LAST MINUTE for the month of May we can offer you apartments located in the centre of Venice at only 10 minutes to walking by St. Mark’s Square and Rialto Bridge at the special price

4 nights / 4 people

- Angelo blue  apart. (San Marco  area)
http://www.venice-holidays.com/apartment.aspx?cat=&item=48
The price is :   880     euros - 

Angelo red   apart.(san Marco area)
http://www.venice-holidays.com/apartment.aspx?cat=&item=46
The price is:  880      euros-

Angelo yellow apart. (San Marco area)
http://www.venice-holidays.com/apartment.aspx?cat=&item=47
The price is :  880  euros

  - Cà Del Campiello ( Castello area )
http://www.tourist-flats.com/apartment.aspx?cat=&item=63
The price is:  650 euros

- Casanova 1 apart (Castello area) just 10 minutes walking distance to S.Marco
http://www.venice-holidays.com/apartment.aspx?cat=&item=32
The price is : 750  euros 

Casa Sant’Agostin ( San Polo area)
http://www.venice-holidays.com/apartment.aspx?cat=&item=44
The price is :  700     euros -   

Ca D’Oro Holidays apart.( Cannaregio area)
http://www.venice-holidays.com/apartment.aspx?cat=&item=19
The price is :  700       euros  

Frari apart. (Santa Croce area)
http://www.venice-holidays.com/apartment.aspx?cat=&item=9
The price is :  700      euros-  

Guglie apart. (Cannaregio area) with Canal view
http://www.tourist-flats.com/apartment.aspx?cat=&item=62
The price is:  700     euros- 

Prestige apart. ( Santa Croce area ) very near to Campo dei Frari
http://www.venice-holidays.com/apartment.aspx?cat=&item=51
The price is :  1000     euros 

  Cycling champions on the runway in Lido, for the chronometer that on the 9th May starts the Centenary Giro d’Italia.Saturday 9th May is the day when the athletes release all their energies onto the pedals riding the circuit through the streets of Lido, 21 kilometers to Malamocco and back, with a little piece of history up for grabs. And pride. The start of the Centenary Giro d’Italia from the lagoon island forms an example under the amateur profile and, as the Mayor of Venice Massimo Cacciari has underlined represents for Venice ‘the opportunity to offer to Italy and the world an unusual aspect, vivacious and vital’. The Giro d’Italia also opens up the tourist season on the Venetian coast: the celebrations on Lido on the 10th May are followed by another appointment in the Veneto, with the start of the stage of Lido di Jesolo - Trieste.Looking through the records of the pink race, Venice has hosted, before 2009, only eight times an arrival and seven times a start of a stage. Races significantly under the symbolic profile, often beyond their amateur content. This is why the decision to start the Centenary Giro in Venice is particularly important and is eagerly awaited by thousands of fans along the route. The first time the ‘caravan’ came to Venice was in 1936: on the 2nd June, for the sixteenth stage, and a chronometer of 30,5 kilometers was programmed from Padua to Venice. It was won, with a medium speed of 40km an hour, by Giuseppe Olmo riding a Bianchi, with Bartali taking the pink shirt. On the 10th May 1939 the thirteenth stage ended in Venice, 231 km from Bologna. The Giro came to Venice again in 1949, 1951 1952, and then stopped for twenty years until 1972, with the first stage starting in Venice.
or an entire generation of cycling fans the first great sporting emotion in color was the arrival in St. Mark’s Square of the extraordinary Giro d’Italia of 1978: a bridge was built over the Grand Canal to bring the cyclists in front of the Basilica with an individual time of 14 km crowned by the victory of Francesco Moser, one of the most loved champions, with a 14 second advantage on Saroni(and a media of more than 44 km an hour). For their children, instead, it is impossible to cancel the indelible memory of the starting stage of the Giro in 1997, on the Venice Lido: crowded against the barriers to support the speeding group of cyclists along the city circuit, until the sprint finish dominated by Mario Cipollini, the ‘Lion King’ who in a matter of a few years became the athlete with the largest number of victories in the pink race.
To be first in Venice is therefore a prestigious prize even in the showcases full of trophies and plaques: the stages of the Giro d’Italia have an added value in the Lagoon, that push the great champions of cycling to give their all, to legitimize their myths with a victory in the city of the Doges. Even more if at stake there is, like this year, the first pink shirt.

If you wont to stay for this days in charming apartments, located in Venice, please send email at the address:
info@venice-holidays.com

www.venice-holidays.com

                                                                               TRAVELLING IN THE TASTE
Venice is not only the Venetian symbol of Culture and Arts, but
also the one of gastronomy. Venice cuisine comes from rural
origins, but the trades with Far and Middle East, during the
golden Age of the Repubblica have enriched the variety of its
recipes. It can be said that Venice Republic played an important
role for the enrichment not only in local cuisine but even in
the european one,  because after the fall of Byzantium, Venice
became  the Eastern Door. The most of european countries
used  to  add  spices  in  order  to  preserve  the  food,
while Venice used spices to invent  new dishes and
new tastes. When venetian galleons come back home
after a very long trip were full of salt, pepper, ginger,
curcuma,  candy and fresh nutmeg, galanga from India and
even saffron from China: these spices unknown until that period
were able to excite the fantasy of venetian cooks: in this way
was born an art of cooking unique in the world.Venice acted
for many centuries as “mediator of the Universe”, because it
sendable in those years. The city had the trade monopoly on
spices, taking advantage of western people’s desires. Venice
became also the capital for sugar trading.
 
During the celebration of  the“ Ascension day” (festa della
sensa), took place the ceremony of the “Wedding with the
sea” a sort of self-celebration, and a large market in S. Mark
East, and people from over the world came to visit it. Another
product very important for the venetian trades was the olive
oil imported from Crete, Corfù, Zante and Cefalonia, from the
eastern coasts and countries like Tunisia and Dalmatia, then
the oil was exported to the western countries. The eastern
from Po’ valley wich used more fat. The armenians had a great
cook the rice with the “pilaff” method, to grow the
spinach, the aubergine and the apple and to combine
minded to the other cultures and people coming from
Greece, Germany, Spain and Portugal but in particular many
Jewish people lived in peace in this city. The jewish community
used to go and eat at the many taverns, spreading uses and
tastes and promoting a large use of fruit and vegetables. They
“saor” with olive oil and not with the other fats because these
become solid the day after, or stewing the meat together with
the vegetables. The typical sweet-and-sour taste of oriental
cuisine is still present in the dishes of the modern venetian
fruit. Typical place where you can eat the traditional and tasty
venetian food are the numerous trattorie, and the “Bacari”
little bars or taverns which offer a simple service and
you can smell an atmosphere of ancient times, here
you can eat a wide selection of typical hors d’oeuvre
than can substitute a meal – called CICHETI, obviously you
can eat them staying on foot, cause there’s no time to sit
down.

                                                                                                                                                                                            SPRITZ
The typical aperitif in Venice is the spritz, made of carbonated
water, white wine, lemon peel or olive and as you prefer, bitter
Campari, Cynar or Aperol. This beverage is very common also
in Hungary, (frocs), Slovakia, Slovenia, Croatia and also in
Romania, all the territories of ex-Austro-Hungarian kingdom
(1867-1918).  The story tells us that the Austrians used to
drink the venetian wine with water, because it was too strong
for them, so the Venetians, added a bit of liquor to give to this
drink a new taste.
The  Austrians  called  it“spritz”  that  means  injection.  The
aperitif-time is from 5 p.m., but someone drink spritz in the
morning before lunch. Spritz is a very strong beverage, so you
take care when you drink it.

MORE INFORMATIONS
info@venice-holidays.com
www.venice-holidays.com

                                                                                                      The secret itinerary of the Doges Palace begins on the upper floors of the Doges Palace. As you climb up the lavishly decorated Golden staircase that expresses the great wealth that the Venetians once possessed you come to a tall wooden sturdy door that’s always locked, except for those lucky enough to have reservations to enjoy a very different tour of the Doges Palace.

The secret itinerary of the Doges Palace literally takes you into the inner sanctums of the brain of Venice. Rooms and chambers that were previously off-limits to everyone, except the most trusted members of the Venetian government. Behind the vast expanses of the grand halls and chambers of the public-face of the Doges Palace lay a warren of offices, corridors and other rooms where the secret work of the Venetian Empire took place.

On the secret itinerary of the Doges Palace you will visit the Chancellor’s Office, a powerful position in the days of the Republic. Like the position of the Doges, was an appointment for life. All state processions were led by the Chancellor, and the Chancellor was the man responsible for writing all the secret documents of the state. Typical of the Venetians mentality, they ensured that all critical  members of  their government remained loyal to the state by paying them generous salaries. The Chancellor of the Republic was earning the equivalent of 600,000 € a year back in the 14^th Century! For such a powerful position you’ll note his office was extremely small.

Next you’ll visit the upper Chancellors Offices where over twenty secretaries worked assisting the Chancellor in the preparation & storage of secret documents. These workers also enjoyed privileged positions and high salaries. The interior of the Chancellors office has the form of a ship, and in fact most of the rooms on the secret itinerary were constructed of wood and built by workers from the Arsenale.

The famous ship-building yard of the Venetian Republic where they once boasted they construct a ship in just one-day. The office is split into two-levels like a ship with railings separating each part, and the doors that you see throughout the secret itinerary of the Doges Palace are again in the style of one’s you would find on a ship. Self closing doors, with special hinges that closed them air-tight to prevent any over hearing things from the corridor outside. The secret documents were stored in the cabinets that line the rooms and along the top of these cabinets you’ll see the family crests of previous Chancellors. The Venetians did such a good job of protecting their secret documents that Venice now possesses the 3^rd largest collection of documents of antiquity in the World.

The corridors between the rooms are of simple wooden construction, narrow and dimly-lit it feels as if you are walking through the confines of the hull of a great ship from ancient times. The next stop on the secret itinerary of the Doges Palace is the gruesome torture chamber. Here the three state inquisitors would torture prisoners with one simple device. The prisoner would have his hands tied behind his back and the rope would push-out and disjoint the poor prisoners shoulders and back-bones as he was propelled towards the ceiling. For added theatrics, prisoners awaiting to be tortured would be in cells either side of the ropes were they could see and hear their colleagues being tortured. The torture chamber is illuminated by a single window that would project light into the eyes of the person being tortured so that he wouldn’t be able to see his inquisitors.

Continuing on through a warren of rooms and corridors we arrive at the famous prison cells of the Doges Palace that are one of the highlights of the Secret Itinerary of the Doges Palace. The same prison cells in which Casanova was imprisoned and from where he later escaped. Casanova was a very popular man with the women of Venice, but unfortunately not-so popular with the powerful men whose wives Casanova had conquered. After several attempts to arrest Casanova on trumped up charges, his enemies finally got their way when books on magic were found in Casanovas rooms. Possession of such books could lead to the death penalty, but fortunately for Casanova the law had been changed just six-months earlier and so he received a prison sentence instead.

The cells with low ceilings were not very accommodating for a man some two-metres tall. But, having good connections Casanova was granted an armchair, exercise time in the attic of the Doges Palace, as well as food brought to him from good-wishers from outside the prison. The “I Piombi” prisons, were so called because they lay directly below the lead roofs of the Doges Palace. These wooden cells beneath the lead roofs would be intolerably hot in the summer and freezing cold in the winter months.

Casanova attempted twice to escape from the prisons. The first attempt failed as he was transferred to another cell just before he had a chance to escape via a whole in the floor he had made with a piece of marble and iron that he found while taking exercise in the attic of the Doges Palace. His second attempt from another cell was more successful and after a meandering route through the Palace he actually walked through the main entrance of Doges Palace, “La Porta Della Carta” to his freedom. You’ll see both cells as well as the attic of the Doges Palace on the Secret Itinerary.

In fact, for some, the stroll along the narrow gangway directly beneath the roof to admire the incredible beams and structure of the timber framing that dates back to the 16^th century is the real highlight of the secret itinerary of the Doges Palace. The sheer weight of this timber construction would normally require supporting columns, but the Venetians found a way to have them self-supporting so that the vast expanses of the “Sala Maggiore” where up to 2,000 elected officials of the Venetian government would conduct their business is not cluttered with columns and pillars supporting the roof. The wooden beams with bathed in salt water for several months which fossilized them making them as hard as stone. And the residual salt prevented woodworm from destroying them!

The Last two rooms on the Secret itinerary of the Doges Palace are the offices of the state inquisitors and the offices of the judges of the infamous council of ten. Each chamber boasts works by a famous Venetian artist. The first with works by Tintoretto, and the second with works by Veronese. These are the only rooms on the secret itinerary of the Doges Palace with original decorations and furnishings. The chamber of the three judges shows another method of maintaining secrecy in that the cabinets that were used to store documents each had 3 locks. Each of the three judges had one key each and so it was impossible to open one without all three being present.

After the secret itinerary of the Doges Palace you re-enter the public areas of the Palace where you can take a tour of the other parts of the Palace including crossing the bridge of sighs and admire the works of other Venetian masters on display, as well as other works by Sansovino, Palladio, Antonio Da Ponte & many others. Combining a tour of the Doges Palace with the secret itinerary of the Doges Palace you can expect to spend around three-to-four hours to see everything!

09 April 2009 · All venice events, Events in Venice, Music, Theatre, Dance, Cinema
Ca’ Rezzonico – Museum of the Venetian Eighth century,
Dance Hall h. 6.30 p.m.
28th March – 9th May 2009

After the music review dedicated to Beethoven, proposed in relation to the Musical Autumn 2008 and to the review dedicated to the musical tradition of the Veneto which finished last 14th March, Ca’ Rezzonico is welcoming the concerts curated by the director Riccardo Parravicini, with the SPRING CONCERT SEASON 2009, Haydn: in the heart of the European Culture. It is a series of events not to be missed, on Saturdays, from 28th March to 9th May 2009 at 6.30 p.m.. This review, which has reached its fifteenth edition, is dedicated, this year, to Franz Joseph Haydn (1732 -1809) on the occasion of the bicentenary of his death. TD

PROGRAMME
Saturday 4th April: Music and Word
(Music by R. Schumann, C. Wieck, F.Mendelssohn-Bartholdy) Maria Pia Colonnello recitino voice, Roberta Paroletti at the piano.

Saturday 11th April: The popular element in the refined music.
(Musiche by F.J. Haydn, L. van Beethoven, C.M. Bellman, J.B. Vanhal) Swedish Feminine Chorus “Magpies” from Töreboda
Lars Forslund mandolin, Riccardo Alfaré violin,
Lorenzo Parravicini cello, Mario Parravicini harpsichord

Saturday 18th April: Piano Music and European dimension
(Music by F.J. Haydn, M. Clementi, W. A. Mozart) Alessandro Maffei, piano.
Saturday 25th APRIL: The quartet (Music by W.A. Mozart,  F. J. Haydn) Carlo Lazari, violin, Paola Carraro, violin, Francesca Levorato, viola, Alessandro Menegardi, cello.

Saturday 2nd May: From the corteous style to Classicism
(Music by G. Ph. Telemann, F. J. Haydn) Collegium Pro Musica: Stefano Bagliano flute, Werner Neugebauer violin, Erich Oskar Huetter cello, Andrea Cohen harpsichord

Saturday 9th May: Extraordinary Concert – International Year of Astronomy
(Music by F. J. Haydn, N. Rimskij-Korsakoff, C. Debussy, G. Rossigni, L.M. Gottschalk, M. Musorgskji, F. Liszt) Piano Duo  Giovanna Rita Buratti, Vincenzo Cerutti

Tickets: Full € 20; Residents in Venice Town € 15; Cheap ticket for the young (up to 25 years old) € 10; Full subscription € 70; Cheap Subscription for the young (up to 25 years old) € 40 -
Info and booking: 390415241143

                                                                             For the Easter days we can offer a charming apartment located in the characteristic area of Venice,  ( Sestiere San Polo) only 5 minuties to walking by Rialto Market:

Casa Sant’Agostin

An elegant, 60 squared-meter apartment, located on the first floor ( second floor American) in the Santa Croce neighborhood, Casa Sant’Agostin is close to both the Santa Lucia train station and Piazzale Roma bus station. The apartment is a 10 minute walk from the San Stae water boat stop and the gothic Frari Church. Recently restored, Casa Sant’Agostin is elegantly and comfortably furnished, creating a relaxing environment.The apartment consists of an indipendent entrance, a hallway that brings you into a spacious living room furnished with a sofa, television, table with chairs; fully equipped kitchen, master bedroom and bathroom with shower. The centrally located apartment is located near Campo San Giacomo dell’Orio, one of the oldest and most romantic squares in Venice. The square’s church is a true artistic gem, around which the community’s happy and peaceful life revolves; indifferent to the tourist masses. In just a few minutes you can reach the Cà Pesaro Museum ( 5 minutes), Campo San Polo, Campo dei Frari, the San Giovanni Evangelista Scuola, the San Rocco Scuola, the latter which often offers evening concerts.The SPECIAL PRICE for 3 nights/4 people  is: 560 euros    instead 650 euros

The SPECIAL PRICE for 7 nights/4 people is: 1000 euros   instead 1200 euros

To finalize your reservation, simply fill out the required  booking  form of our web site www.venice-holidays.com

VENICE HOLIDAYS S.R.L.
www.venice-holidays.com
info@venice-holidays.com
fax 0039 041 58131178
phone 0039 041 2602334