Carnevale Venice is something everything should see at least once. Scenes like this one you find all over the city with people in elegant costumes doing very normal things like having their morning coffee or on the vaporetto. It is a bit sureal with people in costumes from the 1700 and 1800 centuries texting and…
Category: Venice, Murano
Carnevale Ends with the Flight of the Leone

For those of you who follow VenetianBeadShop, you know that we are in Venice “working” and enjoying Carnevale. The weather has been beautiful, warmer than usual. Today is the closing and it ends with the flight of the Leone. When I first went to Carnevale, I thought someone dressed as a lion would slideup the…
Redentore 2017
Redentore 2017 Venice Celebrating the End of the Plague by blogvenice • July 24, 2017 • 0 Comments The end of the plague is always a cause for celebration, even if it ended in 1576. And fortunately, for all of us, the Doge Alvise Mocenigo kept his promise and built the magnificent Church of the Redeemer aka Il Redentore which…
Glass Conference in Murano and Fashion Show

The island of Murano was host to the GAS (Glass Art Society) with world wide participation. Everyone who works with glass paid tribute to the heritage of Murano. This week it was evident and the pure joy and excitement of the students of glass as they wandered around the island was abundantly obvious. While I…
Abate Zanetti in Murano – Technical School

Murano has converted the Abate Zanetti School of Glass into a technical institute. Abbot Vincenzo Zanetti founded the school in 1826 as a design school for the glass workers of Murano, fought to improve the living and working conditions on the island and pay standards. It continues to offer glass classes attended by blowers and bead makers from…
Not Just a Gondola
Every day in Venice is a new adventure. Early morning walks before the tourist arrive are the best. I met Massimo one morning and discovered his wonderful project, along with others to teach disadvantaged youth skills and support fair trade. The gondola, a symbol of Venice, is also a symbol of a future for these…
Accidental Residents at Ca’ Rezzonico
The history of Ca’Rezzonico has recorded several famous residents in the beautiful palazzo along the Grand Canal. It was home Robert Browning, Cole Porter rented it and now it has new occupants, abandoned by their owners, but taken in.
The New Plague of Venice – Illegal Vendors
Venice has battled the plague more than once in it’s history. Arriving on the boats in the harbor of Venice, the merchants brought disease which killed large numbers of the population. Today’s plague and pestilence is a different kind, the abusive, illegal vendors who badger the tourist selling bags, selfi sticks, toys and feed for…
Visit Venice 2015 Tips
Read our BlogVenice and learn about how to get to Venice from the airport, buy your boat passes, what’s going on and more. It promises to be a big year for tourist with some 20-30 million visitors, many coming to Italy for Expo2015 and then heading to Venice. There will be a record number of cruise ships…
Celebrating the 70th Anniversary of the Liberation of Italy
Venice had many reason to celebrate, not the least of which was that the Allies did not damage any buildings in Venice. Lead by RAF Captain Westlake, the precision strike was successful. Tribute is paid to the Italian Resistance who were so essential in the success. Read full blog!