Giacomo Casanova
by traveloturc
The Venetians were also well known for their love of beautiful women and love affairs. Giacomo Casanova became one of the most legendary lovers of Venetian origin but other lesser known lovers soon filled the State orphanages with their children. Many of these love affairs had their start in the caffes of St.Mark's Square so in 1767 the government prohibited women from frequenting caffes. However, Casanova couldn't resist the charms of the women who strolled about the Square and under the porticos of the Procuratie. He was placed in "Piombi", the prison, by State Investigators because of his lascivious and anti-religious habits. Casanova attempted to escape twice. The first time, just before finishing a hole in the floor he was moved to another cell. However it was better that he didn't finish digging as that hole would have dropped him directly in front of the Inquisitors (again!) in the room below. The second attempt succeeded and he made his way out of the Palace and walked directly down the Golden Staircase and out the main entrance! The warders saw him leaving but they thought he was a politician and didn't stop him. Before taking the Gondola to leave the city, he couldn't resist one last stroll through the Procuratie where he bid his friends goodbye and had one last cup of coffee in his beloved Piazza San Marco. Casanova reached Paris where lived for 20 years before he was pardoned and allowed to return to his beloved Venice.
I can handle Venice being comical
by craic
No need to leave your SOH behind just because you are in perhaps the most beautiful city in the world.
My very first afternoon in Venice I threw open the shutters in my room which looked out onto a canal and lay on the bed and read a book by Thurber. Very funny guy, Thurber is.
We were having lunch at a restaurant close to the Barefoot Bridge on the Grand Canal - sitting outdoors on the very lip of the canal - and behind me a mobile phone rang and the guy answered it - and he had one of those mechanical voices like Stephen Hawking or someone who has had their larynx removed - and he kept saying (IN DEEP MECHANICAL TONES) "VENICE IS VERY ROMANTICA. "
I was freaking out because ever since that gross gross cult brit show League Of Gentlemen (which has a very scarey guy with a deep voice) I can't stand those deep voices.
If anyone says to me in deep tones "YOU IS MY WOMAN NOW" I completely freak.
So "VENICE IS VERY ROMANTICA" nearly had me jumping in the Grand Canal. The daughter tried to keep a straight face at my terror because she was facing the guy.
Pic is of daughter trying to restrain her mirth.
Once you pop, yoiu cannot stop ;-)
by nighthawk
Well, this is a bit of a morbide detail of one of the palazzo s along Canal Grande but I just love it.....it s just a pity I could not find more information about it,, might as well be a commemarative stone...
History
by sim1
There are beautiful old houses and history where ever you look! I think this is a part of Venice that I really loved. No book to help me what year or century a building was build, why and by whom. But looking at it would just tell me its own little part of history. I could dream of who lived here, what they used to do for a living, and maybe dream a little bit of having a house like this myself in Venice ;-)
The church at the Piazza San...
by lucyguajardo
The church at the Piazza San Marcos named St. Mark's church is one of the most beautiful of the world but they have a lot of security inside and don't let you take video nor pictures, so don't even try it if you don't want to have some one punish you.
Inside St. Mark's church you have to be quite, too.
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Scuola Grande Di San Giovanni Evangelista
Torcello port
Back streets
St Marks
