Italian Design – Venetian styling

Any visitor to Venice can see how Venetian design has taken its inspiration from city itself; from the shapes created by the omnipresent canals, to all the bridges, light, and the colours of Venice.  Venice really is a unique city.

It was during the Renaissance period that the Italian cities of Venice and Florence became renowned for their art.  Venice in particular built a reputation for producing items which were inspired by classical Greek and Roman culture. The success of renaissance artists such as Leonardo da Vinci, Raphael, and Michelangelo encouraged others to pursue artistic hobbies. With its very own unique combination of light, shadow, and beauty, the city became a magnet for artists and craftsman from all over Italy. Venice became known for its love of opulence, with feasts of style and colour being everywhere.  One such feast of style and colour was, and still very much is, the Venice Carnival.

A Venetian Mask

Actually, Venice’s carnival has been going for an incredibly long time.  Try and guess just how long before reading on, and discovering how a carnival mask can become an intriguing design feature.

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Prosecco in Venice

What a great way to pass one’s, ahem, 45th birthday – in Venice with lots of Prosecco, good food in good restaurants, and great company too.  Even the weather was kind and the great spirit kept the rain at bay too!  I like Venice an awful lot.

One of the great advantages of living in Italy is that spending a weekend in somewhere like Venice can be done easily and painlessly.  It takes just over two and a half hours to get from Milan, where I live, to the Venice by fast train.  The FrecciaRossa service was very efficient too.  On-line booking simplifies things a great deal.  With great thanks to my Italian other half for having kindly made all the Venice trip arrangements.

We stayed for one night in a very well appointed new four star hotel, called the Hotel Al Duca di Venezia, which sits just off the Grand Canal and is easy to walk to from Venice’s station, and this hotel is within striking distance of some good eateries too.

Enchanting Venice

On the subject of places to eat in Venice, we tried three, each of which was a little different, but we ate well in all of these Venice restaurants, and drank copious quantities of Prosecco!

I also took along my camera, but not the tripod, as ‘she who must be obeyed’ issued an oral legislative decree in which she stated that the tripod be left in Milan, or else.

Here are some notes on the three Venice restaurants we tried: the Osteria Al Nono Risorto, the Osteria Mocenigo, and the Trattoria Alla Madonna, as well as few Venice flavour photos too.

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Floating Self-Catering in Venice

If you have not been to Venice, then you really should.  If you like the idea, but are put off by the expense, then how about seeing Venice by hiring your very own floating self-catering appartment?

Although a floating self-catering appartment might sound an expensive way to see this magical Italian city, it’s not as expensive as you might think, especially if you travel as a group.  Plus you get to see Venice from the best place imaginable – the water.

In case you have not guessed, a floating self-catering appartment is a boat.  Those nice people from FiveTravel who put together the Amalfi coastline by Alfa Romeo video have created another little film. This time, thoough, the video is not about a car, but about how a boat can double as a self-catering appartment for those wanting to see Venice.

There is also a little bonus mentioned by presenter Julia Bradbury which might interest cash strapped backpackers.  Indeed, the budget conscious may well find Ms Bradbury’s novel way of making a little money in Venice of interest.  All you have to do is stay still for a few hours.  Fidgety types need not apply!  Those who are not bashful, on the other hand, might be able to make a little extra!

For those who fancy the idea of seeing Venice by Gondola, but are put off by the price, Julia has another neat little tip: Gondola lessons.

On to the video.

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Hostelbookers Sparkling Summer Sale

Italy’s very own summer sales are great.  You can pick up all sorts of things at knock-down prices.  Hostelbookers, the website which specialises in budget accommodation is also holding a summer sale which includes a wide selection of interesting places to stay around Italy.  I know, they wrote to tell me about it.

Now, I’m spreading the word.  If you are thinking about a last minute break, or considering coming to Italy for a longer stay, you’ll find discounts of up to 50% in around 90 hostels and low cost hotels located all over Italy, from Arezzo to Assisi, Taormina to Trieste, Venice to Verona, and, of course, that eternal city, Rome.

Read on for details of interesting links where you will be able to learn more about summer savings.

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Glorious Venetian Gondolas

Venice.  One of the most remarkable cities in Italy, if not the world.

It’s a shame the poor city seems to be sinking into the mud of the lagoon in which it is to be found.  Luckily, the MOSE project seems, finally, to be making headway.  It was 37% completed more than a year ago, and should be ready by 2012.

Ideas for saving this jewel in the crown of Italy have been legion, but many have not got off the ground as a result of lack of practicability, funding, or the dilly dallying of Italian bureaucracy.  Even the MOSE project has caused widespread environmental concerns, and may prove to be ineffective, especially if the rises in sea level predicted to be caused by global warming actually come about.

Still, let’s hope that this fabulous city is saved.  Venice must be one of the greatest tourist income generators Italy has, if it is not the greatest single Italian tourism asset.

The income which Italy would lose as a result of Venice disappearing is unimaginable.  And the stunning images of Venice, like the one captured in this week’s Images of Italy feature,  would become but memories.  Such a pity. … Continue Reading

Carnival of Colour

Now, I’ve never made it to Venice during its annual carnival, but this week’s Images of Italy photo sure does make me want to go, and to take my camera with me!

Sorry that this post did not come out on Saturday, but I felt lousy at the weekend owing to some flu-like bug which has laid me a little low.  Still, better late than never, and seeing a bright, colourful image such as this one, helps me shake off those flu blues.  Might shake of those post-weekend Monday blues too!

Dating back to 1268, the Carnival of Venice transforms one of Italy’s most photogenic cities into a real feast for the eyes.

For photographers, carnival time in Venice is a not to be missed photographic event.  To the photo!
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