

Venetian dishes are linked to special festivities, like the Castradina, a dish made of wether’s meat and cooked in occasion of the festivity of Salute. Another speciality is Sarde in Saor meaning anchovies and onions available during the festivity of Redentore.

Among the pudding and the dessert we found great the Golossei, a series of candy sweets united with a stick, dusted with sugar, and then let air-cooled. Prepared during the Carnival, it could be considered as ancient lolly-pops! The frittelle (fried dough) is another typical sweet of Carnival. The Galani is very very thiny: made with flour, eggs, sugar, salt, butter and a little anisette.

The Tiramisù comes from Veneto, some says. or from Tuscany? Many relialable sources states the winner as Venice with its original recipe: mascarpone, eggs, savoiardi biscuits, coffee, Marsala and cacao!
Taste all with a fantastic regional wine, the Recioto di Soave and Renobilis.

Romantic hotspots in Northen and Central Italy: Italians do it better (1st part)

Italy: one of the most romantic countries on the planet, shows some high-rate romantic spots and destinations. Italy’s seaside towns, delicious and small villages, beautiful and historic cities are proper romantic pilgrimage for a trip to Italy.
Verona is the start point of our top ten with the sad and enchanting Shakespearean story of Romeo and Juliet. The famous balcony is almost one of the most visited place in Italy!

Visit Juliet’s house, and go rubbing the right breast of Juliet‘s statue for luck! Do not forget to take a picture of the balcony kissing your lover or your mate! What other romantic things we can do in Verona? Going to see an opera in Arena di Verona, going on a carriage ride, “flauneuring” along the river hand in hand. A deep breath and we go to…Venice! One of the most beautiful town in the world Venice is well-know for its romantic canals at nights and pretty narrow streets. With your beloved, look for one of the many small squares and churches and …kiss each other!

Still in the North of Italy? Go and visit Lake Como, embraced by its beautiful villas and its well-know resort villages. Bellagio is the pearl of the lake, and one of the most romantic villages in Italian Peninsula. Near Switzerland, you can also take the funicular from Como town to the village of Brunate and enjoy a spectacular sight of the lake and Alps.

Going in the central regions of Italy, you will find an incredible variety of romantic spots on the coast close to the famous Cinque Terre, in Liguria, try also the Gulf of Poets (Golfo dei Poeti), part of the itinerary in 18th century among the British romantic poets. Down in Umbria, we find a lovely place called…Perugia, famous medieval hill town in central Italy and recently became a chocolate amateur paradise (see Eurochocolate festival article).

Venice and the 5 senses trip to go

Imagine you can do a list for things to do/experience/see/live in Venice. If you only get out of your Italian trip just one day to dedicate to this unique city, before getting to visit the museum, why don’t you wonder around following your 5 senses?

Let’s start our journey just wandering around following your eyes: you can find Venice’s charming and empty squares and streets like in the gheto, the Jewish ghetto, which are full of tradition and full of marvellous palace. Of course why don’t go at night inside Piazza san marco to take an heartbreaking view of the town? Around ten everything is shut here and not many people are going around! So take the occasion and follow your sight at night in Venice!

The best time for St. Mark’s Square is early morning too. So when you are still around just switch to a more interesting kind of trip following …your nose! Venice has a plenty of magnificent smelly places: the canals and the famous Rialto market for example are a great idea! In this way you will feel like a Venetian, who gets his food supplies from Rialto, particularly well-known as a fish market, fresh veggies and fruit. Follow the smell of the fried fish, of the fegato alla veneta coming out of the restaurant! and of course take sometimes to nibble around the great venice cousine!

Time to switch again and follow…your ears! The gondoliers are singing for you, so the sweating crowd crying for some rest, and the water? You need to hear the consistent passsage of the water under the bridge and …nothing else! Venice has no noise coming from car: only vaporetto and gondola, which is really nice! Again change again and switch to your hands. Go and touch the marble, the mosaic, the water if you wish, the gondola again, just close your eyes and feels the walls of the great and ancient buildings..is it satisfing? Hope so and enjoy Venice!

Lost in Venice in May, between daydreams and reality

The Venice wandering around like modern fleuners! What is to see and do in the city? Don’t get overwhelmed!Among beautiful and important event like the Biennale d’arte di Venezia and The Festival del Cinema di venezia, the famous Carnival and 1000 concerts and attractions we can give a couple of useful advice for the tourist that has no time and little money!

Are you visiting Venice? Well, just get lost! Wandering through the streets and alleys is gorgeous, ending up in this sort of sentimental and romantic journey through this enchanted town in often-empty squares and streets. or it happens just to follow a street that finishes in a canal! A dead end of striking beauty on the water! After this going around for “le calli” just ask directions or check the map to go to St. Mark’s Basilica, one of the most famous church in the country and in the world. onion domes and multi-colored marble pillars, and the interior is floor-to-ceiling mosaics. There are three smaller museums within the basilica which you’ll have to pay an entry to see; your budget and overall interest should dictate whether you visit all of them, but if you’re just going to pick one then by all means take the narrow and steep staircase in the entry alcove up to the museum that has the original horses which used to overlook the square – in addition to seeing the horses, you’ll also get to go out on the roof and overlook the square yourself.

The piazza, Piazza San Marco (St. Mark’s Square) is of a gorgeous beauty outside and it is even better night time when nobody is around! oR just walk through on your way to th vaporetto or the train early morning. Venice isn’t a nightlife town, so you will have the chance to see it without the huge mass of people that usually swirled around on the day time. Or take a great view of St. Mark’s Square from the roof of St. Mark’s Basilic: it is easy to do, buying a ticket for the short elevator ride to the top of the Campanile.

A lovely trip to do is the Grand Canal Tour in vaporetto, the Venice’s water-buses! and then Just go further and watch a Glass-Blowing Demonstration in Murano Island! Just walk around the streets of this island pretty close to Venice, pop over in an open studio and enjoy!

Another “must-do” tour is the one that involves The Palazzo Ducale (Doge’s Palace): yes, it has an hefty admission fee but it includes the walk over the Ponte dei sospiri (Bridge of Sighs).

Finally, go and buy food at The Rialto market, well-known as a fish market, with a plenty of fresh veggies and fruit for sale as well.

Venice in winter time: events and festivals

Venice and its beautiful churches: life is a fantastic and watery adventure in this town.

One of the greatest place to visit ever, Venice is a multisensorial trip to bring you in an aesthetics feeling that touches all your senses! You can’t come here without visiting the enormous and artistic squares, tasting a bit of fegatini alla veneziana, with a ombra di vino (a little glass of wine) sitting outside the Florian, one of the ancient cafè in Venice!!!

Your perceptions will expand in this magic, esoteric town!! The level of pulchratudine (beauty), to use a Latin word, here in Venice reaches the highest peak!!

The beautiful church of Santa Maria della Salute is one of the great church to visit once in venice. Its origin are connected to a horrible event: the plague of Venice in 1630-31. To stop the hopelessness, the Venetians asked for a divine intervention, promising to build a church in honour of the Virgin Mary. The young architect Baldassare Longhena was appointed with the church once the plague was over and Santa Maria della Salute has been finished in 1682.

The grateful Venetians celebrate since then the occasion on November 21st of each year.

One of the town’s most incredible celebrations, with thousands of e pilgrims across a specially set up pontoon bridge. Everyone holds a candle in their hands and you can also buy it at booths placed in the square outside the church.

These are completely lit inside, and the candles are put also in large trays filled with sand set around inside the church.

The arrival of the Patriarch (bishop) of Venice leading a procession of priests, cardinals and carabinieri to the church is something amazing to watch and follow.