Our Venice gondola ride tour lasts approximately 35 minutes and follows a route that from the Church of Health on the Grand Canal takes you along the smaller canals around the “La Fenice” Theatre. The Venice gondola ride tour then touches ground at the Dogana gondola arrival point at Calle Vallaresso, from where the Walking in Venice tour starts, a guided visit from outside of the area between St Mark’s Square and the Rialto bridge. This is a beautiful tour that covers some of city’s most peculiar sites, a part of Venice still unknown to many which includes the La Fenice Theatre, Scala del Bovolo and the Rialto Bridge.

The Gondola ride in Venice tour lasts approximately 35 minutes and follows a route that from the Church of Health on the Grand Canal takes you along the smaller canals around the “La Fenice” Theatre. A gondola ride tour in Venice that meanders through the most celebrated and intimate elements of Venice aboard what is the symbol of this city. Through architectural richness and a dense succession of bridges and unusual glimpses, the "Unusual Venice, gondola ride" tour finishes at the Dogana gondola arrival point at Calle Vallaresso, opposite the celebrated Harry’s Bar, in the heart of St Mark’s area.

The Walking in Venice tour includes a guided visit from outside of the area between St Mark’s Square and the Rialto Bridge, where the city’s mercantile heart lies. This is a beautiful walking in Venice tour that covers some of city’s most peculiar sites, a part of Venice still unknown to many which includes the La Fenice Theatre, Scala del Bovolo and the Rialto Bridge. These buildings are part of a unique and fascinating story and contribute all together to generate that special alchemy known in the world under the name of Venice.

Whilst the new Santa Chiara museum centre is being completed following a mammoth restoration project which will undoubtedly spearhead a cultural renaissance in the area, the 20 year old Bonfanti-Vimar Car Museum is opening its resident collection to the public within an exhibition that will last for at least one year. The “Motoring Gallery – Mobility and genius in Veneto Co, Giannino Marzotto”, the beating heart of the future museum centre, proves to be ahead of the times with an exhibition at its present location in Romano d’Ezzelino (VI), only a short distance from Bassano, which presents a selection of its best pieces with the view of offering a snapshot of its rich collections, which generally rotate on a six-month basis. Many interesting motoring records of Veneto will be presented – such as the first driving licence and the first car sold in Italy, the first suspensions invented at the end of the 15th century, the first female pilot and the many cycling and car manufacturers that have shaped the motoring history – and additionally many other documents will be shown to testify the importance of the scientific and cultural contribution of those born and bread in Veneto. In March 2011 the museum will publish an encyclopaedia on this subject, which will contain at least 500 pages and 1700 entries. The Bonfanti-Vimar car museum is open Tuesdays to Sundays 10-12a.m. and 14-18p.m. Tickets vary from 3 to 6 euros.

How did Venice come into being? What secrets do its alleyways and small squares conceal? Where does its fascination come from? This and much more can be discovered thanks to the show “Venice –The Show”. The story presented by this play starts by describing the beginning of Venice: originally it was a series of small islands scattered in the lagoon that, once joined thanks to humankind’s genius, became one of the most important and vital cities in Europe, from both an economic and cultural point of view (deservedly giving it the name of “Serenissima”). This play is meant to both entertain the public and chant the beauty and cultural importance of this marvellous and unique city. Thanks to state-of-the-art technological effects, such as amazing screenings and embracing music, the spectator is flung into the story itself, to live first hand the purloining of St Mark’s mortal remains and sharing the amazement of Lord Byron who, standing along the Canal Grande, was lost in wonder whilst gazing at the fireworks during the night of Redentore, one of the most magical festivals in Venice. “Venice – The Show” of Davide Bozzato is in short a commedia and will be on show everyday until February 29th at the Theatre San Gallo, in the most vibrant hub of the city a few steps from St Mark’s Square. A success that will thrill all spectators who will enjoy an unusual and at the same time involving way, of getting to know and appreciate as best as possible the story of this city.

Retracing the ventures that brought the aristocrats of Europe to discover and admire the life and masterpieces of the European capitals is now again a reality. A tour along the paintings of Bellotto, Canaletto, Carlevariss and Marieschi that will again make it possible to experience the highs of the Venice vedutismo, the most innovative artistic event of the 18th century. At Palazzo Sorcinelli it will be possible to trace through the artistic career of Bernando Bellotto, the nephew of the highly celebrated Antonio Canaletto, also known by the name Canaletto. Bellotto was able to portrait views of Dresda in a highly realistic way and highlight the everyday events of the aristocrats and common people of that time. For this reason Bellotto became an ambassador of the European courts and his masterpieces will again make it possible to experience in this day and age what they meant and get in touch with the customs of that time. A dive into the past that should not be missed.

The publication of the programmes for the Symphonic Season and for the Opera and Ballet Season marks the official start of the new artistic season at the Verona Philharmonic Theatre. The opening of the Symphonic Season is scheduled on 21st October 2011 with the Gala Concert and the music of Franz Joseph Haydn. A long season cavalcade that will end on 28th April 2012 with a concert directed by Francesco Lanzillotta. During this time, there will 11 exciting events that will see important directors take central stage, namely Lothar Zagrosek, Srboljub Dinic, Andrea Battistoni, Daniele Rustioni, Yang Yang, Julian Kovatchev, Michael Guttler, Giacomo Sagripanti, Byron Fidetzis, Alexander Frey, Francesco Lanzillotta. The opera and ballet season will open on 13th December 2011 with Giuseppe Verdi’s Falstaff, directed by Luca Guadagnino and conducted by Daniele Rustioni. There will then be a series of important events including on 27th January 2012 the debut of “Pagliacci”, directed by Ruggero Leoncavallo, with scenes and costumes designed by Franco Zeffirelli under the conduction of Julian Kovatchev. Homage to Ravel, a new production of the Verona Arena Foundation, will be the first appointment with ballet on Saturday 18th February, with choreography, stage set and costumes by Renato Zanella. Friday 16th March sees the return of opera with Pietro Mascagni’s Iris, directed by Federico Tiezzi and conducted by Gianluca Martinenghi, stage set of the Giuseppe Verdi’s Opera Theatre Foundation in Trieste, the Carlo Goldoni City Theatre in Livorno and the Symphonic Petruzzelli Opera Foundation and Theatres in Bari. Gioachino Rossini’s Gazza Ladra will be staged On Friday 20th April, directed by Damiano Michieletto and conducted by Giovanno Battista Rigon with stage set of the Verona Arena Foundation and the Pesaro Rossini opera Festival. A second ballet event will be performed on Friday 11th May with the double staging of Pulcinella and Il Mandarino, with music of Igor Stravinsky and Bela Bartok, choreography and direction by Mario Piazza and conduction by Reinhard Seehafer. After the summer break, which will host the 2012 90th Arena Opera Festival, the series of events will draw to a close on 9th November with Giuseppe Verdi’s Aida, directed by Hugo de Ana, also the author of scenes and costumes, and conducted by Fabio Mastrangelo. As per every year, the listing of shows is wrapped up with a series of events and talks open to the public. Entry to the opera, ballet and concert rehearsals is limited to those under 26, university and Music school students.

The splendid ambience of the Palazzo della Gran Guardia in Piazza Bra, Verona will house until next spring the highly anticipated exhibition - 'Eighteenth century paintings in Verona. Tiepolo, Cignaroli, Rotari. The noblemen of painting'. With its highly valued paintings, the exhibition will offer visitors the opportunity to discover the originality and elegance of 18th century paintings in Verona, which remained independent from the reigning artistic influence of Venice. Inside the Palazzo della Gran Guardia 150 masterpieces have been assembled from some of the most important European and world museums, such as the Hermitage - St Peterborough, Victoria and Albert - London, the Prado - Madrid, the Uffizi in Florence and many more. The exhibition focuses, in particular, on the works of two early 18th century renowned Verona born painters who played a decisive role for the establishment of Venice arts in Europe: Giambettino Cignaroli and Pietro Antonio Rotari. Although Cignaroli never ventured beyond the boundaries of Italy, he sent many of his works to the principal European courts, whilst Rotari travelled across the continent working for the service of several sovereigns, and in particular, for the Russian Royal family. Visitors will also be able to admire enchanting views of the city of Verona, produced by illustrious artists like Bernardo Bellotto, an unrivalled master of light rendering. A place of honour within the exhibition is held by some of Giambattista Tiepolo's paintings, who left behind in this city, many important examples of his work. One of the most welcomed surprises of the exhibition is perhaps the possibility to admire a marvellous virtual reconstruction of one of Tiepolo’s masterpieces, heavily damaged by the bombings of the Second World War after the blasting of the Castelvecchio bridge: this is the renowned fresco of the ceiling of the hall of Palazzo Canosa depicting the Triumph of Ercole. The touching portraits, the exquisite mythological and neoclassical scenes, the religious paintings, the allegories and the enchanting landscapes turn this exhibition into a not-to-be-missed event.

From March 24th to July 15th the suggestive Palazzo della Ragione in Padova will act as the enchanting setting for the exhibition ‘De Chirico, Fontana and the great masters of the ‘900, a century between reality and imagination’. Emphasizing dream and reality, the exhibition will display paintings and sculptures of 60 great artists of the 20th century originating from the prestigious Mazzolini collection, which came into being due to a genuine and ardent interest for the arts of the ‘900 and is considered a real treasure collection of unique pieces. The exhibited works enshrine sentiments and events that come to life through the eyes and the expressions of those painters and sculptors who have perhaps interpreted the most complex period of human history in an innovative way, putting a dramatic end to a thousand years long repertoire of representations, paintings and sculptures. Donated to the Diocese of Piacenza by the Piacenza noblewoman Domenica Rosa Mazzolini, the collection lists 899 works with contemporary arts paintings, graphics and sculptures. Amongst these, 120 paintings and 6 sculptures have been selected amongst the most representative ones to act as a valuable example of the passing of time of the century that has changed more than any other time the way of living of humanity, marking an intense period of torments, contradictions and innovations. Amongst the featured artistis: Giorgio De Chirico, Lucio Fontana, Carlo Carrà, Ottone Rosai, Luigi Veronesi, Filippo De Pisis, Massimo Campigli, Mario Sironi, Giuseppe Capogrossi, Virgilio Guidi, Ennio Morlotti, Giò Pomodoro, Piero Manzoni ed Enrico Baj. The exhibition will be divided in thematic areas offering visitors a series of parentheses acting as a central thread through the 20th century, a multi-faceted and intense period due to its strong contradictions and transformations. To promote and facilitate the understanding of the works in the exhibition, visitors will be autonomously guided via touch screen monitors and displays to discover important historic particulars, details and implications. A not to be missed exhibition where, for the first time, it will be possible to admire, through a heterogeneous narrative path, subdivided in figurative and abstract digressions, masterpieces whose main value relies in their communicative impact and their ability to arouse strong emotions.

The new tour of Giorgia is coming to Padua on 3 March 2012. The Rome singer is back on stage after her pregnancy break to present her latest masterpiece “Behind the Appearances” to her fans. Distributed by Sony Music, the album was released on 6 September 2011 and has been hugely successful thanks to the hit “My best day”, which preceded the release of the album in June and has been certified as a Gold Record in July 2011 and also a Platinum Record in September for over 30,000 units sold. The second successful single from the album is “Inevitable”, a duet with Eros Ramazzotti, which has already entered the top singles chart. “Behind the Appearances” features many other collaborations with artists such as Jovanotti and Marina Rei (“Summer will pass”) as well as a track written by Giorgia’s partner Emanuel Lo. Giorgia has referred to this album as a turning point, full of energy, reflective and ironic. Throughout the album’s thirteen tracks, which touch different genres and styles of interpretation, Giorgia shows her vocal abilities without disappointing the expectations of her fans. Despite the numerous collaborations, more than half the tracks have been written by the singer, a further demonstration of her talent and role as an accomplished artist. The 2012 Behind the Appearances Tour is the best opportunity to get to know this new album after a long absence of the artist from the limelight. Giorgia recently commented about her return to performing live: “I haven’t bee on tour for a while and I am missing being on stage. Who knows what it will be like for me and the audience, together again with past songs and those from the new album. I cannot wait!”. After the initial dates in Rome and Milan, Giorgia will fill with her powerful voice the Gran Teatro Geox in Padova. To her fans this is a not-to-be-missed opportunity to sing along with Giorgia her past hits and be enthralled by one of the best voices of the Italian music scene.

Amongst the exhibitions displayed in Venice during this period, it is definitely worth mentioning the one on the Armenian civilization and Armenia in Venice. This exhibition depicts, through a particularly interesting display divided in 15 sections, the different aspects of the Armenian civilization (religion, writing, art, culture and music) and the history of the Armenian community in Venice. The artefacts displayed belong partly to Armenian and European museums but originate mainly from the Isle of San Lazzaro of the Armenians in the Venice Lagoon, where an Armenian monastery was funded during the 18th century. Visitors will see precious manuscripts decorated with splendid miniatures, a reliquary holding with a fragment of Noah’s ark, rugs with dazzling colours, ancient documents, printing pressed books and much more. In one of the museum’s rooms visitors will be able to listen to the songs of this amazing civilization. Armenians have left many enduring traces of their presence in Venice and this exhibition will present these to you through a series of invaluable objects and documents. If you feel fascinated by this civilization and would like to comprehend its profound spirituality, pay a visit to the Isle of San Lazzaro of the Armenians (take the number 20 ferry from St Mark’s), an oasis of peace and culture that has kept its ambience untouched for centuries and where monks will guide you to discover a thousand year old civilization.

It is the 17th edition for this great event with its seventeen renowned food and tasting exhibitions, including the most important wine and food happenings in Veneto and one of the most renowned in Italy. It is worth remembering that the first wine route was established in the Valdobbiadene and Conegliano area in the distant 1966, initially called White Wine Route and nowadays known as the Route of Prosecco and Wines of the Conegliano – Valdoabbiadene Hills. This area is situated in the upper Treviso March and includes the foothills of the Treviso province. Prosecco Spring offers a busy calendar of events, sport and cultural happenings and food tastings. The opportunity to taste wines and typical produces of the Treviso Marc, such as Prosecco docg, Cartizze and Valdobbiadene docg, Fregona Torchiato doc, Refrontolo Passito and Verdiso as well other produces - namely, radicchio, cheese, olive oil, honey and cold meats – opens the doors to a century-long tradition of vines nourished with experience and wisdom that have generated the characteristics that are well-known throughout the world. Originally established as a wine-only event, the exhibition has, in a short amount of time, become a food and wine event to promote not only the wines of the Upper March but also the many typical dishes based on local produces. The setting of all the exhibitions is picturesque and unique, with a background of medieval hamlets, sumptuous 18th century Venetian palaces surrounding beautiful squares and hills rolling up to the foothills of the Alps. But Prosecco Spring is more than a food and wine only event. Thanks to a great flow of visitors, it now includes an ever growing number of collateral events, such as sport, arts and entertaining events with a local theme, which bring visitors in close contact with this area. Trailing only Vinitaly in Veneto, for both the number of Italian and foreign visitors, Prosecco Primavera is an annual encounter with wine, food, arts, culture and sports on the hills of the Treviso March and the opportunity to bring villages and their inhabitants together. Information Dates of the exhibition of the Prosecco Primavera Docg: - Vidor, 25 February to 11 March: 33rd Cobertaldo and Vidor Valdobbiadene Docg Exhibition. - Santo Stefano, 17 March to 1 April: 43rd Cartizze and Valdobbiadene Docg Exhibition. - Col St Martino, 24 March to 15 April: 56th Valdobbiadene Docg Exhibition. - Guia,24 March to 9 April: 44th Valdobbiadene Docg Exhibition. - Villa di Cordignano, 31 March to 9 April: 48th Vintage Wines Exhibition. - S. Pietro di Barbozza, 7 April to 25 April: 42nd Cartizze and Valdobbiadene Exhibition. - Conegliano, 13 April to 22 April: 4th Exhibition of Prosecco and the Wines of the Conegliano Hills. - San Giovanni, April 14 to April 25: 10 th Cartizze and Valdobbiadene Docg Exhibition. - Miane, 14 April to 1 May: 34 th Conegliano – Valdobbiadene Exhibition. - Fregona, 21 April to 1 May: 38 th Fregona Torchiato DOC Exhibition. - Refrontolo, 28 April to 13 May: 43 th Prosecco Exhibition and 34 th Refrontolo Passito Exhibition. - Combai, 4 May to 13 May: 23 th Wine and Verdiso Spirits Exhibition. - Vittorio Veneto, 11 May to 27 May: 13 th Exhibition of Wines and Spirits of the City of Vittorio Veneto. - Corbanese, 19 May to 3 June: 43rd Inter-municipal Exhibition of the Upper Wine of the Hills. - San Pietro di Feletto, 26 May to 10 June: 41st Exhibition of Hills Wines. - Serravalle - Vittorio Veneto, 15 June to 24 June: 4th Exhibition of the Loggia Wines. Additional wine events will be staged during the 2012 Prosecco Primavera, amongst them: -2012 Prosecchissima, 22 April: a long-distance mountain bike national event starting in Miane, the guaranteed area for prosecco docg. -2012 Canevando, 24 June: a guided walk through vines and on the paths of the Prosecco Trail, with a guided visit to a winery and tasting of three different wines and local produces. -2012 Slowbike – April: a food and wine bike tour along a planned route with a guided visit to some of the wineries and wine exhibitions of Prosecco Spring. -2012 Open Wineries – 26 and 27 May. -Wine in Villa – 19 and 20 May at the St Salvatore Castle in Susegana.

The biggest wine exhibition in the world is back from 25-28 March for its 46th edition. An event not-to-be-missed for those in the wine trade. Vinitaly has been accompanying the development of the agriculture and food sectors since 1967. The main event in calendar of the Verona Exhibition Centre, the International Wine and Spirits Show has become the best ambassador of Italy Inc. around the world and also an excellent representative of a quality food and wine industry that has always offered innovation together with tradition. A huge event with international leverage, its figures are staggering: a show area covering almost 95 thousand square meters, more than 4 thousand exhibitors and 156 thousand visitors, with 47 thousand foreign visitors and more than 2 thousand journalists from specialist press (from 345 countries). Vinitaly is a business serving exhibition and addressing the entire category of wine related professions (producers, importers, distributors, technicians…) who will have the opportunity to be in close contact with the best representatives of an ever growing sector. Given its past success, the location will be the same, given the fact that is home to some of the best Italian wines. The 2012 edition will represent the world we love: wine first of all, but also quality, land, the environment and its heritage, men and their feats, small villages and their history. Vinitaly is all this: the place to meet for those who love this world. This edition’s new feature is the duration: not from Thursday to Monday but from Sunday to Wednesday, in order to generate better business opportunities. This will also be better suited to coincide with the closing weekly days of restaurant and pub owners and chefs. Likeevery year, there will be a tightly-packed calendar of great events, tastings, wine making classes, conferences and workshops, all aiming at putting wineries and exhibitors in contact with international buyers. Vinitaly offers a list of time-tested events along with several innovative ones to attract an ever bigger number of operators from around the world. To name just a few. - Tasting Ex…Press, with international wines introduced by the best wine magazines; - Taste and Dream, presenting the great treasures of Italian wine making; - Trendy today, Big tomorrow, presenting a selection of growing businesses worth investing in; - Food and Wine Pairing: space dedicated to young chefs from Europe where traditional European food dishes are paired to the best Italian wines; - Gulliver’s travels, searching for the best niche in quality wines in Europe; - The young lions, the 10 top European world’s leading wine makers for the next forty years; - Author chef, with great performances from the best Italian chefs; - Food and Wine Small Town, with the best local cuisine from Italy. A rich and diverse programme that will go beyond the confines of the exhibition area: Palazzo della Gran Guardia, Piazza Bra, will in fact host “Vinitaly for You”, an evening wine event with tastings and live music dedicated to the aficionados of good wine. Vinitaly is open only to companies and specialist visitors over 18: under 18s are not allowed, even if accompanied by an adult. Registration is compulsory. Entrance conditions: Large-Scale Distribution; wholesalers; import-export; food retailers; bars; restaurants; hotels; catering; wine stores; wine bars; sommeliers; wine technicians; wine technology producers; producers of olive oil and wine; the trade press; authorities; institutions. Opening times: 9.30am-6.30pm Tickets Daily €50 - Online €45 Four-day ticket (one entry per day) €90 - Online €80

There is growing anticipation for the opening of the new exhibition at the Peggy Guggenheim Collection, which will be on display from 29 February to 6 May at Palazzo Venier dei Leoni, the headquarters of the Guggenheim Collection. The exhibition is centred on a selection of post-war works, which retrace the Venetian years of Peggy who lived in Palazzo Venier dei Leoni from 1949 to 1979. Here she continued her activity as an art collector and patron despite her withdrawal from New York, at the time the centre of the artistic avant-garde. The paintings and sculptures displayed in the exhibition have been rarely shown before, which makes it both a privileged and interesting event. There will be the great representatives of the CoBrA group displayed next to Italian artists who operated from the end of the ‘40s, such as Edmondo Bacci, Armando Pizzinato, Giuseppe Santomaso, Tancredi and Emilio Vedova. Not forgetting the great representatives of the post-war British art, namely, Francis Bacon, Henry Moore, Ben Nicholson, Graham Sutherland, and their Italian counterparts, Mirko, Costantino Nivola, Carla Accardi, Agostino Bonalumi, Bice Lazzari and Mimmo Rotella. The exhibition closes with a tribute to Marion Richardson Taylor (who died in 2010), with an unprecedented monographic exhibition – displaying twenty paintings between 1966 and 2001. A versatile and eclectic artist, she practiced over a wide range of styles and techniques, encompassing abstract expressionist murals, cubist still lifes, non-figurative portraits and intimately sized drawings –where colours are the distinguishing feature. Her constant search for new artistic innovations brought her to embrace new experimentations and travel to Spain, Egypt, Japan and Provence, continually revisiting her art, as a result of the places she visited. The Peggy Guggenheim collection dedicates to the artist her first solo-exhibition thanks to the works donated in 1998 by Taylor to the Solomon R. Guggenheim Foundation. The exhibition will open after a speedy refurbishment of Palazzo Venier from January 9 to February 21. The Peggy Guggenheim Collection, considered one of the most important European and American arts museums of the early 20th century, is located in what used to be Peggy Guggenheim’s house, Palazzo Venier dei Leoni. Opened in 1980, the museum contains Peggy Guggenheim’s personal collection of 20th century art, the masterpieces of the Gianni Mattioli Collection, the Nasher sculpture Garden and several contemporary exhibitions. The Peggy Guggenheim Collection is owned by the Solomon R. Guggenheim Foundation, which also owns the Solomon R. Guggenheim New York museum, the Guggenheim Bilbao Museum and the Berlin Deutsche Guggenheim. Opening times: 10am – 6pm.Closed on Tuesdays. Tickets Adults: 12€ Over 65s: 10€ Students up to 26: 7€ (Valid student card required) Children up to 10 and museum’s members: free entrance.

“Marciabianca…is here!” Since 2009 this has been the slogan chosen by the organizers of this historic event in Vicenza, who do their best every year to bring it back with the purpose of maintaining the fame of this renowned race, and this year in its fortieth edition. Started in the distant 1973, this event is an international cross-country skiing competition with the participation of the best athletes from Italy and abroad. Throughout the years, its importance has been steadily growing to the point that it is now one of the most important long-distance races in Italy, and recently included in the domestic calendar of races by the Winter Sport Italian Federation. With the purpose of celebrating 40 years of white emotions, the Enego local administration will be, for this edition, supported by Studio RX – Sport Services from Marostica who boast, together with B-Sport, a long standing experience in the organization of sport events. On top of this, the local Organizing committee includes sport groups and charities from Enego, who have always represented the driving force of the event. Once again this year includes many new features, with the aim of raising the profile of the event amongst national competitions. The double race, which has made this Vicenza event well-known over the years, will be run again, on a double distance of 25 and 50 km, both free-style and single ring. Unlike previous editions, athletes will be able to decide at the time of the race whether to run for 25 or 50 km rather than at the time of registration. This is possible due to an innovative time recording chip technology which will add athletes to either classification, thanks to several checks along the route so that athletes will run with the same racing bib. Striking new features will be staged during the celebrations for the 40th edition of the event. As usual, the location of this event is the splendid snow covered Marcesina Plane. Located within the municipality of Enego, this area is particularly important from a historic and nature point of view, as well as being known as the coldest place in Veneto and possibly Italy. Due to its picturesque settings and record low temperatures, despite being at an altitude of only 1440 meters above the sea, the Marcesina plane is also referred to as the Finland of Italy. Until 25 February 2012: 38.00 Euros + 5.00 Euros chip refundable deposit 26 and 27 February 2012: 44.00 Euros + 5.00 Euros chip refundable deposit. Registration will be deemed complete only with fully completed and duly signed entry forms, proof of payment, fit for racing medical certificate for those not holding a FISI membership. Entry fee includes racing bib, first aid assistance, competitors pack, drinking stations, pasta party at arrival and additional services as specified in the ‘services sections’. Visually impaired athletes only pay one fee (free entry for guides).

A fixed and not-to-be-missed event that’s been running for over 20 years, the Cortina Winter Polo Audi Gold Cup is a very technical competition with players from around the world and thousands of supporters and tourists. This year’s tournament, scheduled for the final week of the Carnival, will take place from 19 to 25 February in the usual location of the frozen lake of Misurina, purposely transformed into a playing field. After being added to the World Polo Tour, which also includes the Swiss St. Moritz and the Argentinean Snow Cup tournaments, the event has deservedly gained the status of “not-to-be-missed top event” in the international scene. The matches and the entertainment area will be located at 1800m in a postcard setting, with the backdrop of Mt. Sorapis and the Three Lavaredo Peaks, one of the most celebrated sceneries of the Ampezzo Dolomites, where glamour and high society are the fundamental ingredients of the activities that are planned both on- and off the slopes of Cortina d’Ampezzo. The combination, in a perfect union of glamour, sport, hospitality and excellence is a guarantee of a unique exhibition which is known all around the world for an ever increasing number of guests. This year a dense calendar of side events has been planned in order to get spectators more involved in this fascinating tournament - a week in the name of great entertainment with events taking place at Misurina and Cortina. The first team confirming their participation to the 2012 edition is the one captained by Luca D’Orazio and Rommy Gianni. A regular protagonist as well as the winner of the last edition, Luca D’Orazio considers this event a compulsory stage amongst his sport engagements. This year wearing the jersey of the Audi Polo team, D’Orazio is presenting himself as the real protagonist after winning the previous two events after Cortina – Forte dei Marmi (polo on the beach) and Rome. No entry tickets necessary to watch the event. Spectators have access to all services offered by the retail operators located in Misurina. Times Matches normally start at 1pm (with two matches per day) and finish at 4pm. Times may change slightly depending on weather conditions.

Considered one of this year’s most important exhibitions in Italy, “Divisionism. The light of the modern” will be hosted at Palazzo Roverella from 25 February to 23 June 2012. Described as one of the most exciting times of Italian art in the last few centuries, Divisionism is presented in this exhibition under a new light and with a perfect selection of works. The period displayed spans from 1890 and the end of the First World War. At the time of Signac and Seurat’s pointillism, which gave raise to Neo Impressionism in France, a number of artists in Italy started experimenting with the separate use of complementary colours in an original way and with a clever interpretation of the light of the modern. Considered the first effective departing from the styles of the preceding times, Divisionism was based on new experimentations that gave artists of the early 20th century the opportunity to depict, often with audacious and daring techniques the themes of the new centuries from the changing role of the agricultural world and the evolution of modern cities to the new scientific discoveries and the ensuing social conflicts. Instead of relying on dots and coloured bars as in Neo Impressionism, Italian Divisionism made recourse to irregular filaments which were not juxtaposed, rather overlapped in a completely different spirit. This new painting technique is better suited at representing the friendship, happiness, spiritualism, symbolism, political ideology as well as the feelings and passions that were uniting the artists of this movement. These painting contain light and colours and moreover, a whole range of emotions. The exhibition at Palazzo Roverella covers this magic moment of art in Italy, and includes in its critic review artists that had until recently only occasionally attributed to Divisionism, such as Vittore Grubicy de Dragon, with his Divisionism of music and scientific research, and Plinio Novellini, the icon of Divisionism in Tuscany and Liguria and also the best representatives of the different local expressions of Divisionism, which are possibly the best characteristics of this movement. This is, therefore, the ideal opportunity to widen the appreciation of a movement that puts together different local traditions and establishes altogether new style mutations compared to the realism of the 19th century. With the inclusion of lesser known names next to the more established ones, such as Segantini, Morbelli and Pelizza da Volpedo, this exhibition allows visitors to discover artists that were capable of defining independent paths of light experimentations. The historic Divisionism Room of the 1914 Biennale is revisited as well as the extraordinary Divisionism works of Giacomo Ballà, Umberto Boccioni, Gino Severini, Carlo Carrà and the Roman Secession, which represent the final flashes of the artistic movement that developed into the revolutionary Futurism. The exhibition is organized in six sections that present, in a logical time sequence, this extraordinary artistic movement: First section The period of Vittore Grubicy: Divisionism between science and music Second section Divisionism on the charge: the social drama from Morbelli to Pellizza Third section The vital cycle according to Divisionism: from Veneri to Parche Fourth section The heroic wing of Divisionism Fifth section The progress of light: the predecessors of Futurism Sixth section Towards Secession Times: Weekdays: 9am-9pm; Saturday 9am-8pm; Sunday 9am-8pm Closed on Mondays Tickets: Adults: 9€; Concessions: 7€; Free: under 6, disabled and their assistant; Young people: 5€ (from 7 to 18 years). Reduced tickets at 5€: Tuesday and Wednesday 9am – 1pm. Residents in Rovigo and surroundings. Free entry to returning visitors exhibiting their used tickets with free or reduced entry for their friends. Family discount: 2 adults + 1 child (up to 18 years): 15€ 2 adults + 2 children (up to 18 years): 20€ 2 adults + 3 or more children (up to 18 years): 20€ Groups (min 20 people): 7€ and free for tour guides.

The 9th edition of the Treviso International Marathon will take place on March 4 over a distance of 42.195 km with starting line at Vittorio Veneto and arrival in Treviso. The final countdown for the event on March 4 has already started: entries will close on February 25 but until February 17 there is an early bird discount: 38 Euros instead of 48 and an additional discount for groups, thereby confirming that the March marathon is one of the cheapest and most important in Italy. There are already 24 represented nations, which is setting this happening as an important event also for foreign runners. The starting line in Vittorio Veneto will include an international line-up with athletes from Israel and Ukraine, the United States and Russia, Northern Europe and further a field as Brazil and Argentina. A not to be missed event for many Italian and foreign aficionados, who appreciate the rich tourist offering of the March and the beauty of the Treviso marathon, both perfect occasions to discover one of the nicest historic town centres in Italy. Treviso is in fact a city with many attractions: art, history, well-being and a excellent example of the “dolce vita” in Italy. The renowned hospitality is perfectly mirrored in the organization of the Treviso Marathon: everything during the marathon weekend has been planned with the needs of athletes in mind and this is probably what has decreed the success of this event. With a starting line in Serravalle, the splendid historic centre of Vittorio Veneto, the marathon meanders through seven municipalities (Colle Umberto, San Vendemiano, Conegliano, Susegana, Nervesa della Battaglia, Spresiano e Villorba), before arriving in Treviso. The finish line is in the renowned Piazza del Grano, in Borgo Cavour, soon after Porta San Tommaso. Considered one of the most popular races in Italy, its debut occurred on March 14 2004 and soon became a favourite event for many aficionados. Its popularity has risen dramatically: over the first five editions the number of participants has doubled and the final tally peaked in 2008 with a record number of 6271 participants. It is very popular with non professional athletes and due to the warm support of spectators along the route, it has been named the “New York of Italy”. During the 10th edition in 2013, the Treviso Marathon will revert to being the only marathon in the world with three separate starting lines and will accept only 4500 participants. Athletes who enrolled in the 2012 Treviso Marathon before 31 December will be guaranteed entry to the 10th Anniversary Treviso Marathon after paying a small supplement. The date of the 2012 edition represents a new element for the Treviso Marathon. Unlike previous editions, the event will take place on the first Sunday of March and not the last one, this way favouring the athletes, who will enjoy a cooler climate, and streamlining the rich calendar of events of the March which has been steadily growing in recent times. An additional new feature for the 2012 Treviso Marathon is the location of the Expo Run in the great sport city of Ghirada. The exhibition of technical products for marathon runners will, therefore, take place in the green oasis of Ghirada, which with its gyms and facilities for outdoor activities just outside Treviso, confirms itself as an ideal location for sport lovers. This is a unique multi-purpose centre in Italy, covering 22 hectares, which represents the ideal place for all those passionate about sports and free-time activities and the perfect location for an event that every year brings out new opportunities for resonance and prestige. Entry fee € 38 from 1 January to 17 February 2012 € 48 from 18 to 25 February 2012 € 25 for disabled athletes until 25 February 2012 Athletes without membership pay an extra 7€ covering the cost of the ticket granting permission to run on roads. This will be completed in advance by the race organizers and handed to the athletes together with their race bib. A medical certificate must be posted together with proof of payment. Entry fee determined according to the date of payment, not when the enrolment form was posted.

After setting off in Milan on 22 December, Laura Pausini’s new Inedited World Tour will take the singer around the world after a series of Italian dates until the end of 2012. After the first 11 dates in Italy – between Rome and Milan – a further 14 dates have been added that will see the singer perform in Italy from March on her return from the first leg of her tour in South America. After Ancona, Acireale, Caserta. Florence, Genoa and Turin Laura Pausini will wrap up the Italian events at Treviso’s Palaverde on 30 and 31 March and 2 April, the only dates in North East Italy. The tireless singer will then continue to host 23 concerts in France, Spain, Germany, Switzerland, Belgium, Holland, Austria and England, on some of the most prestigious stages in the world such as London’s Royal Albert Hall, one of the greatest live music venues in the world. The tickets for the three dates at the Palaverde are already on sale, if you fancy enjoying Laura’s comeback on the stage after a two year absence from the limelight, it’s better hurry up before tickets are sold out, due to the great turn out of aficionados that this extraordinary artist draws at each event. After her debut at Sanremo in the distant 1993, Laura’s career has been constantly soaring: she has so far sold more that 45 million records in the world and obtained many prestigious international awards, including a Grammy Award in the Best Latin Pop album of the Year category. Her last album has proved another great success, positioning itself securely at the top of the charts. Her 10th album in the studio, “Inedited” contains 14 tracks with numerous collaborations, from Gianna Nannini, to her sister Silvia and also the great Ivano Fossati, with whom she launches herself into a soft ballad. One must also mention Niccolò Fabi and Niccolò Agliard. As usual the album will be published in Spanish as well, with the title of Inedito and also in Brazil, where the CD will include a bonus track, “No primeiro olhar”, the Portuguese version of “At first sight”. On her latest album, Laura has commented: “It is a complete album from a musical point of view as there are many differences between the various songs. It is influenced by rock music, but also by ballads and melodies with the music of Italian and English orchestras”. Italy is at the centre of her latest tour as well as the pride of an all Italian production that can compete with the best International productions. Her historic band remains the same, headed by Paolo Carta on the guitar and music direction, Emiliano and Matteo Bassi brothers on the drums and bass respectively, Bruno Zacchetti on the piano and Roberta Granà with Gianluigi Fazio as vocalists. This tour has two new elements: Monical Hill as vocalist and Nicola Oliva on the guitar. The first date of the tour was held exactly two years from the end of her previous tour which was followed by a two year break for Laura. From “Surrender” to “Solitude”, from “Welcome” to “I never stopped”, the line up of songs includes more than 30 tracks, some of them arranged in suggestive medleys, where Laura is capable of expressing all her vocal shades presenting a mastery that has not been faltered by her two years absence from the stage. Tickets on sale at authorized resellers Price Gold Stand: €74.75 Central Stand: €63.25 First Numbered Tier, side: €57.50 Second Numbered Tier, side: € 48.30 Standing: €41.40

Antiquaria is the art and antiques trade show held at the exhibition centre in Padova that should not be missed by collectors and aficionados of antiques. Now in its 25th edition, this renowned trade show - an event that has always mixed culture and trade - will open its doors again from 17 to 25 March. From modern art to original objects of the 18th century, those passionate about antiques will have enough to satisfy their curiosity and opportunity to admire beautiful things, whilst at the same time closing deals thanks to the huge choice of this extraordinary exhibition. A showcase for those interested in buying and selling, thanks to the professionalism and hard work of NEF, an organization with a long standing experience in this sector, Antiquaria attracts every year thousands of visitors from around Italy. The huge offer includes all kinds of objects: furniture, beautiful paintings, amazing jewellery, decorated tapestry, precious porcelain, Art Deco and Liberty lampshades, sculptures, rare and original books and also general collectables. The show is sponsored by some of the best known Italian collectors and will present visitors with a display of the most important and renowned antiques galleries in Italy. There will be more than ninety Italian and international galleries exhibiting at Antiquaria, with great works and masterpieces that will lead visitors along a journey from the Renaissance to the 20th century. Confirming its leading role amongst the exhibitions in North East Italy, an area particularly devoted to antiques, Antiquaria Padova is one of the longest running shows in this region thanks to its constant attention to innovation – the key to satisfy the ever demanding requests of its visitors – and the professionalism of the organizers, who are always striving to improve the services on offer. On top of the high cultural profile, the exhibition distinguishes itself as a not-to-be-missed event for the more discerned and a trademark trade show for collectors, investors and aficionados of antiques. Padova is in the heart of Veneto, one of the best thriving regions in Italy, home to more than half a million businesses and consequently one of the most important industrial districts in Europe. In a strategic position between Friuli and Trentino, but also Austria, Slovenia and Croatia, Padova is now the economic and geographic hub of Veneto and a gateway to Italy. Product list: Furniture; paintings; jewellery; tapestry; porcelain; Art Deco and Liberty lampshades; sculptures; rare books; collectables. Open to dealers and the general public. Opening times 10am - 8pm (Weekend) 3pm – 8pm (weekdays)

If Venice was able to remain for many centuries a free and independent republic it was surely down to a humble common woman: Lucia (or Giustina) Rossi. On 15 June 1310 Baiamonte Tiepolo, a rebellious young nobleman, plotted together with other noblemen, a conspiracy to overthrow the government of the Serenissima. Their army had almost made it to St Mark’s Square and was preparing to attack the government building. Puzzled by the roar coming from the street, Lady Lucia leant out of her house window and in doing so dropped (purposely?) a heavy mortar that she was holding immediately killing the flag holder of the army of rioters. This incident caused havoc amongst the insurgents who were subsequently easily defeated by the regular army.   As a reward for saving the city, Lady Lucia simply requested to have her house rent fixed at the same level until the fall of the Republic. In remembrance of the event, an elderly lady in 1861, living in the same house, had a high-relief etched depicting the woman who saved with her mortar the city from dictatorship. If you want to see this peculiar monument, walk along Mrcerie del’Orologio towards St Mark’s Square and on the corner with sotoportego del Cappello just look up…

Valentine’s day is celebrated all around the world, but only a few know that the saint’s remains are kept in the city of Venice, precisely in the church of St Samuel (next to Palazzo Grassi). When you enter the church, not well known even to the residents of this city, and approach the first altar on the left, you will clearly see an urn with this writing: CORPUS SANCTI VALENTINI. It is true that the city of Terni claims to hold the remains of this famous saint, but it is nice to keep an aura of mystery and indulge in the idea that some of the remains of St Valentine, the protector of those in love, are also kept in Venice, the city of lovers par excellence. The day of the bishop and martyr Valentine goes back to the ancient Greek, Italics and Roman celebrations that used to be held on 15 February in honour of the god Pan. These celebrations were dedicated to the purification of fields and fecundity rituals. After becoming increasingly licentious, the Emperor August banned the celebrations and Pope Gelasio finally suppressed them in 494. The Church Christianized the originally pagan fertility ritual bringing it forward to the 14th of February and attributing to the Saint martyr the ability to protect couples and those in love wishing to get married and have children together. This story gave rise to several legends. The most interesting ones depict the saint as being passionate for roses and scented flowers that he used to donate to couples to wish them a happy time together. If you fancy celebrating Valentine’s day in a special way, bring a rose to the altar of St Valentine in the church of St Samuel in Venice (to find out about opening times of this church ask at the nearby church of St Stephen).

When visiting the church of St John and Paul, one of the most beautiful churches in Venice, you will notice a monument dedicated to a hero from the history of Venice, Marcantonio Bragadin, who served as a captain in Cyprus during the war between the Ottoman Empire and Venice. In 1570, The Ottomans landed in Cyprus and lay siege to the Venetian fortress in Famagost but Marcantonio Gragadin decided not to surrender to the Ottoman empire. After months of resistance, the Turks succeeded in conquering the city and their commander decided to take revenge on the heroic captain. Bragadin’s face was mutilated and he was imprisoned in a tiny cage exposed to sunlight, with very little water and food. After four days the Turks offered to let him free in exchange for his conversion to Islam, but Bragadin refused. He was hoisted to the mast of his ship and flagellated, then dragged around the streets of Famagosta with a sack of sand and stones on his back. He was finally tied to a column in the square of the city and flayed alive starting from his head, albeit he died before the end of his torture. Bragadin's quartered body was then distributed among the army, and his skin was stuffed with straw and sewn, reinvested with his military insignia, and exhibited riding an ox in a mocking procession along the streets of Famagusta. The macabre trophy was brought to Costantinople. But in 1577, during the Battle of Lepanto, Venetians succeeded in halting the progression of the Ottoman Army and soon after, in 1580, Bragadin’s skin was purloined from the Constantinople’s arsenal and brought to Venice and preserved in the church of St John and Paul, where it can still be seen today inside an urn.

If you have visited Venice in the last few days and have been fascinated by the Carnival masks worn by tourists and actors, we suggest that you also go and admire the original Venetian costumes, housed in the Fabric and Costume Museum at Palazzo Mocenigo in San Stae. This magnificent historic palace, once owned by one of the most important and prestigious families of the ancient Venice nobility, houses a rich collection of male and female clothes, which retrace the history of fashion and elegance in Venice. The clothes and objects displayed, mostly originating from Venice, have been made with elegant fabrics, often decorated with embroidery and lacework, and are an important testimony of the skills of a large group of craftsmen (weavers, tailors, lace makers, embroiders…) who contributed to the creation of the sophisticated and luxurious elegant style that the inhabitants of Venice used to be famous for. For this reason, the Venice Carnival is still famous today all around the world for its opulent costumes and tailors still flock here to find inspirations for their exclusive masks.

Far from the usual tourist destinations, in the sestriere of Castello in Venice you can find the old city’s cathedral: St Peter in Castello, one of the oldest churches in Venice, built in the 7th century where a byzantine fortress – called the Castle, hence the name of the sestriere - once stood. This church conceals one of the most unusual hidden treasures of Venice – a throne that apparently once belonged to the Apostle Peter during his preaching as a bishop in Antioch, Siria. The story goes that the throne was originally donated to the Doge Petro Tradonico by the Constantinople’s Emperor Michael III in the 9th century. In reality, the throne does not have a Christian origin, as its backing was built from an ancient Islamic funeral stone bearing Arabic decorations and etched Kufic characters of verses from the Koran. The seat was probably built in the course of the 13th century, perhaps in Antioch itself, and then brought to Venice, to augment the prestige of the cathedral, which could in this way boast to owning an object that once belonged to the Apostle Peter.

Venice, an ever magic and mysterious city, was already in the 18th century the centre of an influential Freemasonry fraternity, whose members also included the famous adventurer Giacomo Casanova. Here, the Freemasonry fraternity was so powerful and rich that they had a church built following the Freemasonry doctrines – the church of Saint Mary Magdalene in Cannaregio. A few components of the Baffo family, affiliated to the Freemasonry in Venice, contracted the architect Tommaso Temanza, also a member of the fraternity, to build the “Freemasonry” church. Temenza designed a perfectly round building with a neo classic style and a symbol of the Freemasonry etched on the architrave of the main door – an eye inscribed within a circle and a pyramid with the writing “ SAPIENTIA EDIFICAVIT SIBI DOMUM”, a reference to the cult of the divine knowledge, which is at the base of the Freemason ideologies. Temanza himself is buried inside the church and his headstone is decorated with a line and compasses, the most important symbol of the Freemasonry, as its members would define themselves as ‘builders’. It is no surprise that this “Freemasonry” church is dedicated to Mary Magdalene, a mysterious figure, sometimes rejected by the church, beloved instead by the Freemasonry and its members who considered her a symbol of wisdom and the struggle against the obscurantism of the church.

Dall’8 all’11 marzo 2012, Falcade, cuore della provincia di Belluno, ospiterà la 1°edizione delle Alpiniadi, prima manifestazione che riunirà tutti i campionati dell’Associazione Nazionale Alpini. Rinomata località, Falcade si trova nell’incantevole Valle del Biois circondata dalle pittoresche Pale di San Martino, dal gruppo Focobon e dal Civetta. In provincia di Belluno e nel cuore delle meravigliose Dolomiti, Falcade offre oltre 100 chilometri di piste per lo sci alpino e una sessantina per lo sci di fondo, oltre a diversi tracciati per lo sci alpinismo. Da non dimenticare poi lo sci nordico, il pattinaggio, le passeggiate con le ciaspe… e tanti altri divertimenti sulla neve delle Dolomiti! La scelta di Falcade non è casuale essendo terra d'alpini e luogo che rimanda alle origini stesse dell'Associazione Nazionale Alpini. La manifestazione “Alpiniadi” è proposta dalla Sezione di Belluno, dai Gruppi della Valle del Biois e dell’Agordino in collaborazione con le realtà locali. Tutto sotto il controllo e la verifica dell’Associazione Nazionale Alpini. Durante la manifestazione, unica proprio perché riunisce a Falcade tutti i Campionati Italiani dell’Associazione Nazionale Alpini, è prevista l’assegnazione dei titoli italiani di sci di fondo, sci alpino e sci alpinismo. Con centro a Falcade, ma coinvolgendo anche i limitrofi comuni della provincia di Belluno, si disputeranno le gare delle tre discipline caratterizzanti l’attività degli alpini: sci di fondo, sci alpinismo e sci alpino. Il Campionato di sci di fondo si terrà sulla pista “Franco Manfroi” a Canale d’Agordo; le gare di slalom gigante si svolgeranno a Falcade (piste “Panoramica” e “Laresèi”); la competizione di sci alpinismo verrà disputata nell’impareggiabile scenario della Valfredda. Questo per far sì che la manifestazione possa essere sia momento di confronto agonistico sia opportunità per far vivere l'Associazione Nazionale Alpini e la montagna a un grande numero di persone. La manifestazione avrà inizio a Falcade nel pomeriggio dell’8 marzo, apertura ufficiale, e proseguirà nei giorni successivi con le gara di sci alpinismo, sci di fondo e slalom gigante, fino alla chiusura domenica 11 marzo. Collegati alla manifestazione, oltre ad una gara sulle ciaspole aperta a tutti, sabato 10 nei Comuni della valle saranno resi gli onori ai caduti, seguiti alle 18.00 dalla Messa nella chiesa di Falcade. Venerdì 9 e sabato 10, inoltre, la manifestazione sarà arricchita dalla proiezione di filmati sportivi e da esibizioni musicali volti a riunire atleti e popolazione in questo grande evento all’insegna di sport, amicizia e fratellanza, valori da sempre alla base dell'Associazione Nazionale Alpini. Falcade e la provincia di Belluno sono pronte ad ospitare questo grande appuntamento dell'Associazione Nazionale Alpini e a far conoscere le straordinarie Dolomiti in un fine settimana all’insegna dello sci, con spettacoli, musica e momenti ricreativi per tutti gli appassionati di montagna. Possono partecipare: Soci A.N.A.(tesseramento 2012) muniti di certificato medico; militari in servizio alle Truppe Alpine Soci A.N.A. Quote d’iscrizione: €10-sci di fondo €20-sci alpinismo (a squadra) €10-slalom gigante Le iscrizioni vanno redatte esclusivamente su appositi moduli e firmati dal Presidente della Sezione. Da far pervenire alla Associazione Nazionale Alpini-Sezione di Belluno entro le ore 18.00 del 7 marzo 2012.

“Gustav Klimt nel segno di Hoffmann e della Secessione” è il titolo della mostra dedicata a Gustav Klimt e Josef Hoffmann, che si terrà al museo Correr di Venezia dal 24 marzo all’8 luglio 2012. La mostra è attualmente alla Galleria del Belvedere di Vienna e in seguito verrà trasferita a Venezia grazie all’accordo raggiunto dal direttore dei musei civici veneziani con la raccolta viennese. Considerato uno dei massimi esponenti dell'Art Nouveau e grande protagonista della Secessione viennese, Klimt fa il suo ritorno a Venezia dopo un secolo dalla partecipazione alla Biennale di Venezia del 1910, nell’anno dei festeggiamenti per il 150° della sua nascita (1862-2012). La mostra, a cura di Alfred Weidinger, uno dei massimi esperti di Klimt, è organizzata dai musei civici veneziani in collaborazione con il Museo viennese, una delle più importanti collezioni di oli su tela di Klimt. La mostra di Venezia vuole proporre la genesi e l’evoluzione di Klimt e di quanti con lui diedero vita alla Secessione viennese, soprattutto Josef Hoffmann, compagno di Klimt in tante avventure intellettuali e progettuali. La Secessione viennese va ad inserirsi all’interno dello scenario di movimenti artistici che presero vita in Europa tra la fine del XIX e l’inizio del XX secolo. Assumendo nomi diversi in ogni nazione, come Art Nouveau in Francia o Modernismo in Spagna, queste avanguardie si caratterizzarono per il recupero della tradizione attraverso l'utilizzo di nuove tecniche e materiali. La mostra presenterà quindi un ciclo eccezionale di dipinti, disegni, mobili e gioielli, ma anche elaborate ricostruzioni e documenti storici, incentrati sulle figure di Klimt e Hoffmann all’interno della Secessione viennese. Nella mostra a Venezia verranno inoltre esposte insieme per la prima volta la Giuditta I (1901) e la Giuditta II (1909), oltre ad alcuni capolavori della galleria viennese e di collezioni pubbliche e private tra cui Lady davanti al camino, Gli amanti, Hermine Gallia e Il Girasole. Collegate alla mostra del museo Correr, sempre a Venezia, a Ca’Pesaro, verranno esposte due opere esemplificative della forte influenza di Klimt sulla cultura figurativa italiana dell’epoca: Le mille e una notte di Vittorio Zecchin e la Primavera di Galileo Chini. Oltre a Klimt, la mostra dei musei civici veneziani rende omaggio all’architetto e interior designer Josef Hoffmann, che condivise con Klimt l’idea di un arte coinvolta in ogni ambito del vivere moderno. Iniziando con esempi dei contributi austriaci all’Esposizione mondiale di Parigi del 1900, a cui Klimt e Hoffmann parteciparono, la prima sezione della mostra di Venezia illustra il passaggio dallo stile decorativo dell’Art Nouveau a un approccio più geometrico presentando, giustapposti, i disegni parietali realizzati per l’Esposizione di Parigi e quelli della Beethover Exhibition alla Secessione viennese nel 1902. Lo stretto rapporto di collaborazione tra Klimt e Hoffmann verrà presentato in modo ancora più approfondito attraverso i progetti per l’Esposizione mondiale di Saint Louis (1904), l’Esposizione d’arte di Mannheim (1907), la Kuntschau (1908) e l’Esposizione internazionale di Roma (1911). L’arte di Hoffmann, considerato esempio pionieristico del Modernismo viennese, viene presentato nella mostra a Venezia con pezzi di design, disegni e vario materiale documentario. Non mancherà neanche spazio per il mondo femminile di Klimt. Lo stesso Klimt amava definirsi “pittore di donne” e, nel percorso alla scoperta delle mille sfaccettature delle sue donne, il famoso “Bacio” può considerarsi il punto di arrivo perfetto. PREZZI Intero: 16€ Ridotto: 8€ Ragazzi (6-14 anni); studenti (15-25 anni); accompagnatori (max2) di gruppi; ultrasessantacinquenni; personale MiBAC; titolari Carta Rolling Venice; soci F.A.I. Gratuito Residenti/nati nel Comune di Venezia; membri I.C.O.M.; bambini 0-5 anni; portatori di handicap+accompagnatore; guide autorizzate; interpreti turistici; 1 gratuità ogni 15 biglietti previa prenotazione. Famiglie Due adulti e almeno un ragazzo (6-18 anni): 1 intero e gli altri ridotti. Scuole: 5,50€ 1 settembre-15 marzo: studenti accompagnati dai loro insegnanti. Biglietto valido per: Palazzo Ducale-Museo Correr-Museo Archeologico Nazionale-Sale Monumentali della Biblioteca Marciana. ORARI 1 aprile-31 ottobre: 10-19 (biglietteria 10-18) 1 novembre-31 marzo: 10-17 (biglietteria 10-16)