HIDDEN TREASURES

Anecdotes and Curiosities about Venice and the Veneto region: secrets revealed by a tour guide

Discover, through the legends and mysteries told by our tour guide Francesca, a different side of this wonderful region.

Hidden Treasures is a weekly column on venetoinside dedicated to those who wish to learn about legends, secrets and mysteries of the hidden Venice and the Veneto region... Curated by Francesca – an expert tour guide from Venice – Hidden Treasures wants to share the hidden treasures of Venice and Veneto through anecdotes, secrets, legends, mysteries and curiosities, a different and rarely discussed side of Venice, the Venetian lagoon and the Veneto region.

History and folklore, mysterious places and famous works of art, monuments and ancient traditions: our guide will open for you the doors to discover all the hidden secrets of Venice and Veneto! With an original series of stories, anecdotes and curiosities of Venice and its region, all based on a foundation of historical fact, week after week Francesca will reveal fascinating aspects of history, art, culture and the traditions of some incredible places.

Hidden Treasures is a real guide to the lesser-known Venice and Veneto to uncover the mysteries still hidden. Make yourself comfortable! Expect an exciting reading based on anecdotes, legends and hidden Venice secrets that will tantalize your curiosity even more about the city, the lagoon and its wonderful region.

The Hidden Treasures of Venice and curiosities column is also present on the Facebook page of venetoinside! In order not to miss any of the anecdotes that we publish every week, go to our page and click 'like' button!

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Cold Venice and the frozen lagoon

If you are in Venice at the moment and it feels really cold, do you know that in the past the temperatures were so low the Laguna froze on more than one occasion! Like, for example in December 1708, when King Frederick IV of Denmark and Norway visited Venice. According to a popular legend it was his arrival from the cold north which brought the unusual snow and frost. In fact, on that occasion, the Laguna totally froze, and for a few days, it was possible to reach the mainland with wagons and sleighs! To get an idea of how the lagoon was at this rare event, you can go to the Gallery of the Querini Stampalia Foundation, where a painting by an anonymous painter from Veneto titled 'La laguna ghiacciata alle Fondamenta Nuove nel 1708', is exhibited. The Fondazione Querini Stampalia is the only example in Venice of a noble Venetian Palace which has preserved its art collection and its library over the centuries. Moreover, it offers a fascinating mix of ancient and contemporary art and architecture thanks to the recent restorations that have involved great figures, such as Renzo Piano and Mario Botta. Have we intrigued you? Visit the Querini Stampalia Museum, it is one of the places not to be missed for those wishing to experience the real Venice!