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The Venice’s Clock Tower

admin — Mon, 14 Mar 2011 13:25:14 +0000

The Moors’ Clock Tower is one of the most famous architectural landmarks in Venice, standing over an arch that leads into what is the main shopping street of the city, the old Merceria.

It marks both a juncture and a division between the various architectural components of St. Mark’s Square, which was not only the seat of political and religious power but also a public space and an area of economic activity, a zone that looked out towards the sea and also played a functional role as a hub for the entire layout of the city.
In short, the Tower and its large Astronomical Clock, a masterpiece of technology and engineering, form an essential part of the very image of Venice. For more than five hundred years, they have measured out the flow of life and history within the city.

Covering all five floors of the Tower,( these these have to be booked in advance); visitors are accompanied by an expert guide.
A first small flight of stone steps leads up to a little room in which the history of the Tower is explained. From here one can see the interesting network of pulleys, weights and counterweights as they silently rise and fall at regular intervals.

A metal spiral staircase then takes one towards the complex workings of the clock proper; visitors get a close view of the mechanism and of the gears linking it with the south and north clock faces, overlooking St. Mark’s Square and the Mercerie respectively.

A further staircase then leads up to the next floor, where one can see the wooden statues of the Magi and the Angel as well as the two ornate doors from which these statues emerge in procession twice a year (on the feasts of the Epiphany and the Ascension). Here visitors can also see inside the mechanism of the clock barrels which indicate the hours and the minutes.

Going even higher in the Tower one comes to a room which holds components from the fifteenth-century clock mechanism. From here one can go out onto the two side terraces and, via a steep spiral staircase, up to the Two Moors Terrace, where one not only gets a close glimpse of the two colossal statues but also a splendid view of Venice and its lagoon.

Information:

Piazza San Marco,
30124 Venice

- VISITA IN ITALIANO
tutti i giorni ore 12 e 16

- VISIT IN ENGLISH
Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday: 10 am and 11 am;
Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday: 2 pm and 3 pm

- VISITE EN FRANÇAIS
lundi, mardi, mercredi, à 14h et 15h;
jeudi, vendredi, samedi et dimanche à 10h, 11h.

Chiuso il 25 dicembre e il 1 gennaio / Closed on 25th December and 1st January / Fermée le 25 décembre et le 1er janvier

Upon request, tours in these languages can be arranged at different times for those purchasing 12 admission tickets.

Single ticket
Holders of the ticket for the Clock Tower get free admission to the Museo Correr, the National Archaelogical Museum and the State Rooms of the Biblioteca Marciana

full price 12 euro
reduced 7 euro

BOOKINGS

TELEPHONE BOOKINGS
call center 848082000
or
ONLY from abroad ++39 041 42730892

“OTTOCENTO – da Senso a Sissi, la città delle donne”: here is the Carnival 2011 by Davide Rampello

admin — Mon, 20 Dec 2010 14:38:39 +0000

The broad outline of next Carnival of Venice, tribute to Unification of Italy and to women, has been presented today at the Casino of Venice after being introduced to the mayor of Venice George Orsoni.

The 2011 edition will be extended with one extra weekend, and the conclusion of the event will be a silent regatta of row boats along the Canal Grande, that will be illuminated only with candles, symbolic and suggestive symbol of rejoining with the city. Besides, Ca’ Vendramin Calergi, seat of the Casino of Venice, opens as one of the institutional locations of the Carnival.

The suggestions have mainly been two, given by the particularities of the calendar 2011: the celebrations for the 150 years since the Unification of Italy and the coincidence of Mardi Gras with March 8th, the Women’s Day. The references in the title are to the cinema masterpiece of 1954 “Senso” by Luchino Visconti, and to the Princess Sissi, icon of fashion and elegance in the XIX century.

The program of next year will develop from Saturday 26th February to Mardi Gras (8th March), with a prologue in the preceding weekend, 19th-20th February, novelty of 2011 edition thanks to the dates of the Carnival, apart from the Christmas festivities. It has been confirmed that there won’t be a general contractor, since the production of the event will be managed from Venezia Marketing & Eventi.

VM&E considered it necessary to submit the artistic direction to an important name in the international panorama: Davide Rampello has been selected for the 2011 edition, being “adopted” by Venice and thanks to his long-term experience in communication and creation of events. His ideas have immediately struck the board of directors of VM&E, that entrusted him with the task.

And it’s been confirmed the wish to give a strong cultural connotation to the event, to enhance the theme of the 19th Century, and to develop its Venetian dimension, opening and closing the event with a boat parade: the first weekend (19th-20th February) will be devoted to the traditional “Festa Veneziana” in partnership with AEPE and the Venetian rowing associations, and the Carnival will be closed on 8th March with a silent water parade of row boats along the Canal Grande, that will be illuminated only with candles, in a suggestive rejoining of the city with itself.

Great attention will be given to the details of the theme, trying to involve citizens and guests, even giving suggestions for the realization of costumes. The success of the event will be measured by the involvement of Venetian citizens, according to how they will feel to be part of the event: this is the reason for the wish for a big involvement of all Venetian institutions.

The 25th Venicemarathon

admin — Thu, 21 Oct 2010 13:32:32 +0000

On October 24th, a particular event will take place long the Brenta River to finish in Venice’s Historical Center.

The Venice Marathon brings thousand of participants and is always an exciting show.

Start takes place in Stra, a small town a few kilometers east of Padova, in front of the magnificent Villa Pisani, built in the 18th century, which is the first and the largest of the beautiful mansions of the Brenta riverside.

Course follows the National Road N.11, running through the small towns of the Riviera: Fiesso d’Artico, Dolo, Mira, Oriago and Malcontenta. Runners will arrive near Marghera to enter the center of Mestre and San Giuliano’s Park. Venice appears on the horizon, at the end of the never-ending five-kilometer-long Ponte della Libertà.

From here there is no more tar: you’ll be running over cobblestone, overpassing, one by one, the 14 bridges which created the Venicemarathon legend. After a long and exhauting race into the heart of the city, passing through all the most important monuments, the runners will finnally arrive at the banner at the center of Riva dei Sette Martiri.

www.venicemarathon.it

CIRCUITO OFF : The Short Film festival

admin — Wed, 01 Sep 2010 08:16:57 +0000

Circuito Off Revolution, is the true title for the 11th Edition of the Festival which, after a history of ten years, makes now a leap forward, with many surprises for its large and loyal audience and two brand new locations in Venice and Lido island. The screenings will take place in two prestigious venues of Ca’ Foscari University: the Auditorium in Campo Santa Margherita, centre of the young life of the city and place that saw the birth of the Festival, will host the afternoon screenings.

The courtyard of Palazzo Foscari, University of Venice main venue, will host from 8 pm all the screenings of the films in competition and the special selections, as well as the meetings with the international guests.
Circuito Off is also music and videos: then there are the nights marked by music and videos by international DJs and VJs.
At the Blue Moon beach on Lido island, in a walking distance location from the Venice International Film Festival, Circuito Off will liven up venetian nights with special events anticipated by film screenings on the beach, from September 1 to 4, every night from 9 pm.

Program Day by Day:

SEPTEMBER 1

16:30 Veneto in Short (Auditorium Santa Margherita)
18:15 Off 1 (Auditorium Santa Margherita)

20:00 Happy Hour (Cortile Palazzo Foscari)

21:00 Tribute to Gaspar Noé (Cortile Palazzo Foscari)

Blue Moon Beach Lido

21:00 Special Screening: Cowboy & The Communist
23:00 Party: White Trash Night

SEPTEMBER 2

16:00 Off 2 (Auditorium Santa Margherita)
18:00 Off 3 (Auditorium Santa Margherita)
20:00 Happy Hour (Cortile Palazzo Foscari)
21:00 Focus on Partizan 1 (Cortile Palazzo Foscari)
23:00 Art Zone Hors Pistes 2 (Cortile Palazzo Foscari)

Blue Moon Beach Lido
21:00 Special Screening: The Best of Gaspar Noé
23:00 Party

SEPTEMBER 3

15:00 Made in Italy 1 (Auditorium Santa Margherita)
16:45 Off 4 (Auditorium Santa Margherita)
18:30 Focus on Partizan 1 (Auditorium Santa Margherita)

20:00 Happy Hour (Cortile Palazzo Foscari)
21:00 Made in Italy 2 (Cortile Palazzo Foscari)
23:00 Art Zone - Hors Pistes 3 (Cortile Palazzo Foscari)

Blue Moon Beach Lido

21:00 Special Screening: The Best MilleMures
23:00 Party

SEPTEMBER 4

15:30 Short in Web (Auditorium Santa Margherita)
16:00 Off 5 (Auditorium Santa Margherita)
17:30 Art Zone Hors Pistes 4 (Auditorium Santa Margherita)

19:00 Closing Cocktail (Cortile Palazzo Foscari)
20:00 Cerimonia conclusiva (Cortile Palazzo Foscari)
21:00 Proiezione vincitori (Cortile Palazzo Foscari)

Blue Moon Beach Lido
21:00 Special Screening: The best of Partizan Screening
23:00 Closing Party: Pig Radio & Max Hattler + Noriko Okaku

Exhibition le Arti di Piranesi Architetto, incisore, antiquario, vedutista, designer.

admin — Mon, 23 Aug 2010 08:03:03 +0000

On show works of the great eighteenth century Venetian artist Giambattista Piranesi as presentation of many of his arts: architect, antiquarian, archaeologist, engraver, designer and taste creator.
Along with the 250 original prints there are reproductions of many of the objects projected and never created by G. Piranesi such as a vase, a candelabrum, a teapot, a chair, two tripods, an altar and a marvellous chimney.
There will also be the 3d simulation of “Carceri d’Invenzione”, a model made by De Lucchi of the Basilica di Santa Maria del Priorato in Rome (the only construction Piranesi created in his life) and 3D views of Rome by Gabriele Basilico, that are the photographer’s tribute to the great master.

Conceived by Michele De Lucchi and organised by the Giorgio Cini Foundation and Factum Arte, Adam Lowe’s Madrid studio, with the support of Accenture as technological partner, the exhibition “The Arts of Giambattista Piranesi. Architect, etcher,antiquarian, vedutista, designer” is an all-round exploration of the protean activities of Giambattista Piranesi (Venice 1720 – Rome 1778), one of the most fascinating, complex and multifaceted artists in 18th-century Europe.

Thirty years after the two exhibitions held by the Institute of Art History to mark the bicentennial of the artist’s death, the Giorgio Cini Foundation has organised another striking show to celebrate his inventiveness and imagination.
In addition to around 300 prints selected from the complete works held in the Cini Foundation graphic collections, the exhibition also features a series of ad hoc creations embodying Piranesi’s language, style and natural flair for “crossing over” – in some cases in an almost frenzied way – ancient and modern formal repertories in ingenious combinations.
Visitors will be able to enter Piranesi’s “dark mind” after Marguerite Yourcenar’s description and explore his feverish imagination, at times verging on paranoia,by going into a tower with a 3D projection of the Carceri d’Invenzione (“Imaginary Prisons”): mental and visionary architecture stripped of any possible real building capacity, somewhere between Baroque stage designs and fanciful caprices.
On show there will also be “re-workings” constructed ad hoc and exclusively for the exhibition by Adam Lowe and Factum Arte.
They will enable visitors to comprehend the artist’s original ideas and decorative language close up in three-dimensional renderings made of rare materials of some of Piranesi’s inventions in the series.

The Italian artist Giovanni Battista Piranesi was a man of exceptional skill whose vision contributed greatly to our understanding of Classical art and architecture. Initially Piranesi trained as an architect but went on to become an inspirational print-maker, publisher, archaeologist, antiquarian, dealer and, most importantly for the theme of this exhibition, a designer. His eclectic taste has had widespread and profound influence in particular on the Neoclassical styles that emerged in England and France in the 18th century.

The Art of Giambattista Piranesi is being built around Fondazione Giorgio Cini’s remarkable collection of the artist’s prints. It presents Piranesi’s Prisons within a virtual reality installation, the Caffè degli Inglesi as a full-scale evocation, as well as a touch-screen browser to interact with Piranesi’s sketchbooks. However, central to this exhibition will be objects made by from Piranesi’s designs using the most advanced digital technologies and output methods (3D printing).

For this really special exhibition the Foundation decides to organise free visits of the exhibition for special categories,as professors, tourist guides, students of Arts. The explanation of the course will be done by the Istitute of Art History of the Foundation Giorgio Cini.

Information:

How to Arrive:

The Giorgio Cini Foundation is located on the Island of San Giorgio Maggiore, Venice, across the Canal from St. Mark’s square and Palazzo Ducale.

To reach the Giorgio Cini Foundation, you can take vaporetto line n°2 and get off at “San Giorgio” stop.

n°2 vaporetto leaves from the main points in Venice:
San Zaccaria (trip lasting about 3 minutes)
Ferrovia (trip lasting about 45 minutes)
Piazzale Roma (trip lasting about 40 minutes)
Tronchetto (trip lasting about 35 minutes)
Guided visits Reservations:
Dates: August 26th and 27th 2010 at 04:00 pm, please call this number +39 0412201215
email: segreteria@civitatrevenezie.it

ONLY ON RESERVATION

Venice lifts up its palaces to save them from the high water.

admin — Thu, 12 Aug 2010 10:05:36 +0000

Venice lifts up its palaces to save them from the high water.

The project thought by the companies Soles and Mattioli and presented in the municipality.

The ex mayor of Venice Massimo Cacciari remind that “It’s not applicable for the entire city, only for some monuments”.

Lift up the most precious monuments to save them from the high water is in the heart of the debate about the safeguard of Venice.

A demonstrative intervention of the method, which is based on the possibility to lift up a palace making at the level of
the ground a stall suited to divide the weigh on a new structure of foundations, it will be realised on March 26th in Forlì on a palace
of three floors, all in brickwork, with an area of 500 square meters and for a weigh of 1500 tons. Everything with the inten that
the structure could lift up the Palace over one meter at the with the speed of 1 centimetre an hour.
The president of Soles, Roberto Zago, explained that the cost to lift up a palace of 3-4 floors over one meter is around 2.500 Euro
every square meter.

The project will be applicated to some of the most important palces like: The San Moisè Church behind Piazza San Marco and Palazzo dei Camerlenghi.

The summary of all the studies, projects, ideas will be done at the end of September at the International Congress of the Ingenieer Association.
A worldwide appointment dedicateed at “The important structures for urbanized areas in the environment respect”.

67 International Film Festival

Roberto — Thu, 05 Aug 2010 13:48:28 +0000

Venice’s International Film Festival is now a its 67th edition. This year it will be held from the 1st september until the 11th september 2010. Marco Muller is the director of the event which is organised by la Biennale of Venice.

This year we will have 4 sections (Venezia 67, Out of Competition, Orizzonti and Controcampo Italiano) and a retrospective section of the Italian Commedy (1937 – 1988).

The section Venezia 67 will assign the official prizes of the Festival, the international jury (selected the 26th of July) have Quentin Tarantino as president. The prizes will be assigned the last night of the International Film Festival: Golden Lion to the Best Movie, the Silver Lion to the Best Director, Coppa Volpi for the best Male and Female actors, the special Jury Prize, the Osella for the best Technical Contribution and Screenplay and Premio Marcello Mastroianni for the Best New Young Actor or Actress.

For more information about tickets and passes you can check the official site of la biennale www.labiennale.org .

Alla Deriva – Sculptures by Justin Peyser

Roberto — Wed, 04 Aug 2010 15:38:53 +0000

The sculptures of Justin Peyser can be admired at the XVII century palace Ca’ Zenobio, close to Campo Santa Margherita in Venice. Justin lives and works in New york city. He studied Visual & Environmental Studies at Harvard College and Painting in Bologna and New York.

His incredible artworks are divided in two groups. The first is a composition of metal sculptures, the second is made by ten big, empty and light sculptures, assembled with various shaped metal panel heavily welded together. These big sculptures are characters / symbols.

The exhibition is completed by a movie, made by Marco Agostinelli, which is an homage to the artist, to Venice, to New York and to iron, fire and water.

The exhibition is open from 10.00 am to 18.00 pm and is closed on monday. For more information you can visit the official website www.justinpeyser.com or the website of Collegio Armeno www.collegioermeno.com which host the exposition.

Giacomo Favretto at Museo Correr in Venice

Roberto — Tue, 03 Aug 2010 15:11:46 +0000

The opearas of the venetian painter Giacomo Favretto (1849 – 1887) are finally back in town, after more than 100 year from the last exposition. With more than 80 operas the exibithion explain his artistical life and the relation with the oter artists of the ‘800.

His refined paintings show the everyday’s life in Venice, the venetian and many secret spots of the city, as well as moment of intimacy and many portraits. After his studies at Accademia delle Belle Arti he became a point of reference for the renovation of the art in Venice and for all the next artists of the city.

You can admire his work at Museo Correr, in Saint Mark’s Square until the 21st November 2010. More information about the exhibition can be found in the official website www.museiciviciveneziani.it .

Cinema at San Polo – 2010

Roberto — Tue, 03 Aug 2010 10:36:32 +0000

The 2010 season of “Estate Al Cinema – L’arena dei Festival” in Campo San Polo began few days ago. This is an historical appointment in Venice, the first edition was held more than 30 year ago!!!

This year there will be a selection of 42 movies: a selection of the most important ones of the past season, 4 preview of the next season and, from the 2nd to the 12th September, there will be Esterno Notte (a section of the Venetian Movie Festival).

This year’s program is this:

4th August, Genitori e Figli: Agitare Bene Prima Dell’Uso – Giovanni Veronesi

5th August, A Serious Man – Joel and Ethan Coen

6th August, L’uomo nell’Ombra – Roman Polanski

7th August, Mine Vaganti – Ferzan Ozpetek

9th August, Agora - Alejandro Amenábar

10th August, La Nostra Vita – Daniele Luchetti

11th August, Welcome - Philippe Lioret

12th August, Basta Che Funzioni – Woody Allen

13th August, Dieci Inverni - Valerio Mieli

14th August, Alice In Wonderland – Tim Burton

16th August, Qualcosa Di Speciale / Love Happens – Brandon Camp (PREVIEW)

17th August, Toy Story 3 – Lee Unkrich

18th August, Il segreto Dei Suoi Occhi – Juan José Campanella

19th August, L’uomo Che Verrà – Giorgio Diritti

20th August, L’apprendista Stregone - Jon Turteltaub (PREVIEW)

21st August, Robin Hood – Ridley Scott

23rd August, Julie & Julia – Nora Ephron

24th August, Departures - Yojiroo Takita

25th August, Shrek e Vissero Felici e Contenti – Mike Mitchell (PREVIEW)

26th August, Shrek e Vissero Felici e Contenti – Mike Mitchell (PREVIEW)

27th Augut, Letter to Juliet – Gary Winick (PREVIEW)

28th August, Shutter Island – Martin Scorsese

30th August, Bastardi Senza Gloria – Quentin Tarantino

31st August, Aspettando la Mostra – Biennale Event, on invitation only (prologue of the International Film Festival)

1st September, Avatar - James Cameron

from 2nd to 12th September, Esterno Notte – Movies from the 67° International Film Festival

The rates didn’t change: 6 euros for the movies of the past season, 8 euros for the previews, 22 euros for a 5 movies subscription. The projections will start at 09:30 pm until the 12th of August and at 09:00pm from the 13th August until the 12th September. You can buy the tickets directly at the Arena in Campo San Polo (starting from 08:00 pm).

For any information you can contact:

Arena di Campo San Polo
Campo San Polo – 30125 Venezia
Tel. 041 5246710