The Venice Blog

In the face of the ever-dimishing number of inhabitants of the historic centre of Venice approaching the critical mark of 60′000, deputy mayor Michele Vianello considers a financial aid for middle class families who are committed to a life within the alleys and canals. Since it is virtually impossible to acquire a decent home for a price of less then 5.000 € per square metre, Vianello proposed to not only help the proletariat with the so-called case popolare (social housing), but also those who gain less than 50.000 € a year and pay a monthly rent of up to 1.000 €. But as the interview in the Gazzettino newspaper of December, 19, reveals, Vianello’s ‘middle class’ mainly consists of water taxi drivers and motoscafisti, so helping the middle class does imply a further promotion of tourism. This is where the deputy mayor is going round in circles, since it is the acceleration of tourism beyond rationality that led to the current problems. It seems that the municipality wants to continue the administration of inherited nuisances and completely lacks a vision for Venice.

Once again, the tourist industry can celebrate a victory. Their propaganda machinery, in cooperation with international media, finally made the Italien lefty government put the planned tourist tax on hold. Guests would have contributed with up to five Euro a day, one per each hotel star, for the preservation of monuments and the maintenance of cities such as Rome, Florence and Venice. In reality, the introduction of a tourist tax in other cities and regions has never led to sinking numbers of guests.

While hoteliers’ associations and compliant blogs express their explicit and implicit relief, the City of Venice, which had already included 20 million Euro from the projected tourist tax in their 2007 budget, now has to take the sum from the ever-diminishing Venice residents — by bumping up the prices of waste disposal, i.e. of a facility, whose capacities are in large part absorbed by the 18 million tourists per year. More than a farce.

Without any doubts, the pasticceria Tonolo, located in Dorsoduro 3764 in Crosera San Pantalon, is one of the best pastry makers in Venice, and their cakes and baìcoli as well as their fine caffè is very popular not only with Venetians. Now, the pasticceria turned 120, and the current owner Franco Tonolo celebrated his 70th birthday on October, 24. The Venice Blog congratulates!

On the occasion of the 40th anniversary of the November 04, 1966 flood, which did not only destroy numerous works of art in Florence, but also led to a severe damages in Venice, the Istituto Veneto di Scienze, Lettere ed Arti organized a encounter entitled 1966-2006 - Memorie dell’alluvione, which took place at Palazzo Franchetti on October 24. Mayor Massimo Cacciari was not seen. The Venetian section of Italia Nostra issued the text “La lenta agonia di Venezia” by Indro Montanelli.
Despite the concise and informative lectures of Lady Frances Clarke (Venice in Peril) on the work of the private committees for the safeguarding of Venice, and professor Francesco Valcanover, former head of the Soprintendenza and contemporary witness, the event could not fully satisfy. While three old documentaries where shown, virtually no relationship to current problems was established.

Jonathan Kipkorir Kosgei won the 21st Venice Marathon in 2:10:18. In great final battle, the Kenyan only had a lead of three seconds over the Italian Alberico di Cecco. Another Kenyan, Paul Lokira, won the third prize with 2:11:00, while the Italian Migidio Bourifa (2:11:09) became 4th. This year, the annual event took place on October 22. The marathon started near Strà, in front of the baroque Villa Pisani or Villa Nazionale, and ended on St. Mark’s square in Venice.

(Reported by the Gazzettino on Oct. 23)

Francesco Guardi: The Bucintoro on its way to the Lido

The Bucintoro - a gilded ship used by the Doges to celebrate every year the symbolic marriage of Venice with the sea - was spoiled by Napoleon’s troops after the fall of the Republic of Venice and finally destroyed in the late 1820s. Miraculously, some fragments have survived. Every now and then, Venice discusses a reconstruction of the Doges’ sumptuous ship, but in the first days of October 2006, the possible creation of a dedicated foundation, financed by the local casino and others, made its way to the press. But not everyone wants the Bucintoro back. In today’s Gazzettino, Saverio Pastor, head of Felze, a association of gondola builders and related professionals, argued against the reconstruction, since the construction (traditional or modern?) as well as the locomotion of the ship remain totally unclear. In the days of the Republic of Venice, 168 men powered the 42 oars. As no one is willing to play the role of galley slaves today, a new Bucintoro would just be another motif for tourists, but no cultural gain for Venetians. Other spokesmen would prefer a reconstruction of a merchant vessel, preferredly from the “Golden Days” of 16th century Venice, to be shown in the future marine museum in the Arsenal.

Having had the opportunity to watch the annual historic regata (September 3, 2006) from some friends’ apartment in the piano nobile of a Grand Canal palace, and having finally had the time to scan the film (yes, I’m old-fashioned), I thought I share some pictures with you:

Gondola race