One very special thing to do in Venice and Florence
Aug 31st, 2007, 01:54 PM
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One very special thing to do in Venice and Florence
As we head to Florence and Venice in early October, wondering if there is one thing in each city that tour books might not write up but is very special and would "make" the trip?
Thanks!!
Thanks!!
Sep 1st, 2007, 01:59 AM
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Hi Ellen - A highlight of our last stay in Venice was an evening of operatic duets in the Palazzo Barbarigo-Minotto.
We enjoyed it so much we went back later in the week for another performance.
www.musicapalazzo.com
Steve
We enjoyed it so much we went back later in the week for another performance.
www.musicapalazzo.com
Steve
Sep 1st, 2007, 05:41 AM
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Do you know about the bell tower tour? Can't say that it "made our trip" to Venice, but we enjoyed it tremendously. Reopened Nov. '06 after being closed to the public for renovation for 8 years, it can be only be seen by booking a guided tour through Museo Correr (39-041-522-4951). My husband enjoyed seeing the inner workings of the system; I enjoyed the great views from the top of San Marco Square & beyond.
Sep 1st, 2007, 05:51 AM
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HI E,
In Florence, take the no. 7 bus from the SMN train station (1E 0:20 hr) up to Fiesole to watch the sun set over the city from the terrace of the Bar Bleu.
Take a walk along the river after dark.
In Venice, make an early morning visit (about 07:00) to watch them set up the Rialto Fish Market.
Take a sunset ride on the vaporetto along the Grand Canal to the Lido and back.
Find a cafe in a small campo at about 15:30. Watch the folks come home from work and the kids come out to play.
Ditto about 20:00.
Enjoy your visit.
In Florence, take the no. 7 bus from the SMN train station (1E 0:20 hr) up to Fiesole to watch the sun set over the city from the terrace of the Bar Bleu.
Take a walk along the river after dark.
In Venice, make an early morning visit (about 07:00) to watch them set up the Rialto Fish Market.
Take a sunset ride on the vaporetto along the Grand Canal to the Lido and back.
Find a cafe in a small campo at about 15:30. Watch the folks come home from work and the kids come out to play.
Ditto about 20:00.
Enjoy your visit.
Sep 1st, 2007, 06:38 AM
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Steve James--We will be in Venice November9-12 and are interested in the opera at Palazzo but I could not find a schedule. Are there performances every night? There is nothing scheduled at LaFenice at that time--November is a bit off season for many events.
Sep 1st, 2007, 12:02 PM
#10
Hi nini - I'm also at La Calcina! If you're interested in a mini-GTG you could email me through www.wilhelmswords.com (bottom of the page, after "contact"
.
.
Sep 1st, 2007, 12:26 PM
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We should do a mini GTG. I was not able to access your email. Your travelogs sound like exciting adventures. We will be stay in the Iris Suite in Venice (DH and I). Are you traveling with someone? Our trip will start in Germany with Austria following and we will take a sleeper train from Vienna. From Venice we will train down to Rome.
Sep 1st, 2007, 12:28 PM
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Climb to the top of the Duomo!! Not only is it a gorgeous view, but it you read "Brunelleschi's Dome" before you go you will appreciate the construction all the more. We did this 20 years ago and it is still a big favorite memory. (Now my knees won't let me do it, darn it! So do it while you can.)
charnee
charnee
Sep 1st, 2007, 01:09 PM
#13
nini - I'm traveling alone. I'll start in Budapest Oct 16 (6 nights) then Vienna (6 nights), some yet-to-be-determined other places in Austria (10 nights), finishing in Venice (actually London, but only 1 night between planes). Worried that the email doesn't work, should open Microsoft Outlook. Try sending to webms at wilhelmswords dot com (replacing at and dot with symbols).
Sep 1st, 2007, 08:36 PM
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The "Musica Palazzo" evening was good, if you don't mind, unlike me, the fact
that you felt you might be in a firetrap-there are huge cracks in this ancient
palazzo on the Grand Canal, in the ceiling and elsewhere, (which disturbed me,
as I was concerned that perhaps there could be falling plaster) but when they
close all the doors, (you're on the 3d floor) and the rooms are then lit by real
candles, with open flames, and it would be SO EASY for one of those candles to
fall and ignite the whole place, as they are placed on the equivalent of coffee
tables and other small tables right by where people are sitting and the
performers are performing (I didn't see extinguishers close by either) in which
case those doors are all closed off, well, it just bothered me, that's all. But
it is a very professional production, if somewhat touristy (there are all
tourists there-I think probably about 50 or so maximum), a night of up-close
opera, lasting approximately 1 1/2 hours, because you are
in the rooms of an actual palazzo used as a home (the bathroom you use in fact
has a bathtub in it) and you start out in the "piano nobile," the great main
hall, then to the salon, and then to the bedroom-so it is interesting to see
the furnishings, particularly the beautiful Tiepolo-school ceilings in the
bedroom, but like I said, I got the strong sense I was in a firetrap-a beautiful
ancient firetrap, but a firetrap nonetheless.
There are also wonderful classical music performances at the Scuole Grande San
Giovanni Evangelista, and I actually prefer this location (it's not a
firetrap)-because of its astounding salon, (one of the 6 important Renaissance
Scuole in Venice) filled with Tiepolo, Palma di Giovane, and other Venetian
Renaissance Masters- this is where you'll find quite a few Venetian productions,
in addition to the staged opera productions that they have, "en maschera" and
not. You can see the Scuole, and buy tickets at this website-it looks like "La
Traviata" by Verdi, an opera first performed at Venice's La Fenice opera house
in the 1850's will be at the Scuole on Sept. 4, in 4 Acts:
http://www.classictic.com/venues/52.html
Both of these staged productions for tourists are in fact written up in the
guidebooks, but they are a fun, if rather expensive, thing to do, if there is
nothing on at La Fenice.
I would also suggest going to see the Foundation QUERINI STAMPALIA. This IS a
place that Venetians frequent-and it is an ancient palazzo with priceless works
of art, a modern art gallery on the top floors, and on the bottom floor a chic
modern cafe that serves dinner, snacks, drinks.
What is really nice at QS is that there are FREE concerts (with your ticket admission price) (6 Euro) to see the sumptuous rooms of the museum-and these rooms are really something to see-a 15th cent. palazzo belonging to the ancient and wealthy Querini family of Venice, decorated in 16th century period furnishings-a not to be missed site. One of my first trips to Venice the very chic Venetian lady I stayed with suggested I might like to go to a concert there, stating that it was not touristy nor expensive-I did, and really enjoyed all of what QS had to offer. The concerts are held every Friday and Saturday nights at 5pm and again at 8:30pm and last only 30 minutes-the last time I went, I was the only non-native, everyone else in the salon was Venetian-it was an opera recital, and just the right length of time. Afterwards, we went down to the cafe (run by the folks who own Da Fiore) for drinks-it stays open on Saturdays until 10pm, and they serve full meals. You can see some of the rooms of the Querini Stampalia here:
http://www.querinistampalia.it/museo/index.html
The site is in Italian, but you can click around to get a look at it.
It also has a lovely gift shop with lots of modern art objects, good Murano glass pieces and books for
purchase.
I'm a big fan of this place-just about a 5 minute walk or so from San Marco, on the Campo Santa Maria Formosa.
that you felt you might be in a firetrap-there are huge cracks in this ancient
palazzo on the Grand Canal, in the ceiling and elsewhere, (which disturbed me,
as I was concerned that perhaps there could be falling plaster) but when they
close all the doors, (you're on the 3d floor) and the rooms are then lit by real
candles, with open flames, and it would be SO EASY for one of those candles to
fall and ignite the whole place, as they are placed on the equivalent of coffee
tables and other small tables right by where people are sitting and the
performers are performing (I didn't see extinguishers close by either) in which
case those doors are all closed off, well, it just bothered me, that's all. But
it is a very professional production, if somewhat touristy (there are all
tourists there-I think probably about 50 or so maximum), a night of up-close
opera, lasting approximately 1 1/2 hours, because you are
in the rooms of an actual palazzo used as a home (the bathroom you use in fact
has a bathtub in it) and you start out in the "piano nobile," the great main
hall, then to the salon, and then to the bedroom-so it is interesting to see
the furnishings, particularly the beautiful Tiepolo-school ceilings in the
bedroom, but like I said, I got the strong sense I was in a firetrap-a beautiful
ancient firetrap, but a firetrap nonetheless.
There are also wonderful classical music performances at the Scuole Grande San
Giovanni Evangelista, and I actually prefer this location (it's not a
firetrap)-because of its astounding salon, (one of the 6 important Renaissance
Scuole in Venice) filled with Tiepolo, Palma di Giovane, and other Venetian
Renaissance Masters- this is where you'll find quite a few Venetian productions,
in addition to the staged opera productions that they have, "en maschera" and
not. You can see the Scuole, and buy tickets at this website-it looks like "La
Traviata" by Verdi, an opera first performed at Venice's La Fenice opera house
in the 1850's will be at the Scuole on Sept. 4, in 4 Acts:
http://www.classictic.com/venues/52.html
Both of these staged productions for tourists are in fact written up in the
guidebooks, but they are a fun, if rather expensive, thing to do, if there is
nothing on at La Fenice.
I would also suggest going to see the Foundation QUERINI STAMPALIA. This IS a
place that Venetians frequent-and it is an ancient palazzo with priceless works
of art, a modern art gallery on the top floors, and on the bottom floor a chic
modern cafe that serves dinner, snacks, drinks.
What is really nice at QS is that there are FREE concerts (with your ticket admission price) (6 Euro) to see the sumptuous rooms of the museum-and these rooms are really something to see-a 15th cent. palazzo belonging to the ancient and wealthy Querini family of Venice, decorated in 16th century period furnishings-a not to be missed site. One of my first trips to Venice the very chic Venetian lady I stayed with suggested I might like to go to a concert there, stating that it was not touristy nor expensive-I did, and really enjoyed all of what QS had to offer. The concerts are held every Friday and Saturday nights at 5pm and again at 8:30pm and last only 30 minutes-the last time I went, I was the only non-native, everyone else in the salon was Venetian-it was an opera recital, and just the right length of time. Afterwards, we went down to the cafe (run by the folks who own Da Fiore) for drinks-it stays open on Saturdays until 10pm, and they serve full meals. You can see some of the rooms of the Querini Stampalia here:
http://www.querinistampalia.it/museo/index.html
The site is in Italian, but you can click around to get a look at it.
It also has a lovely gift shop with lots of modern art objects, good Murano glass pieces and books for
purchase.
I'm a big fan of this place-just about a 5 minute walk or so from San Marco, on the Campo Santa Maria Formosa.
Sep 1st, 2007, 09:14 PM
#18
nini- I'm a Venice virgin, unless you count three hours between trains - I figured enough of a taste for me to decide if I had to go back. Of course, five minutes was long enough for me to fall in love with the place.
Unfortunately, I'm practically tone deaf, so I think I'll be skipping the opera. Architecture, crafts, food and wine are more my interests, and I expect to do a lot of walking.
Unfortunately, I'm practically tone deaf, so I think I'll be skipping the opera. Architecture, crafts, food and wine are more my interests, and I expect to do a lot of walking.
Sep 2nd, 2007, 12:55 AM
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For me, in Venice, get up early and head towards St Marks Square and watch the sunrise. It is a great way to start the day. Totally empty, so peaceful and serene.
www.pbase.com/trsw/image/73906133
As for Florence, head to Piazzle Michelangelo to watch the sunset over the city. Just so beautiful.
www.pbase.com/trsw/image/69340445
www.pbase.com/trsw/image/69340461
Enjoy your trip.
Tom
www.pbase.com/trsw/image/73906133
As for Florence, head to Piazzle Michelangelo to watch the sunset over the city. Just so beautiful.
www.pbase.com/trsw/image/69340445
www.pbase.com/trsw/image/69340461
Enjoy your trip.
Tom
Sep 2nd, 2007, 01:35 AM
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Nini - You will always find opera (- or other concerts) - somewhere in Venice.
If not the Fenice, there are concerts in various churches. You might find the following links useful:
http://www.interpretiveneziani.com/i...meset_home.htm
http://www.imusiciveneziani.com
http://www.virtuosidivenezia.com/
http://www.ensembleantoniovivaldi.com/
http://www.collegiumducale.com
http://www.veniceopera.it
http://www.musicapalazzo.com
http://www.musicainmaschera.it
For a complete listing of events go to:
www.aguestinvenice.com
Here's my original post on our 'Musica a Palazzo' experience:
http://fodors.com/forums/pgMessages....sica+a+Palazzo
Hope this helps ...
Steve
If not the Fenice, there are concerts in various churches. You might find the following links useful:
http://www.interpretiveneziani.com/i...meset_home.htm
http://www.imusiciveneziani.com
http://www.virtuosidivenezia.com/
http://www.ensembleantoniovivaldi.com/
http://www.collegiumducale.com
http://www.veniceopera.it
http://www.musicapalazzo.com
http://www.musicainmaschera.it
For a complete listing of events go to:
www.aguestinvenice.com
Here's my original post on our 'Musica a Palazzo' experience:
http://fodors.com/forums/pgMessages....sica+a+Palazzo
Hope this helps ...
Steve
