Soroptimist International d'Italia Club 60°ANNIVERSARY OF THE FOUNDATION 1956-2016

19 - 20 November 2016 Venice

Soroptimist International d'Italia

With the contribution of:

SORORES OPTIMAE

Thanks to: The club members have decided to leave a been a pilgrim destination that is reached by memory of this important date, the foun- crossing a bridge of boats constructed once dation’s sixtieth anniversary, with the res- a year for this festivity. Owing to its iconog- toration of a standard used in processions raphy, the standard is closely associated with as early as 1685; it belonged to the last great this celebration as it not only depicts typically captain of the Venetian Republic, Francesco Venetian symbols, but also the Virgin Hode- Morosini, whose important collection was getria, called the Black Virgin in Venice and purchased by the City of Venice at the end of venerated in this Basilica. the nineteenth century. Ever since 1687 a bridge has been created across the on November 21 so

PROGRAMME that the Venetians can reach the Basilica from all over the city and take a candle to pray in front of the image of the Black Virgin, a lit- tle like a collective plea for good health. Our 19 November MUSEO CORRER - Club was founded on November 11, 1956 but we have decided to celebrate our 60th anni- 17:15 Welcome ceremony for members and guests versary on 19 and 20 November before Festa Main entrance to Museum della Salute, the only celebration that Vene- tians still regard as truly theirs. 18:00 Presentation of the restoration of the 17th - century Processional We thought it appropriate that the meeting with our Italian and foreign friends took Standard, whic belonged to Doge place in a mysterious, dense period that ex- Sala delle Quattro Porte presses the soul of this ‘home’ of endless cor- ridors and rooms where we keep meeting each 19:00 Gala Buffet other, because that is how we imagine our life Napoleonic Wing - Canova Corridor in Venice. We hope that this will help the members who come to gain a more profound understanding of our sublime city. 20 November CIVIC MUSEUMS, ST. MARK’S SQUARE Of particular historic-artistic value and cur- rently in storage in the Correr Museum, it will be presented with the relics exhibited 10.00 Guided tour of Museo Correr, Doge’s Palace and the Monumental in the museum: a plate next to the standard Rooms of the Marciana Library will be a permanent memory of the donation Departure from the Museo Correr ticket-offi ce from the Soroptimist International Club of Venice. The restoration will be presented 12:30 PALAZZO TIEPOLO PASSI - SAN POLO 2774 during an official ceremony on November 19 in the evening in the rooms of Correr Muse- Lunch for the 60th Anniversary of the Foundation um in Saint Mark’s Square. November 19 and 20 precede one of the most popular Venetian celebrations, dedicated to the Madonna della Salute, which has taken place every year on November 21 ever since the days of the Venetian Republic to mark the end of the terrible plague that afflicted the city in 1630- 1631. Built as a votive temple, the majestic Basilica of Madonna della Salute has therefore always