Venice

In the past this town was called La Serenissima, in fact the old "Reppubblica del Leone di San Marco" enjoyed trough the centuries eternal glory.

The richness of Venice, thanks to a lively trade, is shown by its splendid monuments, churches and buildings. The visitor can admire all this jewels along the Canal Grande, where marvellous architectures followed one onother, or visit Ca' Rezzonico Museum and see the beautiful pieces of decorative arts. The Byzantine cathedral of San Marco has attracted the attention of the Great John Ruskin, the author of "The Stones of Venice", a tipical example of the cultured tourism of this city. During this last century Hemingway and Henry James spent a long period in Venezia, and they placed here their novels: 

"Di la dal fiume e tra gli alberi" and "Le ali della colomba".The eccentric painter Filippo de Pisis was so keen of Venezia that bought here a whole building.

The great director Luchino Visconti set in the famous theatre La Fenice (today unfourtunately to be rebuild) some scenes of the film "Senso" and "Morte a Venezia", from the homonym work by Thomas Mann.

Tiziano,Tintoretto,Tiepolo decorated the churches and the palaces of this town and the splendid view of Venezia was painted by Canaletto and Guardi. Scenes of life of the XVIIIth century Venezia were instead painted by Longhi.

At present the elegant cafès are traditional meeting-point of an international clientele, so as the prestigous hotels attended by the stars of Cinema during the festival of Leone d'oro.

The splendid palace Vendramin Calergi, facing the Canal Grande, houses during wintertime the Casino del Lido.

For a romantic trip don't forget the Ponte dei Sospiri or a visit of the picturesque calli (little canals) by gondola (the tipical boat).