Teatro La Fenice |
This area is mainly characterised by the Teatro La Fenice,
one of Italy's oldest opera houses. La Fenice was inaugurated on
16 May 1792, by the Venier family, owners of the theatre, and became
the scene of many memorable operatic premieres, including, in 1853,
the dismal first-night flop of Verdi's La Traviata. The great opera
house was badly damaged by fire in January 1996, and the meticulous
restoration work -- helped in large part by donations from opera
lovers around the world – ended this 2003. The Venetians got
their Grand Theatre, La Fenice, back again with the ouverture concert
directed by Riccardo Muti on the 14 December in President Ciampi's
presence.
Just few step from the Teatro la Fenice, you will enter in Campo
S. Stefano, which was once the site of Carnival feasts,
balls and popular bull fights. In the Campo there are two churches
(the church of San Vidal and the Church of S. Stefano) which, though
very different from one another, are equally interesting.
Santa Maria Zobenigo |
The Church of S. Stefano, built by the Hermits
in the 13th century, houses in its vestry paintings by Tintoretto.
Nearby you will also discover the ancient Church of Santa
Maria Zobenigo, in Campo S. Maria del Giglio, built around
the year 900.
You should also not miss the impressive Winding-Stairs of
Palazzo Contarini del Bovolo. The name of the palace, built
in 1499 by Giovanni Candi, is derived from the venetian word for
a snail-shell, bovolo. Also the Contarini who lived in this palazzo
had this name. According to stylistic relationships with the capitals
of S. Salvatore, the newer research assumes that not Candi, but
Giorgio Spavento was the author of the stairway.
Palazzo Contarini del Bovolo |
The building's history goes back to the 14th century.
The area is also characterised by Palazzo Grassi,
one of the more imposing constructions on the Grand Canale. It was
planned, and in realized part, towards the 1740 from George Massari,
on behalf of one of the richest venetian family, the Grassi. In
1984 the Grassi Palace has become property of Fiat, with the aim
to give to it a radical restoration. The restoration, begun in the
first months of 1985, under the supervision of the architects Gae
Aulenti and Antonio Foscari and has been completed in little more
than a year. Today th e Palace is involved in the promotio n of
cultural activities in artistic and scientific field.
Palazzo Grassi |
The Museum Fortuny, housing the museum of Mariano
Fortuny is both an important example of gothic architecture and
an incredibly fascinating space. The palace was transformed by Mariano
Fortuny (important character on the cultural, artistic and society
international scene) into his photography, scenography and scene
technique atelier, studio for the work of textiles, painting studio:
the building has maintained rooms and structures, tapestries and
photographic collections related to these various functions.
Passing the fascinating Bridge of the Accademy,
from which you could enjoy of an unforgettable views of the Canal
Grande and of the laguna, you will discover the
Palazzo Fortuny |
Church of Santa Maria della Salute, at the easternmost
tip of the Dorsoduro region: the church was built between 1630 and
1687, in thanksgiving for the city's survival of the plague of 1630.
The church's interior is surprisingly sombre, given the exuberant
exterior, but does contain some impressive paintings by Titian and
Tintoretto. From the Bridge of the Accademy you will also enjoy
the beauty of the Palazzo Barbarigo’s mosaics,
added in 1887, which stands beside the Campo San Vio.
Through the bridge of the Accademy you will arrive in front of the
Galleria dell’Accademia, which is unquestionably
the most extraordinary collection of Venetian art in the world.
Works range from 14th-century
View from Accademy bridge |
Gothic to the Golden Age of the 15th and 16th centuries, including
oils by Giovanni Bellini, Giorgione, Titian, and Tintoretto, and
superb later works by Veronese and Tiepolo. Don't miss the rooms
containing views of 15th- and 16th-century Venice by Vittore Carpaccio
and Giovanni Bellini's brother Gentile – look at them to see
how little the city has changed since then.
Near the Accademy two other important collections: the Peggy Guggenheim
Collection and the Cini Collection. The Peggy Guggenheim Collection
is the most important museum in Italy for European and American
art of the first half of the 20th century. It is located in Peggy
Guggenheim's former home, Palazzo Venier dei Leoni, on the Grand
Canal. Opened in 1951 by the niece of Solomon R Guggenheim, wealthy
American industrialist and art collector, the museum presents Peggy
Guggenheim's personal collection of 20th century art, masterpieces
from the Gianni Mattioli collection, the Nasher Sculpture Garden,
as well as temporary exhibitions.
Canal Grande |
The Collezione Cini, hosted in the sixteenth-century
palazzo Cini, residence of Count Vittorio Cini, a famous financier
and patron of the arts, who created in the 1951 a distinguished
foundation dedicated to his son Giorgio. On his death in 1977 he
left his exceptional art collections, parts of which were donated
to the Giorgio Cini Foundation in 1984 by his daughter Yana (Venice
1924 - Rome 1989) along with the part of the palazzo which currently
houses the gallery. The antique furnishing and objets d'art on the
first piano nobile recreate the building’s original character
and the personal taste of this great collector.
Peggy Guggenheim's Museum |
On the quay overlooking the Giudecca canal, you will finally find
the Church of Santa Maria della Visitazione, a
small Renaissance church, whose facade relates interestingly to
that of the Gesuati, which was reopened in 1995. Built between 1494
and 1524 by the Order of the Gesuati to replace their oratory of
San Girolamo, the church was dedicated to the Visitation of the
Virgin to her cousin, St Elizabeth, mother of John the Baptist.
After the Gesuati were suppressed in 1668, their successors, the
Dominicans, built a larger church and the Visitazione became a public
library. It reopened as a church in 1825.
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