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.

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.

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.

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.

“Gustav Klimt in the Sign of Hoffmann and the Secession” is the title of the exhibition dedicated to Gustav Klimt and Josef Hoffmann, which will be housed at the Venice Correr Museum from 24 March to 8 July 2012. The exhibition is currently being held at the Belvedere Gallery in Vienna and will be soon transferred to Venice thanks to an agreement between the director of the Venice city museums and the Vienna exhibition house. Considered one of the highest representatives of Art Nouveau and a great protagonist of the Viennese Secession, Klimt returns to Venice a century after his participation to the 1910 Venice Biennale and during the year in which the 150th anniversary of his birth is celebrated (1862-2012). The curator of the exhibition is Alfred Weidinger, one of the leading experts on Klimt. The exhibition is organized by the Venice city museums in collaboration with the Vienna’s Museums that houses one of the most valuable collections of Klimt’s oil paintings. The Venice exhibition will reveal the genesis and evolution of Klimt’s works and those who initiated the Viennese Secession, in particular Josef Hoffmann – Klimt’s companion in many intellectual ventures and projects. The Viennese Secession is part of the series of artistic movements that sprang up across Europe across the end of the 19th century and the beginning of the 20th century. With different names in each nation, such as Art Nouveau in France and Modernism in Spain, these avant-gardes were characterized by the revival of tradition and the use of new techniques and materials. The exhibition will therefore present an exceptional cycle of paintings, drawings, furniture and jewels, but also elaborate reconstructions and historic documents, centred on the figures of Klimt and Hoffmann inside the Viennese Secession. The Venice exhibition will display, together for the first time, Judith I (1901) and Judith II (1909), as well as some of the masterpieces of the Vienna gallery and public and private collections – amongst them Lady by the fireplace, Lovers, Portrait of Hermine Gallia and The Sunflower. Alongside the exhibition at the Correr Museum, two works exemplifying Klimt’s strong influence on the Italian figurative culture of the time will be displayed at Ca’ Pesaro in Venice - Vittorio Zecchin’s One Thousand and One Nights and Galileo Chini’s Spring. Alongside Klimt, the exhibition of the Venice city museums pays homage to the architect and interior designer Josef Hoffmann, who shared Klimt’s vision of art influencing every aspect of modern life. Starting with examples of Austria’s contributions to the World’s Exposition in Paris in 1900, to which Klimt and Hoffmann took part, the first section of the Venice exhibition illustrates the passage from the decorative style of the Art Nouveau to a more geometric approach by showing, in a juxtaposed manner, the drawings of Paris Exposition and those of the Beethover Exhibition of the 1902 Viennese Secession. The close collaboration between Klimt and Hoffmann will be further investigated with the display of the projects prepared for the World’s Saint Louis Exposition (1907), the Kuntschau (1908) and the Rome International Exposition (1911). Hoffmann’s art, considered a pioneering example of the Viennese Modernism, will be displayed in Venice with design fragments, drawings and additional documentary material. There will also be room for Klimt’s feminine world. Klimt used to call himself “painter of women”. And the perfect representation of Klimt’s quest to discover the myriad of women’s facets is without any doubt his painting The Kiss. TICKETS Adults: 12€ Group concession: 10€ (booking required min 15 people) Tickets at 9€ for the owners of museum pass and piazza san marco tickets Schools: 5€ TIMES Every day 10.00 am – 7.00 pm (last entry one hour before)

Venice has strong links with sailing and its lagoon, both elements that have accompanied its thousand-year long history and influenced its events, relations and transformations. Due to its traditional ties, Venice is the perfect location to host the races of the oldest sport trophy in the world: the America's Cup, which will be the ideal opportunity to confirm once again Venice’s love and vocation for the sea. Elevating Venice into the ranks of an international sport destination, the America's Cup will arrive in Venice from 12 – 20 May 2012. Venetoinside offers you the unique opportunity to watch the America's Cup regattas directly from the sea onboard an exclusive yacht! To learn more and book your place on our luxury motorboat: www.venetoinside.com/americascupexperience Venice is getting ready to become the perfect background for the races of the America's Cup, organized with the public in mind and enriched by a dense programme of collateral events. Valid for the World Series of the America's Cup, the races will take place along the line Terraferma-Arsenale-Lido and will include speed contests, a match race and a series of team regattas, a new formula introduced purposely to offer an unforgettable experience to both the public along the shores and the television viewers. At the Venice Lido there will be information points and viewing areas, as well as a ring of boats that will let spectators watch at close distance the sailing races, with additional viewing locations in St Mark’s Square, St George, nearby shores and at the Venice Arsenal. There will also be big screens across Venice to watch the America's Cup live, and also trials of traditional sailing, concerts at the Venice Arsenal, lyrical musical at the Fenice, dancing at the Biennale and additional events organized to give the huge crowds coming to watch the sailing races of the America's Cup the best possible welcome. A Welcome Village will be set up at the Riva degli Schiavoni and the Sport Village at the Venice Arsenal, the huge dock where the ships of the Serenissima Republic used to be built. Built in 1100, the Venice Arsenal is the best location for the technical and organizational teams of the America's Cup thanks to its architecture and its vast expanse of water. The rehabilitation of the Venice Arsenal, conceived to receive the containers that will be used for the village, will include also some of the rooms currently in use by the Biennale. The strengthening of the moorings is already, in order to accommodate the huge number of boats that will arrive to watch the races of the America's Cup. This is a Venice reaching out towards the sea, and everything will be prepared in the best way to welcome nice days of sailing with collateral events during the Venice stage of the prestigious America's Cup. Racing in the America's Cup will be the extremely fast AC45 catamarans (13.50 metres long) of eleven teams with the best sailors in the world, amongst them the Luna Rossa, the only Italian boat competing in the sailing races. There will be two routes, the first in the open sea, opposite St Nicolò del Lido and the second in the lagoon, between the Venice Lido and St Mark’s Square. The America's Cup in Venice will start on Friday 11 May, with practices and tests anticipating the races of the “Venice Lido Cup” which will take place on Saturday and Sunday (route 1). On Monday and Tuesday sailors will have a rest – collateral events are planned with Veneta rowing and al terzo sailing – and races will resume on Wednesday 16 in the open sea. The final will commence on Friday: speed races and team regattas on the 18th, match race on the 19th, speed races and team regattas on Sunday 20 (route 2). The renovation works planned for the races of the America's Cup have become an integral part of the projects for the restoration of Venice. On top of the refurbishment of the Arsenal, which is related to an on-going regeneration project, a number of sport facilities will also be improved. This is all thanks to a group of private supporters headed by Thetis, a marine research and technology firm tasked with the organization of the America's Cup. The sailing races are also linked to a series of initiatives aimed at ensuring that this event is carried out in a sustainable way and with the protection of the environment in mind: besides being a ‘zero emission’ event, due to the rigorous control of emissions and the recourse to recycled materials, the America's Cup and the local organizers have adhered to an ocean protection project, which will see Venice as the protagonist of a series of actions for the defence of the marine environment. From 12 – 20 May Venice will therefore be the stage of a great event and also the promoter of a new rapport with the sea and, more generally, with the natural environment.

For those visiting Venice, the gondola is a not-to-be-missed attraction but few know its history. One needs only consider that the gondola was used as a means of transportation in the city already in the 14th century. Hard to believe? This is the proof. In the painting “The miracle of the Cross in Rialto” of Vittore Carpaccio (1494), housed in the Venice Academy Galleries, a group of gondolas passing underneath the original wooden Rialto Bridge can be clearly seen. The gondola in the painting is slightly different from the Venice gondola that we can see nowadays, as both the prow comb and the gilded decorations were not present - gondolas were also shorter. It was only between 1600 and 1700 that the gondola became an increasingly common means utilized for the transport of private service and took on a shape similar to the current one. Noble families owned one or more de casada (or house) gondolas that they used for their business or leisure transport needs. In the painting we can also see that each gondola uses a sort of cover, known as felze, used to provide shelter from the cold and unwanted gaze when crossing the canals. So, next time you want to visit Venice in a gondola, remember that the boat you are using has more than 500 years of history! Unfortunately, you will be not able to rely on the felze to protect your privacy…

In the enchanting scenery of the Camerini amphitheatre, between June and July 2012, a series of great concerts are planned to take place that will bring to Piazzola sul Brenta big international music celebrities. Following the tradition of the past years, that has seen on the stage of Piazzola sul Brenta world known famous artists such as Elton John, Duran Duran, Bob Dylan and Patty Smith - alternatives to Italian stars such as Jovanotti, Modà, Giovanni Allevi and Fiorello - next summer will see famous names perform in the traditional location of the wonderful Venetian Villa of Piazzola sul Brenta. For the 2012 summer, as part of the Hydrogen Live Festival, the following artists will arrive at Piazzola sul Brenta: -The Cranberries (30 June), long-awaited return of the historical band headed by Dolores O’Riordan that, following their break up in 2003, are about to publish a new album; -Sting (10 July), the ex leader of the Police doesn’t need any introductions: singer, author, actor and acclaimed world activist, he will disembark at Piazzola sul Brenta to present once again the biggest classics from his repertoire; -Wolfmother (11 July), defined the heirs of the Led Zeppelin and winners in 2007 of a Grammy Award, this Australian rock group has sold two million copies in the last few years; -The Cult (13 July), who will present at Piazzola sul Brenta their ninth album; -Analis Morissette (17 July), the Canadian star will return to Italy after four years from her exhibition at the Heineken Jammin’ Festival in 2008, ready to enchant Piazzola sul Brenta with her melodic rock. The suggestive and historical location of the concerts - the Venetian Villa of Piazzola sul Brenta - deserves a few extra words. A Baroque background in the main square of Piazzola sul Brenta, Villa Contarini is one of the largest residences in Europe. This marvellous Venetian Villa, probably built on the foundations of a previous building, was planned for the Contarini family from the great Andrea Palladio around 1546. Due to numerous alterations and extensions in the late ‘600, which gave villa Contarini the architectural complexity and richness that still distinguish it today, very little remains of the original Palladio project. After a period of neglect, in the second half of the 19th century, the large Venetian Villa – at the time lying in ruins - was taken back to the ancient glory by the Camerini family. The interiors of this Venetian Villa are noteworthy for the architectural details, often enriched with precious arrangements, which make the rooms of Villa Contarini truely scenic masterpieces - such as the famous Galleria delle Conchiglie, which has its ceilings and walls decorated with real shells. From the main entrance you walk into the spacious auditorium, whose ceiling, open at the centre, communicates with the music room on the third floor, which has an opening at the centre of the floor. The hall is famous for its upturned guitar shape and the opening serves the purpose of improving the acoustics, so that the music can spread towards the bottom. The two parallel wings of the venetian villa display paintings with Bible, mythological and hunting scenes as well as mosaics and perspective games. On the second floor you will be able to visit the huge library and the halls enriched with nineteenth century pieces of furniture of the Camerini family. This huge Venetian villa is also surrounded by a true oasis of peace for the protection of flora and fauna: a vast English style park with a lake, fishing lake and canals. In the last few decades the Venetian villa, completely renovated, has become a prestigious location where symposiums, congresses, art and crafts shows, concerts and other events take place. Tickets for sale at authorized resellers. The Cranberries – 30 June Central Numbered Stand Adult €52,00 Floor Standing Adult €37,00 Sting – 10 July Front Row Numbered Adult €103,50 Second Row Numbered Adult €86,50 Third Row Numbered Adult €69,00 Numbered Stand Adult€52,00 Wolfmother – 11 July Numbered Stand Adul €34,50 Standing Adult €29,00 The Cult – 13 July Adult €29,00 Alanis Morissette – 17 July Central Numbered Stand Adult €43,70 Floor Standing Adult €34,50

We would like to celebrate Women’s Day by remembering a Venetian lady who more than any other woman left a mark on the history of Venice: Caterina Cornaro who, in 1472, at the age of twenty, married Giacomo Lusignano, king of the Isle of Cyprus. Caterina Cornaro was a woman of character and following the death of her husband the year after her marriage, she stood against the Spanish as well as the Venetians who wanted to force her to surrender the Isle of Cyprus. Caterina Queen of Cyprus resisted for 16 years and reigned alone, until the Republic of Venice brought her to surrender the island. Caterina Cornaro came back to Venice in exchange for the sovereignty of the town of Asolo, where she founded a literary circle attended to by the most important humanists of the time. If you want to pay homage to this extraordinary woman who, in a time when male power was absolute, was able to impose her choices and keep her privileges, pay a visit to the church of San Salvador in Venice, in the sestriere of St Mark, where you will see her grave decorated with a magnificent Renaissance monument that depicts in its central frieze, Caterina Cornaro relinquishing the isle of Cyprus to the Doge Barbarigo.  

The Europeade, the international folk festival, brings traditions and folklore from one city to another, moving every year to a different nation of Europe. This year the festival, in its 49th edition, will take place from the 11th to the 15th of July in Padova, raising this Venetian city to role of capital of Folklore in Europe. The last edition of this extraordinary festival, at Tartu in Estonia, saw the participation of 250 groups, representing the folklore of all of Europe. They were enthusiastic to reach Padova for the 2012 edition, a city they know and appreciate for its artistic beauty and its large importance from a cultural and religious point of view. Due to the great following that the event has enjoyed since its very beginning, a record participation from all over Europe is expected in Padova. The origins of Europeade date back to 1964 when Mon De Clopper, founder of the Flemish artistic movement, together with a few co-workers, organised the first folk festival at Anversa. Already in its first edition the festival managed to gather half of Europe: Flemish, Dutch, English, French, Germans, Ukrainian, Yugoslavs and Polish sang and danced pieces of their own tradition whilst remaining conscious of their uniqueness and appreciating and respecting the folklore of the other populations of Europe. From the very beginning popular culture had a prominent role in bonding the nations together and, to encourage the development of this bond, the folk art and the unity of the nations in Europe was put on centre stage and also in the following editions of the folk festival. Europeade has therefore become a festival of voices, colours, sounds and traditions and every year it brings to a different city in Europe thousands of people who, wearing their best traditional European costumes, meet to present their folklore and create a unique and magical atmosphere. Spain, France, Scotland, Germany, Greece, Poland and Russia: the whole Europe is invited to Padova to participate to this big festival in the name of folklore and friendship, creating a unique moment of companionship and to exchange different experiences and knowledge. The organisation of the folk Europeade in Padova is in the hands of an international committee, formed by the representatives of the various European nations, who have appointed an organizing committee for the organization of all the local activities. The groups arriving from all over Europe, with a maximum of 4.400 participators, will be accommodated at Exhibition Centre in Padova. The five days of this festival include a packed programme, with shows and gatherings taking place in various streets in the centre of Padua and in Prato della Valle. How can you miss this big celebration? The 49th folk Europeade is waiting for you in Padova to discover the traditions of the populations of the whole of Europe with songs and dances!

Venetoinside is pleased to present two new exclusive tours in Venice that will commence on 1 April 2012: “St Mark’s Museum and Cathedral from above” and “The treasures of St Mark’s Cathedral”. Both tours will offer a covert visit inside one of the most famous monuments in the world - St Mark’s Cathedral in Venice - and will lead you to discover from a new perspective valuable art works and places generally closed to the public inside this symbolic monument in Venice. “St Mark’s Museum and Cathedral from above” will give you the opportunity to walk into the history of the Cathedral with the observation of its most renowned decorations: the mosaics of St Mark. It will be possible to admire these masterpieces from a close range and notice the smallest details. Additionally, the preparation techniques used in the mosaics of St Mark’s Cathedral will be illustrated via panels and 15th century fragments housed inside the Cathedral’s Museum. The visit of the mosaics of St Mark and the illustration of their time-honoured techniques will take place in a quiet location within Venice’s Cathedral, away from the crowds that flood into St Mark’s everyday. After the mosaics, visitors will be lead into an ancient room of Venice Doge’s Palace to admire the splendid tapestries that were once used during the most important celebrations. A crucial moment of the tour will be the visit of the authentic bronze horses, a symbol of the Venice Cathedral, and the lodge where you will admire the beautiful view of St Mark’s Square from above, whilst listening to a description of the monuments that make it one of the most suggestive places in the world. “The treasures of St Mark’s Cathedral” includes a visit to the locations of St Mark’s Cathedral where visitors are generally not allowed and that can be visited only with this tour. Tour participants will first be seated at the centre of the magnificent St Mark’s Cathedral and will listen to its fascinating history from a comfortable position. They will subsequently be accompanied to two lesser known locations - and for this reason even more suggestive: the Baptistery of St Mark’s Cathedral and the Zen Chapel. They enshrine centuries of art, history and spirituality. In particular, the Cathedral’s Baptistery houses the famous mosaics, the baptismal font and gravestone of Sansovino and the tomb of Venice’s last Doge. The visit will continue into the only remaining relics of the ancient Venice Doge’s Palace, two rooms housing the Treasures of St Mark’s Cathedral. A vast collection of sacred objects and relics, the Treasure of St Mark’s Cathedral contains true masterpieces, the majority being pieces of Byzantine and Islamic art that were brought to Venice after the looting of Constantinople. The last stage of this suggestive tour will be the major altar, which houses the St Mark remains and the Golden Pall – an object of inestimable value and beauty that is shown to the public only during major liturgical celebrations. Both tours will run from 1 April to 31 October 2012 and can already be booked online on Venetoinside.com, in English and Italian. They are available on Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday at these times: 11.10am – 12.10pm – 1.05pm and 4.40pm for the “St Mark’s Museum and Cathedral from above” tour, and 10am – 2.20pm and 3.30pm for the “The treasures of St Mark’s Cathedral” tour. To book online the “St Mark’s Museum and Cathedral from above” tour: www.venetoinside.com/stmarkmuseum To book online “The treasures of St Mark’s Cathedral” tour: www.venetoinside.com/stmarkcathedraltreasures

Next to the Church of the Madonna dell’Orto in the sestiere of Cannaregio in Venice there is a small courtyard, Campo dei Mori, where you can see some odd looking statues, dressed in oriental costumes. The legend says that the ancient inhabitants of the nearby Mastelli Palace (originating from the Morea region in Greece and therefore called “Mori”) were ruthless bankers, who had robbed a Venetian noblewoman. In order to get justice, she prayed to ask Saint Mary Magdalene to put a curse on them. The three con men were consequently turned into stone to remind all passers by that divine justice would always punish the sinners. In reality, these are three statues with pieces of sculptures from different epochs assembled during the 14th century, whilst the basements are portions of a former roman altar. The statue in the corner, known as “Sior Rioba” is very famous and, similarly to the statue of Pasquino in Rome, was used to hang poems and satirical pieces of protest against politicians or prominent people in Venice. In the 19th century Sior Rioba lost his nose that was later rebuilt in a makeshift fashion with a piece of wire. This gave rise to the legend claiming that luck would be on the side of those who rubbed the nose. During the night between 30th April and 1st May 2010 Sior Rioba had his head chopped off causing the immediate reaction of security forces and local people. Luckily the head was found in Calle della Racchetta on 3rd May and the statue was promptly repaired.

Amongst the many museums in Venice, there is a very unusual one: the museum of madness on the Island of San Servolo. The Island of San Servolo, the former site of a Benedictines convent, became in 1725, a psychiatric hospital, but only for Venetian nobles. Napoleon’s government decreed in 1797 that mentally ill people from all classes had to be interned at San Servolo, a fact that continued under both the Austrian and Savoy reigns. In 1978 the Basaglia law was passed, which resulted in the closure of psychiatric hospitals. Consequently, the hospital on San Servolo was eventually closed down. Recently the island has become the site for several university courses, but the memory of the old mental hospital has been preserved with the establishment in 2006 of a museum of madness in one the convent’s wings. The museum houses an exhibition charting the history of mental illness care over the past three centuries in Venice. You will see chains, handcuffs and straitjackets – used to contain the mentally ill in the 19th century – and also instruments used to cure mental illnesses, such as electroshock machines, or examples of music therapy, which was tried for the first time at San Servolo by Cesare Vigna, the director of the psychiatric hospital and also a close friend of the composer Giuseppe Verdi. If you wish to visit a small and remote island in the lagoon and a truly unusual museum, take the number 20 ferry from San Zaccaria and get yourself ready for a journey into the world of madness.

After its big success amongst the cultural events organised in Venice last year, Art Night returns on June 23rd, officially entering the calendar of the big events in Venice. Art Night, the Art that releases the night, is an initiative promoted by Ca’Foscari University in close collaboration with the Venice Council and the Department of Trade and urban quality. Once again Art Night will allow you to spend a night under the enchanting sky of Venice amongst out of hours openings, exhibitions, shows and cultural events of all types that will animate the whole of Venice to promote art and culture. For the 2012 edition of Art Night work has already started: everything is nearly ready to create a new fixture amongst the cultural events of Venice with cultural institutions, museums and private galleries open until late and with free entrance. All the museums and the cultural institutions of Venice have already confirmed their adherence to Art Night 2012, which had last year already demonstrated great availability and enthusiasm towards this initiative. The students of Venice University will be the main protagonists of this night to discover the secret faces of art, many of which will be “liberated” during the Art Night. Additionally, many bookshops in Venice are also participating with out of hours openings during Art Night. Like last year’s ceremony, this edition of Art night will also be officially opened in the courtyard of Ca’Foscari, where the dean of the University will symbolically open the gates of Art Night. A true protagonist of this night – unmatched amongst the cultural events of Venice - is art in general, without the definition of a specific subject that would have limited the expression of the participating cultural agencies: all the participants of Art Night will, therefore, be able to freely introduce their own features. Art Night aims at involving more and more students from Venice with projects where they are the main characters. How can one miss this exceptional and unique event in Venice? Take advantage of the opportunity to spend a magical night in the name of art in which everyone will be involved: tourists, students and the citizens of Venice will benefit from these out of hours openings, exhibitions, screening, shows and cultural events of all types.

Amongst the traditional events that take place every year in Venice, the famous Festa della Sensa (or Ascension Festival) gives rise to the fascinating history of Venice, its union with the sea and the practice of Venetian rowing. This year the Festa della Sensa will take place on Sunday 20th May: for the whole day Venice will be plunged into a twirl of emotions and joy. A feast already celebrated at the time of the Venice Republic during the day of the Ascension of Christ, the Festa della Sensa commemorates two important events of the history of Venice. The first dates back to the 9th of May of the year 1000 when the 26th Venice Doge, Pietro ll Orseolo, set off with its fleet in aid of the Dalmatian populations threatened by the Slavonic pirates. The important victory obtained by the Venice fleet marked the beginning of the political, trade and military expansion of the Venice Republic. The other event remembered during the Festa della Sensa is the end of the secular diatribe between Papacy and the Empire that took place in Venice in 1177 when Pope Alessandro lll and the Emperor Federico Barbarossa stipulated a peace treaty. During the Festa della Sensa, the rite of the Wedding with the Sea would take place in Venice: on board his galley (called Bucintoro), the Venice Doge, would reach St Peter of the Castle at St Elena where he would receive a blessing from the bishop. The Festa della Sensa would then reach a climax with a propitiatory rite during which the Venice Doge would cast a golden ring into the sea to emphasize the union of the Republic of Venice with the sea. Considered one of the most traditional celebrations in Venice, the Festa della Sensa has been enriched since 1965 with relevant cultural additions related to the theme of this celebration. The ancient rite of the Wedding with the Sea is still felt with great participation by the inhabitants of Venice: every year the historic regatta, formed by civil, religious and military authorities sets off from St Mark’s heading towards the mouth of St Nicolò, where the ring is thrown into the waves. Anybody owning a boat can join this suggestive re-enactment and contribute to making it even more colourful and lively. On top of the re-enactment, the new Festa della Sensa now includes the ”Adriactic Twinning” and the award “Premio Osella d’Oro della Sensa”. The former links Venice with a city or a geographic area that has had a privileged relationship with Venice in a bond of culture, love of the sea and the activities connected with the sea; the latter is given to public agencies, institutions and private citizens that have brought prestige to the city with activities in the spheres of culture, crafts and businesses. Additionally, the Festa della Sensa includes the Sensa Market, at the church of San Nicolò di Lido, the Venetian style rowing races, the water parade by local rowing clubs and numerous other collateral events. The Festa della Sensa is one of the most awaited for events in Venice. An opportunity for getting together and participating in the history and the most ancient traditions in Venice, as well as a highly participated homage to Venice, its thousand-year long history and the sea.

On the 3rd of June one of the greatest events in Venice is back. Now in its 38th edition, the Vogalonga attracts every year rowers from all around the world to celebrate the tradition of voga veneta (literally Venetian rowing). The voga veneta, a sport discipline typical of Venice, boasts many followers and thanks to them one of most important annual events in Venice has been taking place since 1975: the Vogalonga, a non competitive regatta with rowing boats of all types, which has been growing year after year and has become an international event. Considered an act of love towards Venice, its lagoon and islands, the Vogalonga started with the intention of reinstating the rowing boat in a Venice lagoon laden with motorboats, a new way to transmit and respect the nature and culture of Venice. During its past editions Vogalonga has continued to improve its peaceful “crusade” and is gathering more and more support for the restoration of the most antique Venice traditions, against the destruction of waves and the decline of this wonderful and unique city in the world. The first edition of Vogalonga turned out to be a pleasant surprise for everyone, even for the actual organisers who were not expecting such a display: 500 silent boats with around 1500 participants, with teams from the Adriatic coast and the mainland up to Lombardia and Piemonte joining the inhabitants of Venice. The initial sound of cannon fire followed by the swish of the rows paddling on the calm waters of St Mark’s lagoon was a silent awakening for Venice, which found in this way a new form and voice. The course of Vogalonga is around 30 kilometres long: the start is opposite St Mark’s square, the rowers will then cross the lesser known part of the Venice lagoon - the Vignole islands, St Erasmo, St Francis of the Deserto, through Burano, Mazzorbo and Murano. The Vogalonga will finish in Venice, along the Cannaregio canal and the Canal Grande, until the Punta della Dogana in front of St Mark’s. The Vogalonga is open to everyone! It is one of the most awaited events in Venice, an unparalleled and exciting show to remind everyone of the importance and the need to respect the environment.

In the beautiful Renaissance church of Santa Maria Mater Domini in Venice (designed by the famous architect Jacopo Sansovino) there is an unusual multicolored Byzantine 13th century relief in the left transept: a Madonna praying with outstretched arms and nail holes in her hands. It is in reality an ancient ritual fountain. During the Byzantine empire water that was considered sacred spurted out from the hands of an image of the Virgin Mary and collected at the bottom to be used by worshippers during blessings. This oriental custom did not exist in Venice, and after arriving at the church of Santa Maria Mater Domini in Venice the relief ceased to be used as a fountain and became a mere altar pall, but legend has it that the relief continued to dispense miracles and that it adorned the major altar of the Medieval church.

After Paris, Madrid and New York the extraordinary photos of Elliott Erwitt will be on display in an exhibition in Venice. Considered one of the greatest photographers of the 20th century and a member of the historic Magnum agency, Erwitt introduces his first photo exhibition in Venice, Personal Best, housed in the historical “Case dei Tre Oci” at the Giudecca, from 30th March until 15th July 2012. 140 photos will be on show in Venice, chosen personally by Erwitt amongst more than 6 thousand significant photos from his personal records. From Jacqueilne Kennedy and Marilyn Monroe, Che Guevara and Richard Nixon to Barack Obama: these are only a few of the celebrities that are depicted in the Erwitt’s photos shown in the Venice exhibition. Born in Paris in 1928, Erwitt moved to live in the United States in 1939. Erwitt was always interested in photography and in the 50’s he became a member of Magnum, the historical agency founded by famous photographers such as Henri Cartier-Bresson and Robert Capa. The exhibition in Venice will start with the photo that Erwitt is most attached to: taken at the beginning of the 50’s in Pittsburg, the photo represents a young black boy pointing a silver gun to his temple whilst he is happily smiling, as if it was a game. The first photo exhibition of the Venice Foundation, the exhibition on Erwitt talent is curated by Denis Curti who has tried to mirror in the exhibition the style of this famous photographer: Erwitt wants the photos to be the only element that entertains the spectator. Erwitt’s photos describe the human comedy, symbolized in disparate situations and the subjects vary from simple portraits of American families to famous people, all, except one are, in black and white which immortalizes Barack and Michelle Obama at the end of the political campaign. At the Venice exhibition the photos are arranged in themes on the three storeys of the building: there will be a room for the «portraits», with a wonderful photo of Marilyn and another one that depicts couples from all walks of life, a room for the «jumping dog» and one for the «museums», with the famous photo of the Madrid Prado with Goya’s Maya Desnuda. Erwitt’s photo’s are just like him: essential, brief, ironical and sometimes irreverent. The photos of the last advertising campaign of Jacob Cohёn are also part of the Venice exhibition, born from a project developed by Erwitt in collaboration with the creative director of the brand, in which some photos took by Erwitt were used in the 80’s and 90’s, revisited to propose a daily life full of humour, irony and poetry. Erwitt’s photos are to be looked at by letting oneself be transported only by the imagination, leaving out the contest and the reality in an objective way. The fundamental mark of Erwitt’s photos are the naturalness: only the moment counts, real or masterly built to appear realistic. His photos open a frozen universe in bizarre poses and also hide the perfection that can be generated out of chance. Erwitt only needs one photo to say everything: sequences of snapshots are very rare amongst his photos as only once is needed to capture the exact moment to be photographed. Erwitt’s photos on show in Venice mostly represent people, but also animals, especially dogs, gathered from Erwitt’s sharp and empathic gaze in a series of true portraits. Times: Mondays-Sundays 10am-7pm | Saturday 10am-10pm | closed on Tuesdays Extra openings: 24.04 and 1.05 Tickets Adults 8€ Concessions 6€ (groups with more than 15 people, students, over 65, Venice residents) Free: children up to 6 years, one guide per group, special needs people and their assistant, two teachers per class, university professors.

From the 6th April to the 8th July 2012 an interesting exhibition in Venice will try to retrace the emblematic relationship between Picasso and his first art patron Ambroise Vollard. The exhibition, entitled “Picasso e Vollard. Il genio e il mercante“ will be housed at the IstitutoVeneto di Scienze, Lettere ed Arti in Venice. More than 150 Picasso works will be on show in Venice, commissioned by Vollard, in the first decades of the XX century and representative of the intense and contrasted relationship between Vollard and Picasso. Thanks to his unerring keen eye and his bravery, Vollard took a centre stage role in the affirmation of modern art between the end of the XIX century and 1939, the year of his death, promoting the vanguards with the biggest European and American collectors. Vollard’s interests for little known or censured artists made him become a true pioneer: Vollard organised the first monographic exhibition on Paul Cézanne and he was the first to offer the young Picasso the possibility to expose in his gallery. This signalled the beginning of the complex relationship that involved Picasso and Vollard for nearly forty years: Vollard not only sold Picasso’s works to great collectors, but he ordered and printed some of Picasso’s biggest graphic works. In Venice famous Picasso works will be on show that were commissioned by Vollard, such as the 30 etchings with animals for the Histoire Naturelle of Buffon, the Chefs d’oeuvre inconnue of Balzac and the etchings of the Saltimbanchi painted during 1904 and 1905, in which a series of circus artists, such as acrobats, clowns and ballerinas, are a reminiscence of the precariousness of the Parisian life. In this Venice exhibition there will also be the wonderful Suite Vollard, considered the best example of the collaboration between Picasso and Vollard. Painted by Picasso between 1930 and 1937, the Suite Vollard is composed of 100 incisions, amongst them 3 portraits of Vollard in which Picasso tries to represent the complex personality of the merchant. Despite at first sight the Vollard collection seems like a collection of unmatched juxtapositions, a more accurate analysis of these Picasso’s works reveals a large formal and conceptual consistency, on top of Picasso’s extraordinary artistic aptitude and versatility. Tension, melancholy and eroticism: the search for form that one can observe in the Vollard collection is in strong correlation with Picasso’s life and with the Spanish civil war, a theme that greatly influenced him. In some engravings of the Vollard collection one can even catch sight of Guernica, one of Picasso’s most magnificent works, inspired by the civil war. Times: Mondays-Sundays(10am-7pm) Tickets: Adults €9.00 Concessions €7.50 (under 18, over 65, groups of minimum 15 and maximum 25 people, students, concessions holders) School tickets €4.00

The Giro d’Italia, a famous cycling road race, is this year in its 95th edition. Since 1909, the Giro d’Italia has been taking place every year starting from a different city whilst the arrival, except on a few occasions, has always been in Milan, the base of the the Gazzetta dello Sport newspaper, that has been promoting the Giro d’Italia since its beginning. The Giro d’Italia 2012 will take place from 5 to 27 May 2012, with 21 stages and a total of 3476,4 km. The Giro d’Italia is one of the most important cycling races in Europe, inserted in the International Cycling Federation’s professional circuit with the Tour de France and the Vuelta a España. The Giro d’Italia has had its golden period during the 40’s and 50’s, with the memorable duels between Coppi and Bartali, and in the 60’s, when the Giro d’Italia was as important as the historical Tour de France. Due to its steep climbs, today the Giro d’Italia is considered the most difficult cycling race in the world. The 2012 edition of the Giro d’Italia will start in Denmark, in Herning, with a short time trial. The cyclists will stay in Denmark for two other days and, after a rest day, the Giro d’Italia will arrive in Veneto, in Verona, for a team time trial. The stage in Verona of the Giro d’Italia is the first of four stages that will take place in Veneto. Due to their meandering route through the Dolomites, the Veneto stages of the Giro d’Italia are considered as the most difficult and spectacular of the entire Giro d’Italia. Giro d’Italia 2012 stages in Veneto: 9 May – 4th stage Giro d’Italia: Verona – Verona (32.2 km, team time trial) After starting in Denmark the Giro d’Italia finally arrives in Italy, choosing Veneto as the set off point to conquer the peninsula. The Verona stage isn’t amongst the most difficult ones of the 2012 Giro d’Italia: this stage includes a return route from Verona to Pescantina; a quick stage, with no height differences and with long straight sections but can leave some teams standing. 23 May - 17th Giro d’Italia stage: Falzes – Cortina d’Ampezzo (187 km) After 12 stages around Italy, the Giro d’Italia comes back in Veneto for one of the most difficult stages in the whole route. The Dolomites are highly regarded as a race ground for the Giro d’Italia: due to their circuitous climbs and the routes in postcard landscapes, the mountains in Veneto are crossed every year by the Giro d’Italia. Passo di Valparola, Passo di Falzarego, Passo Duran, Forcella Staulanza and Passo Giau through to Alleghe, Agordo and Selva di Cadore until Cortina. The cyclists of the Giro d’Italia will have to cover 187 km with hairpin bends, climbs with an average slope of 9-10% and dangerous descents: one of the most exciting stages of the Giro d’Italia due to the enchanting views that the riders will cycle along. 24 May – 18th stage of the Giro d’Italia: San Vito di Cadore – Vedelago (139 km) The last stage on the flat land before the frightening climbs that will bring the 2012 Giro d’Italia to its end. This is a flat stage, covering a limited distance and with a favourable slope for the greater part of the stage. As the stage is ideal for those planning to break away at an early stage, this will be the last change for many cyclists to clinch a stage win at the Giro d’Italia. The 18th stage of the Giro d’Italia will start at San Vito di Cadore, very close to the arrival of the day before in Cortina. The stage will be winding its way through densely wooded areas: Valle del Boite, Mount Antelao, Marmarole, Sorapis and Pelmo passing through Pieve di Cadore, Longarone, Belluno and Cesiomaggiore. From here the route of the Giro d’Italia will cross the flatland around Treviso until the arrival in Vedelago. 25 May – 19th stage of the Giro d’Italia: Treviso – Alpe di Pampeago (197 km) The last but third stage of the Giro d’Italia will set off from Treviso in front of the historic Pinarello shop, in piazza del Grano, in remembrance of Andrea Pinarello, who died of a premature death. This stage of the Giro d’Italia coves one of the most difficult routes, between Veneto and Trentino, of almost 200 km. A spectacular stage, in which even the cyclists in the lower standings will be able to make an all-out attempt. Cyclists will ride through Montebelluna, Cornuda and Feltre before reaching the first climbs of this incredible stage of the Giro d’Italia. After the climb to the Sella del Rio, the Giro d’Italia will leave Veneto and enter Trentino: Passo Manghen, Val di Fiemme, Passo di Pampeago, San Floriano, Novale, Passo di Lavazè and finally the arrival at Alpe di Pampeago. There will be many and difficult climbs, with up to 16% slopes: a decisive stage of the Giro d’Italia who will see crossing the finish line only those cyclists who will have been able to properly pace themselves.

Torcello, the first Venice island to be inhabited, is rich of legends and interesting stories, such as Attila – the King of the Huns – and his throne.   A legend has it that during their invasion of Italy in the 5th century, the Hun arrived in the Isle of Torcello, where the inhabitants of the nearby roman city of Altino found refuge. According to the legend the stone throne that is located in front of the cathedral was used by the Hun’s king Attila, known as the Scourge of God, due to his ferocity towards his enemies. In reality the Hun never arrived in Torcello as their descent into North Eastern Italy was halted at Aquileia (UD) and being pastoralist people, they would have never reached an island from the sea. Despite the legend being untrue, this stone throne dates back to the 5th century, when the first settlers arrived at the Isle of Torcello. The throne was instead used as the seat of the magister militum, the governor of the island, during council meetings and when administering justice.

From Easter Sunday visitors will be able to admire for a week a hidden treasure of Venice goldsmith’s art in the heart of St Mark’s sestiere in Venice: the Golden Pall of the San Salvador Church. It is shown to the public only three times a year, whilst at other times the altar is decorated with Tiziano Vecellio’s Trasfiguration painting. The Golden Pall is made up of five sections decorated with small silver rhombus shaped strips containing several figurines with golden decorative elements, such as auras and garments. The Golden Pall was built between the middle of the 14th century and the beginning of the 15th century and presents a complex figurative system that follows a precise theological order. The Golden Pall depicts the Transfiguration - the celebration the church is dedicated to – as well as saints from the Venice tradition, martyrs, prophets, the person who commissioned it – and who paid the last phases of the work-  the monastery’s prior and Jesus himself. For the opening of the Golden pall, the Parish of San Salvador will organize free guided visits on the 10th and 12th April at 4pm and on 14th April at 10am. Don’t miss this chance!

St Mark’s Cathedral in Venice contains many secrets and little known areas, as they are often inaccessible to the public. The Zen Chapel – built in the 16th century in honour of the Cardinal Zen – houses for instance a bronze sculpture that is linked to a suggestive legend. The Virgin with Baby is wearing in fact a gold shoe. Why is that? It is said that one day a poor believer gave the Virgin the only thing he owned, a pair of old shoes and that these miraculously were turned into gold. But as we can now see only one shoe, what happened to the other one? The legend steps in again saying that one day a woman, reduced to poverty, was praying in front of the Virgin in St Mark’s Cathedral and begging the Virgin for help when miraculously one of the golden shoes slipped off into the hand of the woman who was this way able to escape misery. If you want to see this “Miraculous Madonna” and the chapel where she is housed and the splendid mosaics that narrate the life of St Mark, go on the tour “St Mark’s Cathedral and its treasures”, the only tour in Venice that can exclusively open the doors of the Zen Chapel to you.

From 25th March to 16th September Verona will house a great photo exhibition. Organized by Magnum Photos, the historic photographic agency founded in 1947 by Rober Capa, Henri Cartier-Bresson and other great photographers of that time, the Verona photo exhibition intends to pay homage to Robert Capa, one of the most influential photographers of the 20th century. Considered one of the most important photographic events in 2012, the Verona exhibition presents some of the crucial moments of the history of the past century, documented by Robert Capa during his many trips. 98 photos, in black and white, depicting great history moments that Robert Capa had directly taken part in to document the unfolding events and the associated emotions. The exhibition starts with the photos taken by Robert Capa in 1932 during the Leon Trotsky conference in Copenhagen, when for the first time the violence of Stalin regime was exposed. Robert Capa’s photos in the exhibition continue with a depiction of the Paris riots, which broke out during the elections of the Popular Front, and also the Spanish civil war, the Japanese invasion of China and the Second World War, which Robert Capa followed on different fronts to documented it in his photos until the D-Day landings and the liberation of Paris. The exhibition in Verona also shows the photos taken in the Soviet Union in 1947, as well as the founding of Israel and his last photos taken in Indochina, where Robert Capa had travelled to document the independence war and where he was killed on 25th May, 1954. The exhibition in Verona also contains a display of photos showing some of Robert Capa’s friends, such as Hemingway, Faulkner, Matisse and Picasso. Born in Budapest in 1913, Robert Capa (born Endre Friedman) started working as a photographer in Berlin, and soon got in contact with an important photographic agency. With the rise of Hitler Robert Capa left Berlin and followed his restless soul across Europe until the start of World War II when he decided to move to New York and started working for “Life”. Tireless and with an out of the ordinary bravery, he soon went back to Europe to follow World War II and take pictures on different fronts, including the D-Day landing in Normandy. His love story with Ingrid Bergman, the American citizenship and the founding of the renowned Magnum agency occur in the following years, but soon Robert Capa went back to taking pictures around the world until his tragic death in Indochina. Robert Capa’s incredible life, daring and constantly on the move, is described in this unmissable photographic exhibition in Verona. Robert Capa lived his life to the full and out of the norm. Through his photos one can see the main traits of his personality: great talent, disdain of techniques, bravery, faultless instinct and a high sense of compassion. Robert Capa knew what to look for and how to capture that with his photos. Movement, happiness, discouragement and thoughts: Robert Capa’s photos contain authentic emotions, now transferred to those who admire them… Robert Capa is the symbol of all those photographers who have risked their life for passions: his fascinating photos make this event in Verona truly unmissable. Times - Tuesdays-Sundays:10am-7pm (ticket office closes at 6.30pm) -- Thursdays open until 10pm (ticket office closes at 9.30pm) -- Open on: 25 April, 1 May, 2 June, 15 August Tickets -Adults 5€ -Concessions 3€ -Schools and under 14 years 1€ Every Thursdays (6.30pm) and Sundays (11am) guided visit included in entry ticket

Aida, Verdi’s most famous opera, opened the first opera festival at the Verona Arena in the distant 1913. Thanks to the great success from the onset, the Opera Festival of the Verona Arena immediately entered the world opera Hall of Fame. During the first opera festival, the Verona Arena inaugurated a new scenic style, with the abandonment of traditional theatre arrangements and instead the use of three-dimensional elements, such as statues and marble columns, and giving rise to a peculiar scenic style that today still characterizes the Opera Festival of the Verona Arena. Since then the success of the Opera Festival has been constantly rising , attracting year after year spectators from all over the world, that come to the Verona Arena to join the magic of the Opera Festival. A celebrated roman amphitheatre built around 2,000 years ago, the Verona Arena maintained during the past centuries an important role in the cultural and public life of the city of Verona. Now celebrated as one of the most renowned stages in the world, every year the Verona Arena hosts events of great acclaim. Amongst these a place of honour is claimed by the Opera Festival, which brings to the Verona Arena great international artists: one need only think that Maria Callas, the undisputed opera queen, had her debut at the Verona Arena’s Opera Festival with “La Gioconda” of Ponchielli. Now in its 90th edition, the Opera Festival will take place from June 22nd until 2nd September bringing to the Verona Arena renowned operas known throughout the world. Love will be the common thread of the next opera season, interpreted in different ways in the six operas to be staged: the passion of Mozart’s Don Giovanni and the sacrifice of Verdi’s Aida, the seduction of Bizet’s Carmen and the immortal union of Gounod’s Romeo and Juliet, the cold heart of Turandot and the despair of Tosca, both operas of the great Puccini. Mozart’s Don Giovanni will be presented for the first time at the Opera Festival 2012, with its debut in the Verona Arena in the opening evening of the Opera Festival. From June to September the Opera Festival in the Verona Arena is waiting for you with fifty not to be missed events in the name of Opera and the many facets of love. Full listing of the opera festival at the Verona Arena and to purchase tickets: http://www.arena.it

On the day of the festival for the patron of Venice, the Evangelist Mark, Venetians give a red rosebud, called bòcolo in the local Venetian dialect, as a gift to their spouse or girlfriend – a tradition they have been following for centuries. The origins of this practice during St Mark’s Feast in Venice are very old as they trace back to the beginning of the history of Venice. The legend in fact says that in the second half of the 9th century, Maria, daughter of the Doge Orso 1st Partecipazio and also known as Vulcana due to her flaming red hair, was in love with a young man of humble origins, a certain Tancredi, who was returning her love. The Venice Doge would surely disapprove of their love, so the young maiden advised her loved one to join the fighting against the Muslims in order to obtain glory and be able to ask for her hand. The young man showed great courage in the war but was fatally wounded in a rose garden. Before dying he handed his friend Orlando a bud tinted with the red of his blood and entrusted him to give it to his loved one as an extreme sign of his love. On 25th April, the day after she received from Orlando the message of her love, Maria was found dead in her bed with the rose bud on her chest.

Amongst the remains of the many saints that are kept in Venice there are also those of a mother: St Elena. Elena was in fact the mother of the Roman Emperor Constantine who, with the edict of Milan in 313 A.C., gave Christians the freedom of worship. St Elena is remembered for having discovered the cross and nails that were used for the crucifixion of Jesus. After her death she was buried in Rome. Her body was later transferred to Constantinople and finally in 1211 the remains of St Elena were brought to Venice. The legend says that the ship that transported the remains of St Elena ran aground as soon as it entered the Venice lagoon near the island of Olivolo, on a nearby small island where a small chapel dedicated to St Elena had been built. The sailors tried to lighten the ship by unloading its cargo onto the nearby small island and this included the urn with the remains. Once the ship was afloat again the Saint's urn was placed back on board, however, the ship hit the ground again. “Perhaps the Saint wishes to remain here” – thought the sailors – and consequently left the remains in the chapel, which was later turned into a gothic church becoming a pilgrimage site for all mothers in the world.

From 30th May to 3rd June the much awaited Tango World In Venice is back in Venice, the international festival of Argentine Tango that takes place in the splendid location of Venice. The festival will see couples and famous artists of Argentine Tango – the sensual South American dance part of the UNESCO world heritage - compete and perform in Venice. This year in its 5th edition, the festival of Argentine Tango is a prime event amongst all events in Venice, due to its growing popularity year after year and the arrival in Venice of the greatest artists of Argentine Tango. The Serenissima coach station in Venice will be the suggestive setting of the festival: a hall in excess of 800 square metres overlooking the marina offering the perfect backdrop for the stunning performances of Argentine Tango during the festival in Venice. Miguel Angel Zotto, considered the greatest representative of Argentine Tango in the world, will be the testimonial of Tango World in Venice 2012. With more than thirty years of performances around the world, Miguel is coming to Venice to get the audience involved and excited with his extraordinary steps of Argentine Tango. As well as Zotto, many professionals, beginners and aficionados will be there and eager to be seduced by this new combination: Venice and Argentine Tango. The programme of the Venice festival includes a dense calendar of events to reveal all the secrets of Argentine Tango: workshops in the afternoon for all levels, exciting performances and live music. In order to offer a complete overview of Argentine Tango – including the different styles and various steps, four renowned couples will be at the Venice festival: Ricardo Barrios and Laura Melo, Lucila Cionci and Rodrigo Corbata, Aoniken Quiroga and Alejandra Mantinan, Max Van de Voorde and Solange Acosta. The Venice festival will also be livened up by live music with two great orchestras, ”Otros Aires” from Argentina and ”Solo Tango orquesta” from Russia, with musical selections by famous DJs such as Felix Picherna, Luigi Felisatti and Mauro Berardi. Amongst the most awaited for events in Venice, this year the Argentine Tango festival will again not fail to give you unforgettable emotions in this fascinating encounter between romantic Venice and the sensual Argentine Tango.

From 28 September 2012 until 6 January 2012 the Venice Museum Correr will house a fascinating monographic exhibition dedicated to Francesco Guardi, the last great landscape artist of the 18th century. Considered one the greatest events in Venice in 2012, the exhibition celebrates the third centenary of the birth of Francesco Guardi by showcasing many of the works of this artist that cover several phases of his artistic and multifaceted work, from the figure paintings of his youth to the famous interior scenes through the suggestive views of Venice and his imaginative capriccios that he painted in his maturity and later years. Francesco Guardi undertook his apprenticeship in Venice in the family’s workshop in the company of his father and two brothers – modest painters who never achieved anything in their life apart from a modest level of prosperity. Francesco Guardi himself fell into oblivion after his death in Venice in 1973 and his works only became known and appreciated by the public in 1965, thanks to an exhibition housed in the renowned Palazozo Grassi in Venice. The exhibition at Museo Correr will present more than 100 works, including paintings and drawings of Francesco Guardi, housed in the major museums in the world and brought to Venice especially for this extraordinary exhibition. The Brera Art Gallery in Milan, the Gemäldegalerie in Berlin, the National Gallery in London, the Thyssen-Bornemisza Museum in Madrid, the Metropolitan Museum of Art of New York, the Musée du Louvre in Paris and the Hermitage of Saint Petersburg are just a few of the institutions that were involved in the setting up of this great exhibition in Venice. The first part of the exhibition on Francesco Guardi will be dedicated to the figure works, which include the everyday life scenes inspired by Pietro Longhi. The exhibition will present two works from this early period of Guardi’s activity: The Ridotto and The Parlour of the nuns at San Zaccaria. The second section of the Venice exhibition in Venice will show Francesco Guardi’s first landscape views, painted together with his capriccios and fantasy landscapes. Guardi’s first landscape works are influenced by Canaletto and Marieschi, still a long way from the bright and shorthand tones that would make him famous. In some of the works one can already notice Francesco Guardi’s unique style, such as St Mark’s Square belonging to the National Gallery in London, in which figures reveal a strong colourful touch. Between 1770 and 1780 Francesco Guardi enjoyed his period of greatest success, with his works on the Feste Dogali, now in the Louvre, in which Francesco Guardi’s transfiguring force and fantasy are highly evident. Amongst these works, the famous painting the Bucentaur at San Nicolò on the Lido exudes with fascination and emotions. In 1872 Francesco Guardi had his first official commissions: four paintings to commemorate the visit of Pope Pius Vi to Venice, followed by the celebratory canvasses of the visit to Venice of the Russian archdukes. Over time, Francesco Guardi’s unique and original style became increasingly free and veiled. In his paintings proportions were deliberately altered, perspective lost contact with reality and figures became more and more blurred. Themes in Francesco Guardi’s works include capriccios, pictures of splendid villas in the Venetian countryside and picturesque views of Venice and others of the lagoon, in which the horizon is slowly dissolving until water and sky can no longer be distinguished. An exceptional selection of works from the most prestigious institutions in the world will be brought to Venice to celebrate Francesco Guardi: after three hundred years since his birth, an exhibition in Venice recalls all the magic and emotions of his paintings.

The first month of the spring programme of classical music concerts proposed by MusicArtEnsemble in Venice in the suggestive church of San Lio in Venice has just come to an end. Due to its great success with the public, MusicArtEnsemble has decided to extend the concerts in Venice – which include selections of classical music and symphonies from Antonio Vivaldi – for the month of May and the ensuing summer season. Venetoinside is offering you the opportunity to enjoy these new classical music concerts in Venice by offering you two packages: the first one includes only the entry ticket for the concert (25 euros per person) whilst the second one combines classical music with food allowing you to dine in a typical Venice restaurant before watching the concert (45 euros per person). The aim of MusicArtEnsemble in Venice is to transform the emotional experience of individuals into a more profound collective opportunity, thanks to both the ability of its artists, who boast important collaborations and performances at an international level, and the organization of classical music concerts in very suggestive locations. The concerts in Venice will include three weekly events: two concerts with pieces of sacred music and one concert with the symphonies of the most important Venice composer, Antonio Vivaldi. These fascinating concerts, dedicated to classical music and Antonio Vivaldi, will be hosted at the Church of St Lio. Located in the beautiful square near Rialto, this little known church in Venice holds a wealth of treasures: Giandomenico Tiepolo, Tiziano and Jacopo Palma the Vecchio have all left their mark in this church that enshrines the remains of Canaletto and Andrea Pisani. A few extra words must also be said about Antonio Lucio Vivaldi (1678-1741), the author of a significant part of the melodies of the concerts in Venice. Vivaldi is considered the most important, influential and original Italian music composer of the late Venice Baroque, who has always been very popular with the public. Vivaldi’s best known compositions are the four violin concerts known as The Four Seasons, that will be presented again, together more of with Vivaldi’s renowned pieces, in this series of concerts in Venice. Do not miss this incredible opportunity! You will be able to spend an evening listening to some of the best classical music and the poetic melodies of Antonio Vivaldi in the intimate and suggestive atmosphere of a Venice church with the possibility of enjoying a fantastic dinner in one of Venice’s restaurants!

Across the Venice lagoon - along the bridge between Venice and Mestre, near Chioggia or when heading to Lido or the Isle of Torcello – one can easily spot traditional boats with wide colourful sails, rigged in a particular way once used on fishing boats or transport boats and common throughout the Adriatic sea: the “al terzo” sail (literally lugsail) so called as the spar is attached to the mast at a third of its length. This type of sail represents the most natural transition from the very ancient classical square sails to the typical triangular sails that are common in contemporary sailing boats. The most ancient records of the use of this type of sail date back to the 17th century. On fishing boats the sail was decorated with bright colours painted with sponges and dyes that were easily available and made of natural elements. This treatment would preserve the material as well as prove useful to spot the boat from a distance and also at night. This custom gave rise at the end of the 19th century to a true heraldry amongst fishermen.

This year it is the 15th edition for the most important event dedicated to Conegliano Valdobbiadene: Vino in Villa, the Conegliano Valdobbiadene Prosecco Superiore International Festival. As tradition dictates, Vino in Villa will be hosted during the third weekend in May, from 19th to 21st, in the splendid setting of the San Salvatore Castle in Susegana, in the heart of the production area of the famous Prosecco. Vino in Villa has been organized with the aim of promoting the area of Valdobbiadene and Conegliano with journalists, professional operators and consumers through a dense programme of seminars, tastings, debates and the presentation at Susegana - by the producers of Prosecco Superiore - of Prosecco from the last vintage. Vino in Villa offers the perfect opportunity to taste the different varieties of Prosecco and to discover the Valdobbiadene and Prosecco enchanting area, dotted with picturesque hills where an application for Unesco Heritage nomination has been made. This year Vino in Villa will also offer the opportunity to match this renowned wine with unusual foods and flavours, originating from Denmark, Japan and Russia. During Vino in Villa it will in fact be possible to taste sushi and sashimi from Japan and bliny, red caviar and meat pirozhki thanks to Skaski, a connoisseur of Russian cuisine. Danish cuisine will be another guest at Vino in Villa, with the chef Klaus Styrbæk preparing a 5 star dinner for the press. This unusual presence of international flavours at Vino in Villa will be coordinated by Vittorio Castellani, a Chef Kumalè, who is the highest connoisseur of world food in Italy. Vino in Villa Events: -“Autoctono Cosmopolita”, Saturday 19th May, 9.30am, at Villa dei Cedri, Valdobbiadene. A meeting with journalists, market experts and operators, who will debate over Prosecco Superiore and new challenges to turn Conegliano Valdobbiadene into a symbol of Italy throughout the world - Saturday 19th from 6pm to 10.30pm and Sunday 20th from 10am to 9pm, at Castello di San Salvatore in Susegana: Wine Tasting to discover the different varieties of Conegliano Valdobbiadene, presentation of Prosecco from last year’s vintage and tastings of international foods - Monday 21st Wine Tasting and Food Show open to trade only - during the month of May, at participating restaurants there will be ad hoc menus to discover the cuisine of the Valdobbiadene and Conegliano area.

On 26th May, 2012 Wind Music Awards – the famous show dedicated to Italian music that has been taking place for the past four years in the splendid setting of the Verona Arena – is back. Now in the seventh edition, Wind Music Awards is one of the most awaited for musical events in Verona, a not-to-be-missed opportunity to watch the most popular Italian music artists on the splendid stage of the Verona Arena. During Wind Music Awards in Verona there will be a strong cast of well known sport, showbiz and culture celebrities who will award the best selling artists of the past year and support Carlo Conti and Vanessa Incontrada, the official presenters of Wind Music Award 2012, and energize this great evening at the Verona Arena in the name of music and entertainment. Organized by Wind Telecommunications, Wind Music Awards will present accolades to artists according to the number of records sold between May 2011 and May 2012, in different categories and hand out additional special prices to both artists and showbiz celebrities. Following the tried and tested arrangement of the past Wind Music Awards events, the most popular and successful Italian singers will walk on the famous stage of the Verona Arena. These artists have already confirmed their participation: Alessandra Amoroso, Biagio Antonacci, Emma, Tiziano Ferro, Giorgia, Ligabue, Fiorella Mannoia, Laura Pausini and Antonello Venditti. Many other ones will soon join them to perform in the enchanting stage of the Verona Arena. Wind Music Awards - Verona Arena – Tickets - Stall front row 48.50€ - Numbered stall 37€ - Numbered tier 26.5 € - Tier 16€ Wind Music Awards 2012 tickets are on sale on Ticketone.it.

Until 20th May Venice will host the regattas of the America's Cup, an extraordinary show during which the powerful catamarans competing in the America's Cup will sweep through the enchanting Venice lagoon at a speed prohibited at other times. The America's Cup Word Series are one of the major 2012 events in Venice, a pairing of Venice and the sea with international acclaim that will give unforgettable moments to all the spectators coming to Venice to watch these exciting regattas. Besides the seats along the shores and the numerous private motor and sailing boats, there will be an exceptional location from where it will be possible to watch the regattas on the climax days of the America's Cup (Friday 18th, Saturday 18th and Sunday 20th May): the Regatta Island, a floating stand anchored in the centre of the racing field 2 – right in the centre of St Mark’s Basin, between the Riva degli Schiavoni and the Isle of St Giorgio. The Regatta Island will allow aficionados and spectators to watch from the water the competing and extremely fast catamarans, directly from the first row. Places available are limited, numbered and divided between stand seats and the spectacular Moet & Chandon terrace, with prices varying between 40 and 60 euros depending on the day and type of seat. To access the floating stand there will be a water shuttle, included in the ticket, which will leave from the “Cornoldi” pier, adjacent to the ACTV “Pietà” boarding station. The boarding time, from 12.30pm to 1.15 pm, will not wait for late boarders, as at 1.45pm no traffic will be allowed on the waters where regattas are taking place. The return trip is at around 4.30pm, after the finish of the America's Cup regattas. There will be different services available on the Regatta Island, including a welcoming reception and assistance with seat allocation, spectators with mobility impairments, toilets, a bar and recycling bins to ensure the least impact on such an enchanting location as Venice. Tickets can be purchased: - at all Hello Venice ticket vendors - online at www.geticket.it - by calling the call center on 848002008

The Sensa Festival (Ascension Festival on the 40th day after Easter) was a very important celebration for the Venice Republic. During the celebration, a particular ceremony would take place, called the “Marriage of the Sea”, which symbolized the maritime supremacy of Venice. The ceremony started around 1000 AD to commemorate the conquering of Dalmatia by the Doge Pietro II Orseolo. A solemn procession of boats would take place, headed by the doge’s galley, which navigated out of the lagoon through the inlet at Lido. Upon arriving opposite the Church of St Nicolò, the doge would drop a consecrated ring into the sea and with the words “We wed thee, sea, in the sign of true and everlasting dominion” declared Venice and the sea to be indissolubly united. The ship used by the Doge during the Marriage of the Sea was the Bucentaur, a luxurious galley that was kept in the Venice Arsenal during the remainder of the year. The last and most magnificent of the bucentaurs was commissioned by the Senate in 1719 but was later destroyed in 1798 by the French occupiers as a gesture of scorn towards the declined Venice Republic and to recover the abundant gold decorations. The hull was converted into a gunboat and later into a prison ship. To gain an idea of how splendid the last Bucentaur would look, visit the Arsenal Museum where a scaled model of the vessel is displayed, and the Correr Museum, where the few elements of the sumptuous gilded decorations that survived the flames are kept. The name Bucentaur derives from the Venetian “buzino d’oro”, a term for a type of vessel called burcio and covered in gold.