A Guide in Venice

A true joy in this recent flashback! I guided an incredible actors couple, Elizabeth Marvel and Bill Camp and their son in Venice.
They are one of the most knowledgeable, curios and focused people - all three - I ever met and I was also impressed they don’t use social media.

Elisabeth’s email made my day: “It was such a pleasure. You are so brilliant, it was a much more meaningful experience than just a usual guide experience. We learned so much from you in just a few hours. I would love to keep in touch.”


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The uniqueness of Venice ! Attending a passionate conference in the most precious venue one could imagine: the Scuola di S.Giorgio dei Dalmati surrounded by the masterpieces of Vittore Carpaccio.
Professor Federico Moro took us through 2000 and more years of history of our beloved Adriatic sea, focusing mainly on its Eastern coast, known as Dalmatia. Moreover today it was a special day: St.Jerome and the lion had just arrived, newly restored - with the contribute of
The rich and vibrant revived palette of colors reveals so many minute and interesting details
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"Un diavolo amico" by Luca Massimo Barbero the most artistic among art critics, an historian and curator of modern and contemporarry art, has donatated part of his archive to the historical archive of contemporary art of the Venice Biennale. It's a unique living archive in continuous expansion that will grow with his future donations. The spark for many more initiatives to come. You rock !
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Today the most important historical parade and regatta will happen in Venice.
In this picture you can admire the bissona "Floreale", a traditional boat, slender, fast and with a flat bottom, used for parades and water processions. It is characterized by rich thematic decorations and is typically pushed by eight rowers. The name derives from the Venetian language "bissa" which indicates the water snake. Its typology perhaps derives from ancient war boats, characterized by agility and manageability. Today the bissone are used for celebratory purposes on special occasions, such as in the case of the water procession that opens the Regata Storica or the symbolic Marriage with the Sea: in which Venice marries the sea,  a founding element and territory for its life and economy.
The boat is back in the water after 60 years.On the occasion of the launch, in our historical shipyard - Arsenale, - the mayor of Prague, Svoboda, was received. A meeting that the two cities have been renewing for years, in the name of history and traditions. In 2017, on the occasion of "Navalis", the largest Baroque celebration on the water, Prague had asked Venice to "loan" two bissone. To thank Venice, the city of Prague decided to offer decorations by best sculptors, carvers and upholsterers of the Czech Republic, on the Saint Nepomuceno bissona, named after the Tcheck  saint, patron of ferrymen and of the gondoliers in Venice too.

Designed by Gio Ponti and inaugurated in November 1958 in the presence of the King of Sweden, the Italian Cultural Institute in Stockholm is an example of a total work of art and unique in the career of the great Milanese designer. From the architecture to the furnishing elements, down to the most minute details, everything is the result of the same hand - apart from the luminous lozenge ceiling of the auditorium, by Pierluigi Nervi, and excluding the extension work carried out by Ferruccio Rossetti in 1963.

Everything is so coherent and consistent with Gio Ponti spatial and form vision. Atrue pleasure for the eyes and the soul, especially thaks to the very informative talk by that welcomed us!

The history of the Italian Cultural Institute C.M. Lerici in Stockholm is linked to the Italian industrialist Carlo Maurilio Lerici, who, having arrived in Sweden in the 1930s, devoted himself mainly to the production of stainless steel, cultivating also various cultural interests. He assumed most of the expenses and later created a foundation providing scholarships, still today.

Dolomites 💚

📸 Unforgettable 2 day co-guiding bliss in the Venetian Lagoon! Embarking on a taxi boat with these incredible beings from LA was a blast as we unraveled Venice's origins with a witty Jason Goodwin. It was an honour to meet the renowned writer and historian of the Ottoman Empire. We sailed through the tranquil waters, island-hopping like true explorers, ending our adventure on the beach, we celebrated with a nice swim. Diving into history of religions and spiritual practices as we paused for lunch. Grateful for the chance to guide these extraordinary souls, their infectious energy made these lagoon days a whirlwind of fun and discovery !

I feel blessed to meet people like and her family ! It is so rewarding to exchange knowledge, points of view, visions, ideas on the unique and precious contribute that Carlo Scarpa gave to the modern architecture and design. And even more fulfilling to meet there...on the field of friendship. Grazie ! ❤️🙏

Ai Weiwei's affinity with Lego bricks is already known for some years. Still it was quite a strong emotion for someone like me to be in presence of his homage to one of the most iconic works in the history of the Venetian Renaissance: San Giorgio and the dragon by Vittore Carpaccio (1516) reinterpreted with Lego.

A few weeks ago I had the honor to accompany .berengo in a Chapel generally not accessible to the public, at the Abbey of San Giorgio Maggiore. The secluded chapel of The Conclave hosted in 1800 the election to the papal throne of Pius VII.

Ai Weiwei created a lego version of the 16th century masterpiece by Vittore Carpaccio taking advantage of the temporary loan of the altarpiece to two important international exhibitions (first in Washington, then in Venice). Ai Weiwei homage will be visible in the Venetian space left empty until June 18, 2023.

A reinterpretation - in a pop version and material - of the story narrated in the Legenda Aurea by Jacopo da Varagine according to which the saint kills the dragon to free the princess, the king and the whole city from eternal damnation.

The title of this contemporary work is: “Ego vici mundum” a quotation from the Gospel of John (16:33) engraved along the frieze of the Chapel. In your life you have challenges but being courageous you can conquer the world, says St. John. The work by establishes a link with the holy quote: it is a paradigm of the victory of light over shade. And it could be the emblem of political and social activism in defense of human rights, embraced by the Chinese artist for so many years.

https://youtu.be/GbZZk18xMDs

PROTAGONISTI veneziani: VIII incontro - Stefano Croce - Associazione Guide turistiche veneziane Venezia e il turismo visti e vissuti quotidianamente dalle guide turistiche veneziane. Un interessante incontro per parlare di cultura, residenti, turismo, l...

L'importante è viaggiare, muoversi, conoscere gente, vedere cose, ma soprattutto farlo senza un programma definito... l'importante non è saper creare, inventare, scrivere, ma saper dedurre, cioè saper ricavare da una cosa, una cosa qualunque, una moltitudine d'altre... In fondo non s'inventa nulla, si deduce soltanto
Curzio Malaparte

Saint Mark of Alexandria a pope paying his tribute and praying by the tomb of the founderbof his church: the Coptic church... the reminiscence of the fascinating bond between the two international emporiums: Venice and Alexandria

Please watch this video https://fb.watch/hhP1quFHua/

A true pleasure to meet one year later and spend a day with her in deep nourishing conversations ranging from the origins of the Venetian cultural roots and its history and genius to the contemporary art scene in L.A. and NY from the '80ies til today !

On the fringe" - "Entres los margenes" a potent film by Juan Diego Botto, produced by AIE (Penélope Cruz) Morena Films (Alvaro Longoria) Panache Productions & La Compagnie Cinématographique of my friend . With great acting by Penélope Cruz, Luis Tosar, Christian Checa, Adelfa Calvo and Juan Diego Botto. A dramatic count down in one day in Madrid. Three intertwined lives that barely survive in the distopic economical and social environment that we have created. These lives can change in one day thanks to the support of each other.

An amazing festival on the water, cinema and more ! If you arenin town check the program ➡️

Searching for some books to get ready for the next studious day before to go to an African aperitivo to celebrate our friends living in Ghana 🌴🐘🤎🦓🌍

The first figurative representation of the seven sins in the western world: the Byzantine mosaics of Santa Maria Assunta on Torcello island, very descriptive and realistic. A true masterpiece !

The beautiful exhibition of a small part of the immense body of work that Riccardo Schweizer produced in his life time is currently shown at Palazzo Scopoli - at Fiera di Primiero - with the title : "Riccardo Schweizer, i luoghi dell'anima" curated by his daughter
A must see if you wish to visit this part of the Dolomites !

Retracing the path of in his gorgeous land. It was really moving to see again his frescos, done on the church of San Giovanni when he was only 11 years old. It always amazes me when the passion burns oneself spirit and mind since early childhood. Meeting his daughter and my friend in the land of his origins after many years was a true joy! Thank you 🙏💚 🍃

Retracing the path of in his gorgeous land. It was really moving to see again his frescos, done on the church of San Giovanni when he was only 11 years old. It always amazes me when the passion burns oneself spirit and mind since early childhood. Meeting his daughter and my friend in the land of his origins after many years was a true joy! Thank you 🙏💚

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Generations gaps don't count when 💚 and 🧠 are activated. Thank you for visiting me...we had a great farewell family lunch all toghether with grandmother Annie and Giacomo!

Truly happy and touched to spend time with these beautiful and bright people ! I can't wait to read all your books and I will start with I'll follow you ! you are the best goalkeeper in the world and becoming a Renaissance painting expert already ! an amazing brilliant and creative man, I am glad to be your friend! Love you all ❤️