A Venice Holiday

Christmas in the Lagoon

Christmas will color Venice's Santo Stefano Square this season from December 4 to 24, as it transforms into a Christmas Village. Each year over 30 miniature wooden houses built in Alpine style are set up in this historic, bustling square, creating a meeting place for Venetians and tourists. The market allows visitors to taste regional specialties while listening to good music and enjoying the atmosphere of Christmas. The goods on sale are carefully selected by Confartigianato Venezia, and include typical hand-made Venetian products such as glass, lace, paper, soap and perfumes, toys, cribs, frames and leather objects. This year, the Campiello dei Golosi returns with traders and producers from all over Italy, and set up in the market selling gastronomic products representing the various regions. Accompanying the market is a series of performances and concerts in the square together with numerous activities designed to entertain younger visitors.

The Art of Salvador Dali

The images of Salvador Dali (1904-1989) have become some of the most popular in the world, and for a limited time you can catch a glimpse of his masterpieces at The Palazzo Grassi in Venice until January 31, 2005. A self-styled maverick who went to some lengths to make his life as bizarre as his art, his art may be seen as alternatively spurious or profound, but it is always unforgettable. His 1936, “White Aphrodisiac Telephone” speaks for itself. More than 150 Canvases will be shown in Venice, from the various Collections; including the richest one, Gala-Salvador Dalí Foundation; the Centro de Arte Reina Sofia in Madrid; and the Salvador Dali Museum in St Petersburg, Florida, and other public institutions and private collections. After Venice, the exhibition travels to the Philadelphia Museum of Art.

Turner and Venice

Organized in collaboration with the Tate Britain in London, the Turner and Venice exhibition at the Museo Correr brings together around 120 works (oil paintings, watercolours, prints, maps and sketchbooks) that chart the artist’s intense relationship with the city, which he visited at various times between 1819 and 1840. Some of the works dedicated to Venice will be made for public exhibit for the first time, and exemplify important aspects of Turner's art, particularly his handling of light.
Among Venice’s many distinguished artistic visitors, Turner’s ability to find his own sensibility in the unique qualities of this floating city, truly sets his work apart. While his career was remarkable for its successes and its innovations, his images of Venice have been recognized by primary viewers as some of his most magical, luminous works. The exhibition runs until January 23, 2005.

Murano’s Glass Museum

Located on Murano, one of Venice’s “official” islands, The Glass Museum will showcase the extraordinary complexity and richness of the unique Venetian glassblowing tradition. It covers all periods in the evolution of glass art, from the 15th century to the present, as well as a remarkable section on pre-historic glass artefacts.
After Murano officially became part of Venice in 1923, the museum passed under the jurisdiction of the Musei Civici di Venezia, the city's association of civic museums it underwent some serious reorganization. To date it constantly being further enriched by the addition of glass from the Museo Correr and several other collections. Founded in 1861, this on going attraction covers all aspects of life on the island of Murano.

Secret Tour of the Doge’s Palace

The facade of the Doge’s Palace in Saint Mark's Square is one of the most instantly recognisable sights in Venice, and arguably the finest example of Gothic art anywhere in the world. First-time visitors to Venice should take advantage of the daily tours offered; featuring many famous sights such as the Scala dei Giganti; incredible paintings by Titian, Veronese, Tintoretto and Hieronymous Bosch; and, of course, the Bridge of Sighs. Less well known is the “Secret Tour” through the prisons, torture chambers and secret passages of the Palace. This not only gives a fascinating insight into the more sinister side of the Venetian Republic’s political institutions, but is an excellent way to make the visit more enjoyable for younger visitors.

Rialto Food Market

Each year Venice receives a staggering 20 million tourists, so where does the food come from to feed them all? Look no further than the bustling early-morning Rialto market. The Rialto market has been supplying Venice’s food for centuries. During the city’s heyday it served as one of Europe’s leading commercial centers for cloth, cotton, cereals, gold and silver. At daybreak Barges sneak in and the market is brimming with fresh vegetables and seafood. Come 8am porters, vendors and wholesalers are on the scene buying and selling the food in time for lunch. The market is also provides an good alternative for visitors, tourists on the go can grab a quick bite of freshness, without having to pay extortionate prices in the city's restaurants.

Publication Date: 2004-12-05
Story Location: http://tandemnews.com/viewstory.php?storyid=4686