VENICE CITY GUIDE ® APRIL 2020 WWW.WHERE-VENICE.COM Venice, the new Renaissance A selection of the best destinations devoted to beauty and fine dining ITALIAN-STYLE GIFT GUIDE ALL YOU CAN DO IN VENICE AND ITS SURROUNDINGS 吃喝玩乐 尽在这里 SIGHTSEEING | MUSEUMS | SHOPPING | DINING | ENTERTAINMENT | MAPS YOUR TRAVELING COMPANION SINCE 1936® DISCOVER WELCOME TO ITALY www.where-venice.com Dear Reader, PROEDI MEDIA - WHERE Via Ezio Biondi, 1. 20154 Milano. as things presently stand, it is very difficult T: 02 349951 - Fax 02 33107015 [email protected] being the publisher of the leading incoming www.where-venice.com information brand in Italy. We need to decide PUBLISHER AND EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Andrea Jarach how best to behave at this time. During our [email protected] lifetime, we have never been at war with an COO Andrea Jarach Pierfrancesco Coreno Publisher [email protected] invisible enemy like the Corona Virus. The Italian Where® MANAGING EDITOR health system has responded in the best possible Alessandra Finzi [email protected] way to protect the safety and health of its citizens and visitors. CONTRIBUTORS Carey Bernitz, Romena Brugnerotto, However, the measures enforced by the government have inevitably Simona P.K. Daviddi, Floriana di Maio, Elisabetta Giudici, Joy Lacanlale, Fabio Lancini, created a countrywide shutdown. In addition, the media around the Giulia Minero, Elena Peverata, Chiara Zaccarelli world is highlighting the fact that Italy is one of the centres of the ICONOGRAPHY ENJOY Archivio Proedi Media, Shutterstock disease. While writing this editorial, I noticed how we have passed CARTOGRAPHY from an abundance of tourists to empty spaces. But we are trying City Map: © Proedi Comunicazione 2020 Fast Trains Network Map Dmitry Goloub to keep calm, and not give into panic. © Proedi Comunicazione 2020 We have decided to continue our mission to supply updated and MARKETING & ADVERTISING Sieva Carolo, Isa Faleschini, Marta Mailhac, complete information that will be useful for the tourists who have Daniele Misrachi, Rachele Renna, Paola Zannoni [email protected] decided to visit Italy over the next few months. We know that the hotel ADMINISTRATION Katia Greto industry has suffered a huge blow - our Hotel Relations Manager is in [email protected] daily contact with more than 400 hotels, who are our main partners. PRODUCTION & CIRCULATION, SALES SUPPORT COORDINATOR We have therefore decided to provide our website with the City Guide Paola Grilli [email protected] this month! And, we believe that Italy, as a whole, will benefit from our HOTEL RELATIONS MANAGER maps and digital information network. We thank you, our reader, Maria Granata [email protected] for believing in Italy. The tourist industry of the most beautiful country CUSTOMER SERVICES in the world will survive the virus. You’ll find suggestions on the Cristina Garbini [email protected] following pages for the best shopping and dining in our major cities. REG. TRIB. MILANO NO. 174, 28 JUNE 2016 EDITORE: PROEDI COMUNICAZIONE SRL - ISCRIZIONE AL ROC N.2455 Let us all try to support tourism, while staying safe and well. DIRETTORE RESPONSABILE: ANDREA JARACH PRINTED BY GRAPHICSCALVE SPA In the meantime, we are grateful to the hotels that will keep their LOCALITÀ PONTE FORMELLO, 1/3/4 24020 VILMINORE DI SCALVE (BG) Although the publisher has made every effort to include copyright doors open, to the tourist services that will operate despite the crisis, credits, in the event of there being any errors, oversights or omissions, we would like to apologize to the copyright holders in question whose names will be published in the next issue. and to the advertisers, who have decided to support us with their Where® Magazine makes every effort to ensure the accuracy of the information it publishes, but cannot be held responsible for any investments in spite of the situation. consequences arising from errors or omissions. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part is strictly prohibited. We wish all of them the best: buona fortuna! EXCLUSIVE GIFT FROM TOP HOTELS WHERE® VENICE È DISTRIBUITO SOLO NELLE CAMERE DEI MIGLIORI HOTEL DI VENEZIA E DEL VENETO. WHERE® VENICE IS AVAILABLE ONLY IN THE ROOMS OF THE MOST EXCLUSIVE HOTELS IN VENICE AND IN VENETO. The Publisher VENICE.WHEREITALIA.COM/DISTRIBUTION Where® magazine and the where® logo are registered MVP trademarks of Morris Morris Visitor Publications Visitor Publications. >> To check the opening of museums, restaurants, MORRIS VISITOR PUBLICATIONS MVP EXECUTIVE stores and outlets stay tuned on www.where-venice.com CHAIRMAN William S. Morris III CITY GUIDE PRESIDENT & CEO William S. Morris IV www.whereitalia.com SIGHTSEEING | MUSEUMS | SHOPPING | DINING | ENTERTAINMENT | MAPS [ SIGHTSEEING] MORE ON Top in town PAGE 10 SAN GIORGIO MAGGIORE 1 2 3 4 This small island is part of the panorama that can be enjoyed from St. Mark’s square and is part of the San Marco sestiere. The church of San Giorgio Maggiore is one of the masterpieces of Andrea Palladio. The monumental complex of the former Benedectine monastery (founded in the 10th century) is now home to the Cini Foundation arts centre hosting ‘Le Stanze del Vetro’ cultural project, devoted to the study and appreciation of 20th century Venetian glass art. LIDO DI VENEZIA 4KCLIPS/SHUTTERSTOCK.COM F11PHOTO/SHUTTERSTOCK.COM © ALEXANTON / SHUTTERSTOCK.COM © © The narrow strip of land that extends for a dozen kilometres in front of Venice, dividing 155 6 the Lagoon from the Adriatic sea, is an island, a town with its own history and a natural reserve, but also a jet-setters’ paradise, with luxury hotels, the Palazzo del Cinema and exclusive Art Nouveau villas. The Lido offers beach lovers 15 km of fine sandy beaches, from the lighthouse of Punta Sabbioni to the picturesque town of Cavallino. In September, it becomes the world capital of cinema. 2 THE GHETTO The Jewish ghetto of Venice, the first ever, was established in 1516. It is located in a secluded sestiere of Cannaregio. A walk through ‘calli’, ‘campi’ and ‘campielli’’ allows visitors to soak up a magical, cocoon-like atmosphere that brings OLGA GAVRILOVA/SHUTTERSTOCK.COM CANADASTOCK/SHUTTERSTOCK.COM to mind Shakespeare’s play the ‘Merchant © © of Venice’. Here you can admire ancient synagogues, the ‘tower houses’, the ‘schole’ and the workshops. BASILICA DI SAN MARCO CANAL GRANDE name derives are not those of lovers, but those pontoon bridge at the canal’s narrowest point SCALA CONTARINI DEL BOVOLO This is the most important catholic church Although it is known as ‘the most beautiful of condemned prisoners, emitted as they were to facilitate access to the popular Rialto A rare gem of Venetian architecture, just steps THE ISLANDS in the city. The original church dates back street in the world’, the Grand Canal is the main led down to the cells. It can be accessed on a Market, it is still a hub of commerce and is from Campo San Manin: a combination of Although the whole of Venice lies on an to before the year 1000, while its famous waterway of Venice. Lined on both sides by an visit to the Palazzo Ducale. 4 lined on both sides by shops. It includes as Renaissance, Gothic and Byzantine elements. archipelago, an ‘excursion to the islands’ polychrome façade, embellished with mosaics uninterrupted series of palaces, churches, many as 120 steps. Witness to centuries of The external ‘bovolo’ (snail-shell) stairwell of generally means a half-day cruise on a boat and bas-reliefs, is a 13th century addition. hotels and other public buildings, it offers a TEATRO LA FENICE history, it is exciting to cross it, but even more Palazzo Contarini is enclosed in a cylinder to visit the islands of Murano, Torcello or Inside, a triumphant array of domes and journey back into history, evoking the pomp Twice destroyed by fire and twice restored spectacular when seen from the water, perforated like lace. The architectural beauty Burano, three charming, small islands, rich transepts, mosaics and gold, marble and and splendor of the ancient Serenissima. to its former splendour (the last time was perhaps aboard a gondola. 3 of the stairwell, combined with the view that in history and tradition. Murano is famous numerous other treasures. Almost directly opposite the Piazza San Marco, between 1996 and 2003), for centuries it has can be enjoyed on reaching the top, is well throughout the world for its hand-blown where the Grand Canal empties into the been Venice's principal stage for world-class GALLERIE DELL’ACCADEMIA worth a visit. glass (artisanal workshops still display PALAZZO DUCALE lagoon, the Punta della Dogana former opera, music, theater, and ballet. However, its They host the most important collection of glassmakers at work). Torcello, birthplace A masterpiece of Gothic art and a repository harbour stands at an important point. Today high point came in the 19th century when Venetian and Veneto artworks dated between CHIESA AND SCUOLA GRANDE of the lagoon, once a thriving town with of innumerable art treasures, it features a it hosts important collective or monographic it hosted the ‘premieres’ of operas by Rossini, the 14th and 18th centuries. Here you can DI SAN ROCCO 8,000 inhabitants, is today a semi-rural island number of different and intricate architectural exhibitions, featuring works from the Pinault Bellini, Donizetti and Verdi. Not only strongly admire masterpieces by Giovanni Bellini, A Renaissance complex consisting of a church with only 17 permanent residents and two and ornamental details, dating from the 9th Collection. 6 associated with Venice’s cultural heritage, it is Giorgione, Carpaccio, Titian, Tintoretto, Veronese and adjoining palace, it was built as a sign of medieval churches that speak poignantly century. Formerly the residence and also a stunning feat of architecture.