Picture of the Week
2011



We start this new section where every week a different picture will be showcased. Occasionally, there will be a second picture for you to identify.

The answer will be posted the following week, but if you do not want to wait, you can always e-mail me at:
                         sestiere@aloverofvenice.com
(your e-mail address will not be published or shared)

Home
 San Polo Picture of the Week 2010
Cannaregio
 Santa Croce Picture of the Week 2012
Castello San Marco Picture of the Week 2013
Madonna della Misericordia
 Christmas in Venice Picture of the Week 2014
Snow-Covered Venice
 Signs, Banners and Graffiti Picture of the Week 2015
Cast in Stone
 External Links Picture of the Week 2016
Summertime Venice and the Eastern Mediterranean Picture of the Week 2017
Most Serene Places My Favorites Picture of the Week 2018
Dorsoduro Picture of the Week Picture of the Week 2019



December 10, 2011




A touching love letter to Venice by FKY that I'd like to share with everybody.
Thanks Annie for sharing it with me. Here is the link:

http://vimeo.com/32740428
December 3, 2011

Two wintery views from the Fondamente Nove








Here is a tough one. Can you find this sotoportego?
I thought that a scene from Summertime was filmed here but upon close
inspection I realized that it wasn't. It's in Cannaregio. One of my most
treasured reference books on Venice, Calli, Campielli e Canali, at least
in its fourth edition, has this place marked as a Calle and not as a Sotoportego.
The only mistake, as far as I know, in this otherwise totally reliable reference.
You can go through the sotoportego if you travel with Venice Connected.
Answer


November 27, 2011

Cannaregio





Can they go under this bridge at high tide? Answer


November 20, 2011

Masters of Venice
Renaissance Painters of Passion and Power

This is the title of a wonderful exhibition that came to San Francisco from the Kunsthistorisches Museum in Vienna.
The City by the Bay has been bestowed the privilege of being the only city where this extraordinary collection of works
by Venetian painters will be exhibited outside Vienna. Works by Titian, Veronese, Mantegna and Giorgione, among
others, make for a cohesive and luminous show. Even the Tintorettos in this collection are brilliant. To me, however,
three of the most breathtaking pieces are two Giorgiones: "The Three Philosophers" and "Youth with an Arrow," and
above all, the overwhelming "Christ with the Cross" by the little-known Veneto artist, Pordenone. There is something
inscrutable in Christ's gaze as he looks back over his right shoulder. It's not sorrow, it's not condemnation, it's not judgment,
it's not compassion but it has some elements of all those emotions. What makes this painting so moving is not only the
modern expression of the beardless Christ, but also its real-life size. He faces us human and approachable.



If you are in San Francisco you can visit the exhibition at the De Young Museum
in the Golden Gate park until February 12, 1012, or you will have to wait
until it returns to Vienna.
November 12, 2011

Ponte del Prefetto, Santa Croce


The mystery "herb" from last week's picture has been nailed, thanks to Annie's keen eye.
Can you spot the tiny strawberries?


Can you go through this open door? The chalet is the clue. Answer


November 5, 2011

What looks like a gardenia plant, basil, two kinds of sage and an unknown herb.
Treasures in plain sight by a restaurant door near chiesa dei Frari, San Polo.


October 29, 2011

Zacaria's, across from La Fenice, San Marco, 1920. Many years ago, when I first discovered it,
it was on Campo San Provolo.
The owner makes one-of-a-kind frames, bookmarks, miniature libraries.





Do you know where to go to ride this little horse? The horse itself is the clue. Answer

October 22, 2011

One of my favorite spots: Bar ai Miracoli, Campo Santa Maria Nova, Cannaregio.




This is a tough one. Can you find these unique windows? They are in a hidden court on your way from Dorsoduro to
San Polo. Answer


October 16, 2011




Can you find this vera da pozzo? It's one of the few that comes in pairs. It can be seen in de' Barbari's map
(this probably won't hep much.) Answer


October 8, 2011

When it comes to naming streets, Venetians like to keep their options open.
These are two of my favorites.

Near San Beneto


Near San Tomà




A place not to do it. Where are we? Answer


October 1, 2011

The sweet side of Venice. Campo Santi Filippo e Giacomo, Castello.


September 24, 2011

Lazy morning in Campiello Piave, Madonna de l'Orto, Cannaregio.



Domenico Cimarosa was an Italian composer (1749-1801) born near Naples. His masterpiece, the opera
"Il Matrimonio Segreto," opened in Vienna in 1792. Although he achieved great success in his lifetime, he died destitute
in Venice in 1801. A plaque remembers the place where he lived and died. Do you know where? Answer


September 2, 2011

Rio de San Lorenzo meets Rio de San Giovanni Laterano, Castello.


Photo credit: Vern, a Hoosier in Venice

August 27, 2011

Late summer light on the Grand Canal





Come say hello... I'm not that far away. Answer


August 20, 2011

Madonna della Misericordia protecting Venice.
Workshop of Giovanni Ferro, artigiani, glass.
Ferro e Cimegotto, Calle Seconda dei Saoneri,
San Polo, 2672 a/b.
August 12, 2011

There is something about this picture that a single adjective cannot capture.

"San Rocco" by Bartolomeo Vivarini (1480),
Church of Sant' Eufemia, Giudecca.
Read the wonderful article about the Church of Sant' Eufemia in Annie's blog
August 16 is Saint Roch's day.





Do you know where these shadows are cast? Viva Vittorio Emanuele...Answer

August 7, 2011

Early morning on Rio de la Fornace, Dorsoduro.




Can you find this hidden court? Answer

July 29, 2011

Let's imagine a world where the laundry should match the color of the house
Campiello del Squero by Campazzo San Sebastiano, Dorsoduro.




Pardon the fuzziness, but can you identify this cupola topper? You've seen it, but don't be too quick to guess. Answer

July 23, 2011

Another Venice
Fondamenta dei Tabacchi, Santa Croce.


July 16, 2011

Camels in San Moisè... Elephants in the Piazza...
Well, in fact not everyone agrees that the animals on the façade of San Moisè are truly camels. Lorenzetti calls them "fantastic
animals" and Jan Morris  "queer dromedaries" that "seem to have the heads of turtles." To me they are  just Venetian Camels,
part of Venice's unique bestiary, or a lost branch of evolution. The elephant in the Piazza also belongs to this category.





Let's not forget that today's was the most cherished of all Venetian feasts, the Festa del Redentore. A celebration that brings
the people of Venice together. Many congregate on boats in the Bacino di San Marco, to eat, drink and watch the fireworks
but many more do it along the Riva.
Today the Castellani, more specifically those who live around Via Garibaldi, have one less reason to celebrate.
Numerous foreign megayachts have been granted permission to moor by the Via dei Sette Martiri blocking the view of the Bacino
and the fireworks and relegating the Castellani to a second row. Watch their video called Vergogna (Shame on you) aimed at
the authorities.
July 9, 2011

Lost in Venice...



Only one thing is more exhilarating that getting lost in Venice and finally finding one's way.
It's finding again that unexpected but magical spot that we accidentally discovered when we got lost.

Poet Rainer Maria Rilke and his faithful companion and tour guide, Princess Marie von Thurn und Taxis,
a Venice native, knew this too well. Much to the embarrassment of the Princess, they got lost on their way from San Zaccaria
to Santa Maria Formosa. This is how the Princess describes the episode:

"One fine morning we were on our way to the Stampalia Gallery and Santa Maria Formosa. I knew that Santa Maria
Formosa was not far from San Zaccaria, and must be quite near Riva del [sic] Schiavoni. So we started by taking the
vaporetto (alas, the gondolas are becoming rarer and rarer!) and then walked on. A friendly little old man, who was
roasting chestnuts, showed us the direction to go in, 'and then straight on!' Naturally, we should have gone in the opposite
direction and soon we lost our way in a labyrinth of streets, passages, bridges and sottoportici; a disgrace for a native of
Venice like myself! Then suddenly we found ourselves in a very strange, completely unknown spot. A long street, which
was not really what we call a 'calle' in Venice, with a small fountain at either end, very high, large houses on both sides -sad,
bare houses, devoid of the grotesque ornaments and open-work on the windows, that abounds in the poorer quarters of
Venice, and above all silence -a silence so deep that it seemed to be a legacy from time immemorial and which was further
intensified by the shrill notes of a flute, on which someone was playing an interminable, Eastern melody. We both stood still
and looked around us with the same sense of uncanny oppression, staring at the decaying pavement, from which grass was
sprouting (grass in Venice!), the silent, poverty-stricken houses with their closed doors and barred windows, behind which
no face appeared, the deserted street. Far and wide there was not a sound to be heard except the strange monotonous
complaint of the flute [...] In vain we looked for the name of the street, which is normally always written up. I believe we
shall never find that spot again, never again hear the little flute's long-drawn-out Eastern melody quavering through the
empty streets. We often discussed the episode. Rilke always insisted that in spite of all his searching he was never again
able to find that weird street."

[From Princess Marie von Thurn und Taxis, Memoirs of a Princess, trans. Nora Wydenbruck]

July 2, 2011

Summer rain. Calle del Pistor and Campielo de l'Anconeta, Cannaregio.





Where can you find this happy little fellow?Answer


June 25, 2011

Palazzo Corner Mocenigo, Campo San Polo




One door for the living, one door for the dead.
Giovanni Corner who lived here until his death in 1799, had one door for daily use and the other to let the dead out.





Guess from where this picture was taken...Dorsoduro? San Marco?
...Dorsoduro!!  Answer


June 18, 2011

Alexander the Great ascending to Heaven. Basilica de San Marco, North façade.
Byzantine style relief, 10th century.

According to legend, Alexander harnessed two starving griffins to his chariot and enticed
them with meat pierced to his lances (seemingly two rabbits in this
relief) to fly him to Heaven to take a peek at all things celestial.
An angel intercepted him and asked him why he wanted to see Heaven when he did not yet understand
the things of this Earth. He came back.
This Byzantine story reminds us of the futility of presumptuousness.
June 11, 2011

Church of Santi Giovanni e Paolo, Chapel of the Rosary.

The beautiful dossals in walnut wood, depicting scenes from the life of Christ and Mary, were originally
at the Scuola della Carità. They are the work of Giocomo Piazzetta (father of the painter Giambattista Piazzetta)
from the end of the 17th century. The chapel was damaged by fire in 1867 and restored to its former glory
in the 20th century.

June 26 is the day of Saints John and Paul, two brothers, two soldiers, two martyrs, two saints (4th century).





Where are we? Answer


June 4, 2011

Festa della Sensa is June 5

Church of San Nicolò al Lido




Do you know where to find this wrought iron overpass? Answer


May 28, 2011

It's a boy!




Where are we? Answer




May 21, 2011

Only in Venice: Window at Campo San Zaccaria



May 14, 2011

Campo San Polo





If you've seen it, you would surely remember it. It's in Castello, not in China. Answer


May 7, 2011

Ex-Molino Stucky, today a Hilton hotel.





Do you know where to find these graffiti that mentions the big freeze of 1864, when it was possible to
walk from Venice to San Michele? Answer


April 30, 2011

Salizada San Canzian




Do you know where to find this sotoportego? Answer


April 23, 2011



Don't forget, April 25 is Saint Mark's day!

April 16,  2011

Casa Bepi, Burano

This colorful house is the brainchild of Giuseppe Toselli, Bepi, who was born and died in this house (1920-2002).
The new owners have restored the façade but kept Bepi's original designs.





Do you know where to find this eroded "Daniel and the Lions"? Answer


April 9,  2011

Another Venice
Gardens of Ca' Zenobio, Fondamenta del Soccorso, Dorsoduro.
The loggia at the end of the garden was built by Tommaso Temanza, who also built the church of
La Madalena in Cannaregio, in 1777 and housed the Zenobio family library. Today it is the Armenian Culture Study Center
and Archive.
The palazzo belongs to the Armenian Mechitarist community and houses the Collegio Armeno. It is also a guest house.
It can be visited  during the Biennale.





Where can we go for a bike ride? Answer


April 2, 2011

A different reflection. Sacca de la Toletta. Dorsoduro.





Where are we? Answer



March 26, 2011

After being scorned several times for trying to take a picture or for just thinking of taking one (I guess the attendant could read
my intention in my eyes) last time I visited the church of Santa Maria dei Miracoli, it was open season for photography.
 I wish I had had a better camera with me that day. Here is the Annunciation, probably by Tullio Lombardo.




Do you know where to find this sad lion? Hint: He was in hiding for a very long time. Answer


March 19, 2011

According to legend, Venice was founded by Paduans on Friday, March 25 (the day of the Annunciation), at noon, in the year 421 in the
heart of the Rialto by raising up the church of San Giacomo. Coincidentally, this year March 25 also falls on a Friday.
Happy 1590 anniversary, Venice!
March 12, 2011

No sign in the Piazza indicates its name, except for this very  faded one on the arches of the Procuratie Nove.
"Piazza di San Marco" can be barely made out.





Do you know where I quack? Answer


March 5, 2011

Corte del Teatro San Moisè, San Marco.
Nearby the old Teatro San Moisè where Rossini at the age of 18 presented his first opera, "The Marriage Contract,"
on November 3, 1810 and where the first public cinematographic projection in Venice by the Lumière brothers took
place on July 9, 1896.


February 25, 2011

Another Venice
Ponte del Campo di Marte on Rio de Santa Marta, between Santa Croce and Dorsoduro


Can you find this private bridge? A clue is in the light and the building on the right (picture taken at midmorning). Answer


February 19, 2011

Winter morning in Campo S. S. Giovanni e Paolo


February 12, 2011

Coca-Cola in Venice




Following Luigi Bona's favorite theme -see Annie's picture (February 4, 2011) and Picture of the Week below (April 30, 2010): more
Coca-Cola in Venice. This time on Salizzada San Samuele, San Marco, and an old photograph above the door of the American Bar
in the Piazza.

For all those Argentines out there, remember the irreverent and totally politically incorrect song from the 70's,
Jorge Schussheim's homage of sorts to the cultural ubiquity of Coca-Cola?

Coca-Cola refresca mejor
Coca-Cola elimina el dolor
Coca-Cola, querida señora,
es el símbolo perfecto del amor.


Coca-Cola refreshes best
Coca-Cola gets rid of the pain
Coca-Cola, dear ma'am,
is the perfect symbol of love. (*)

(*) because the shape of the bottle resembles the female body

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=srdK9g7BwRM


Can you find this solitary corner? Answer


February 5, 2011

Ammonite fossil in the Piazza. If you are able to recall an interesting, but often unnoticed feature of the Piazza, you would
probably be able to guess the exact location of the fossil. It's not at the base of a pole, column, by the Molo or the piazzette.
It is at the corner of the Ala Napoleonica and the Procuratie Vecchie. The often unnoticed feature of the Piazza is that the Ala
Napoleonica and the Procuratie Nuove are a few steps above the ground level of the Procuratie Vecchie.



These two almost identical images of the Madonna are in distant corners of the city. One comes with a small clue.
Where are they? Answer



January 29, 2011




Can you locate this hidden treasure? Answer


January 22, 2011




You've seen them a hundred times. Where are these hand-made Venetian shades? Answer



January 14, 2011

San Gregorio, beginning of the snowfall

January 4, 2011