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Venice in Three Volumes
An in-depth look at the lifestyle, history, art and architecture of "La Serenissima."
Kate Appleton
Thursday, February 8, 2007;
One of the loveliest things about the hefty new boxed set Venice is the way its 300 color and black-and-white photographs capture a more intimate side of city life. Fishermen repair their nets in an alleyway, businessmen with rolled trousers wade through flooded St. Mark's Square, and friends dine on a boat strung with lanterns.
There are images, too, of Carnival revelers, and author Alain Vircondelet reveals the meaning behind the liberating masks and celebrations which blend the pagan, the religious, and the political.
Venice's biggest party kicks off again tomorrow, with 12 packed days of operas, shows, exhibitions, and good old-fashioned mischief. The city tourism board has put together a downloadable guide to the festivities with a calendar of events and handy tips on getting around and how to save on attractions. The dedicated Carnival website has adopted the slogan "Carnival is Venice" (a quotation from 18th-century dramatist Carlo Goldoni) and also offers a mix of practical and historic information. Good to know, for next year, anyway.
Copyright Alain Vircondelet, Venice, Flammarion, 2006. Available for purchase wherever fine books are sold or by calling 1-800-52BOOKS ($150). For more information, visit rizzoliusa.com.
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