HIDDEN TREASURES

Anecdotes and Curiosities about Venice and other cities in Veneto: history, secrets and legends

Discover a different side of this wonderful Italian region

Hidden Treasures is a weekly column on venetoinside.com dedicated to those who wish to learn about legends, secrets and mysteries of the lesser-known sights of Venice as well as off-the-beaten track locations, amusing anecdotes related to the other main cities - Verona, Vicenza, Padova, Treviso and Belluno – and the picturesque towns of our region.

Our stories aim to accompany you in the discovery of the most interesting aspects of Venice and Veneto related to history and folklore, mysterious places and famous works of art, monuments and ancient traditions! We will reveal the hidden treasures of Venice that make up the most mysterious and fascinating character of the city as well as the mysteries of the lagoon and original tales, all based on a foundation of historical fact, without forgetting the intriguing anecdotes on the other pearls of Veneto, such as Treviso, Verona, Vicenza, Padua and Belluno, picturesque villages, the awe-inspiring Dolomites, Lake Garda... Week after week we will disclose the most captivating secrets of our land combining art, culture, tradition, mystery and legend!

Hidden Treasures is a true tourist guide to the secrets and mysteries of Venice and Veneto ... Make yourself comfortable! Exciting reading awaits you with stories and legends never told before which will excite your curiosity and encourage you to visit the places you will learn about...

Do not miss out on the new stories of our Hidden Treasures column, you just click 'like' on the Facebook page of venetoinside.com!

Search posts

Highlights

Andrea Palladio’s Tablino at the Gallerie dell’Accademia in Venice

More than simply the rooms where many masterpieces are exhibited, the Gallerie dell’Accademia in Venice are a work of art on their own right. It is in fact a complex that once housed a convent of the Canons regular of Santa Maria della Carità and a Scuola Grande that was subject to several alterations over the centuries. One of the most fascinating places is definitely the Tablino, the ancient sacristy of the Chiesa della Carità. Andrea Palladio, probably one of the greatest architects of all time, worked on the Carità complex in the 1560s when he attempted to accommodate the requirements of the duties of the Canons regular whilst pursuing his ideals of classical architecture. This is how the Tablino came into being, a typical place of the Domus Romana, used by the house owner as a study room and to receive special guests. In the monastery complex, the Tablino housed the Sacristy, where the priest made preparations before the liturgical functions. Since 1806 this place has ceased to be a liturgical space and has now become a museum. In it you can see the imposing official chair of Leopoldo Cicognara, head of the Academy of Venice between 1808-1825, designed by the great neoclassical artist Giuseppe Borsato and surrounded by plaster casts by one of the greatest sculptors of all time: Antonio Canova , a great friend of Cicognara himself. If you wish to visit the Gallerie dell'Accademia in Venezia, we recommend you to book our guided tour that includes a walk in the charming Dorsoduro district! As an alternative, you can book the entry ticket and visit the museum on your own!