Author: donorione

There are many stunning works of art around Venice that you can enjoy for free. Here you will find a list of six things to do to get to know and experience the city!

1. Visit Venice museums
   Venice state museums – as well as all state-run museums and archaeological sites in Italy – open for free every first Sunday of the month. On April 5, June 21, October 11 and December 8, 2020, free admission to the Civic Museums of Venice for residents in the Municipalities of the Metropolitan City of Venice and in the Municipality of Mogliano Veneto.
2. Discover the Veneto Pantheon
   The Institute of Science, Literature and Arts displays a collection of marble busts depicting significant figures of Venice history – the so called Veneto Pantheon – originally exhibited in the loggias of the Doge’s Palace. The Institute is open for free with a guided tour for one Friday a month.
3. See the ancient Casino Zane
   A wonderful little gem of Venetian architecture from the end of the seventeenth century, the Palazzetto Bru Zane, once a place dedicated to music and today a centre for French music of the nineteenth century, is open to the public every Thursday afternoon with free guided tours.
4. Enjoy a concert in a church
   Wednesday 26 February 2020, at 9 pm, in the Church of Santa Maria del Carmelo (Carmini), the Concert for Ash Wednesday, organized by the Ugo and Olga Levi Foundation in collaboration with Chorus, La Fenice Theatre Foundation and Benedetto Marcello Music Conservatory. Free admission.
5. Discover the Torcello Museum
   The Torcello Museum opens for free on Sunday 1 March 2020. It is an opportunity to explore the small peaceful island of Torcello, in the northern lagoon of Venice.

The 2020 edition of the Carnival of Venice takes place from February 8th until February 25th.

Game, Love and Folly is the theme of this year’s edition. One hundred and fifty events, 50 initiatives for kids, and many cultural events with the participation of over 300 artists. There are also some new events, such as the special night ball on February 14, Valentine’s Day.

Saturday, February 8 there will be the official opening of the Venice Carnival, on the Rio di Cannaregio. The Festa Veneziana will continue on Sunday February 9 with the Water Parade of Venetian Rowing Associations, a parade of decorated boats along the Canal Grande, and food and drink stalls with the venetian food specialities. The Carnival will end on Mardi Gras, Tuesday 25 February, with the Svolo del León, a tribute to the winged Lion of Saint Mark at St Mark’s Square.

There are plenty of events scheduled for the 18 days of celebration, spreading from the Venice historic city centre out to the whole metropolitan area. Considered one of the most anticipated events of the Carnival, the Flight of the Angel, on Sunday 16 February, will be the official opening of the celebrations of St. Mark’s Square.

Finally, you cannot miss the frìtole, the well-known Venetian sweet fritters symbol of the Carnival along with the galàni (also known as chiacchiere, frappe, bugie, crostoli or cenci in other areas of Italy).

From “DeTourism”

The Royal Gardens in Venice, located just off St Mark’s Square, were created under Napoleonic and Austrian rule in the early 19th century. Empress Elizabeth of Austria – Sissi – is said to have loved the Gardens very much.

After an extensive restoration, promoted and curated by the non-profit Venice Gardens Foundation, the Royal Gardens reopened to the public in December 2019.

The 5000-sq metres gardens, surrounded by canals and the Basin of St. Mark, are overlooked by the Correr Museum, the imperial chambers of the Royal Palace, the Archaeological Museum and the Marciana Library.

The Royal Gardens provide Venetians and visitors alike a place of peaceful respite, with shaded benches. You can have a coffee or a cocktail in the Coffee House Pavilion, and admire the greenhouse and the restored wooden drawbridge, which on special occasion will link the gardens directly with St Mark’s Square. This spring, visit the gardens in bloom!

The Royal Gardens of Venice are a National Heritage Site, and given their important historic and environmental value, they are protected by Legislative Decree 42/2004. Visitors are reminded that they must respect the site and maintain suitable decorum.

Access to the Gardens can be limited when there is an overly high number of visitors. Entry to the Gardens of groups of more than 10 people requires prior booking via the internet site. To better plan your trip, find out the Royal Gardens opening hours.

From “DeTourism”

Venice is an extraordinary city, unique in the world, and a UNESCO world heritage site. It is, without doubt, one of the most famous cities in the world. Yet even Venice – instantly recognisable to anyone with eyes – has the capacity to surprise. Perhaps not everyone knows that in Venice there are:

1. Venice Lagoon, 550 square kilometres wide is Italy’s biggest wetland area.
2. Venice’s oldest church: San Giacomo di Rialto – known by the Venetians as San Giacometo – founded on March 25th 421 A.C. which, according to tradition, is the birth date of Venice.
3. One of Europe biggest State shipyards: the Arsenale, founded around the year 1104, to which Dante Alighieri dedicated four triplets of the Divine Commedy canto XXI Hell.
4. The world’s oldest Lazzaretto (infirmary), founded in the year 1423.
5. The first Italian Jewish Ghetto, set up in 1516.
6. One of Europe’s oldest public museums: the Republic statue museum, inaugurated in 1596, today National Archaeological Museum.
7. Venice’s oldest theatre still existing today: the Goldoni Theatre, inaugurated in 1622.
8. World oldest casino, opened in 1638: Venice Casino.
9. The theatre “risen two times from its ashes”: Teatro La Fenice, founded in 1792.
10. The bell tower on July 14th 1902 and was re-built exactly as the original ten years later: the St Mark’s bell tower.
11. Venice maritime defence: more than 100 military architectural buildings, built from the 15th to the 20th Century and located in the lagoon, in the littoral and in the mainland.

Marghera is the largest industrial hub in Italy, built in 1917 as alternative to Venice port, and an urban district designed according to the model of the garden cities by the engineer Pietro Emilio Emmer.

From “DeTourism”