Venice suffers worst flooding in 22 years

Venice suffers worst flooding in 22 years
Venice suffered its worst flooding in 22 years on Monday as the "acqua alta" (high water) stood more than 1.5 metres deep before beginning to recede in the Renaissance city.
(Photos: Venice hit by floods)
A change in the direction of the wind helped the water start backing down from a high of 1.56 metres, the tide monitoring centre said.

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Authorities had warned that the sea lapping at the lagoon city threatened to rise to 1.60 metres, a 30-year high mark, and warned residents and tourists to stay indoors.
"It's an exceptional acqua alta, and unless you absolutely have to, don't go out," Venice mayor Massimo Cacciari said in a statement.
Nearly all the streets of the city, including the central tourist district, were already under water by mid-morning - the famous Piazza San Marco by 80 centimetres.
Workers set up elevated walkways as sirens and loudspeaker announcements reinforced the alert. Under a new system, warnings and updates were also being sent out by text message.
The tidal centre predicted earlier that floodwater would fall back to normal levels by 7pm (0500 AEDT Tuesday), but said another surge was expected in the early hours of Tuesday local time.
The situation was complicated by a national transport strike affecting the city's "vaporetto" water bus service.
Experts said the surge in the sea level was caused by a combination of persistently high southerly winds and heavy rain and snowfall in northern Italy over the past few days.
The worst incident of acqua alta in Venice came on November 4, 1966, when the city was submerged by 1.94 metres of water amid catastrophic flooding throughout Italy.
More recently, in February 1986, levels reached 1.58 metres above average. The last time the waters passed 1.60 metres was in 1979 when they reached 1.66 metres

from - http://www.smh.com.au/travel/venice-suffers-worst-flooding-in-22-years-20081202-6p7j.html

Off the Brochure Travel Guide: Venice, Italy

Off the Brochure Travel Guide: Venice, Italy
GETTING AROUND
If you really want more for your money, skip the overpriced gondola ride for a more scenic tour on the vaporetto, a water bus that charges a measly €6. Besides the savings of up to €80, you get a view of the entire city center that the gondola rides don't offer
However, for those who really want the experience of riding on the iconic Venetian boat, there is still the traghetti: old gondolas stripped of traditional furnishings and rowed by two oarsmen. These boats travel across the Grand Canal, meaning that the view is not as panoramic as the vaporetto, but it is equally dramatic. Amazingly, only three bridges cross the canal, but you can catch a traghetto at any of its seven stops. The ride costs mere pocket change--about half a euro.
ISLAND OF COLOR
If you desire a different scene, consider taking off to another island near Venice, called Burano. Located seven kilometers north of Venice, Burano is a tiny, relaxed island that is free of cars and full of tightly packed houses. Its intimate and brightly-colored architectural design differs from that of Venice, making it seem worlds away.

To get to Burano, head to Venice's Fondamenta Nuove and take the vaporetto lines 12 or 14. The ride is about 40 minutes long, so make sure you give yourself a day to fully enjoy this place. Try to get the seats on the deck to get a scenic tour while you ride.

A PERSONAL TALE: FELICE ANNO NUOVO, OR … WHEN NOT TO VISIT VENICE

I thought I knew what to expect when celebrating the holidays in Venice. I was wrong.

Things started out nicely. When the sun set on New Year's Eve, my boyfriend and I splurged on our first gondola ride, and it was worth every (expensive) cent. As it turns out, while the city partied, the Grand Canal itself was quiet and uncrowded. All around us, the sunset cast a yellow undertone over the waters and buildings, setting a calm and peaceful scene.

Then we decided to go out for dinner ... what a mistake.

Restaurants were packed with both locals and tourists while hungry crowds impatiently spilled into the streets. When we finally did get a table at Osteria Ca' D'Oro, we got the worst service possible from waiters who tossed out "quality" in favor of "quantity."

Ironically, they spent the first hour rushing us through our meal and then made us wait 40 minutes for the check. Fortunately, the manager was so hassled and overworked that when we voiced our complaints, he let us go without paying the bill. But free meal or not, it wasn't worth the frustration of dining on New Year's Eve in Venice.

We made another blunder by making our way to Piazza San Marco at 11:30 p.m. Though it started off joyously as we followed a train of revelers through the city's narrow streets, things quickly came to a grinding halt.

When we finally reached the edge of the Piazza, we could go no further. Packed in like sardines, I could only stand helplessly while getting elbowed in the head in the crowd. Before the countdown had even started, people became increasingly agitated, until someone decided to pop a cork and spray the crowd with champagne. That's when a small riot broke out.

Needless to say, my boyfriend and I got out of that mess as quickly as we could and enjoyed slivers of fireworks from the safe distance of our room.

By Sheena Pantaleon for PeterGreenberg.com.

Visiting Venice in the Off-Season

Visiting Venice in the Off-Season
By DAVID G. ALLAN

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I travel a lot but have never to been to Venice, mainly because I am fearful, as I have heard, that it is always so crowded with tourists. I can travel whenever I want and the weather doesn’t concern me at all. I was thinking of late November and early December as those seem to be times when the travel season is the lowest and you can get the best fares.

William Yeago,
Paris

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“In my book, anytime in Venice off-season is good, if you don’t care about the weather,” Mary Billard wrote in an email to me. Ms. Billard wrote about visiting the city in her story “Breathing More Easily Without the Throngs” (Dec. 19, 2004), confirming your fears of summer crowds ruining the experience and adding that hotel prices are slightly lower, making the off-season even more attractive.
She also added, to me, one caveat. The city tends to shut down after New Year’s. In one visit in the second week of January, Ms. Billard found some restaurants closed but also found shopping bargains during this quiet time.
A visit in late November or early December should give you the peace and quiet you seek without any closures. You may even want to plan your visit around the November 21 feast day of Santa della Salute, which Venetians celebrate with enthusiasm and a candle lit procession from the famous church of the same name.

from - http://intransit.blogs.nytimes.com/2007/11/06/visiting-venice-in-the-off-season/

THE BEST OF GAYOT'S ITALY

THAT'S AMOREIl Salvatino
Once serving as a palace in the 15th century, this privately owned villa is now a romantic lovebirds' escape set in the hillsides overlooking the village of Fiesole in Tuscany
RUSTIC COOKINGThe Sorrento Cooking School
Imagine a kitchen filled with the smells of fresh pasta, pizza and much more. Learn how to make Italian classics at home at this cooking school and hotel in Naples.

Venice Carnival

Published by Laura at 8:09 am under Destinations,World Events Agenda



The Venetian Carnival, that was first released in 1296, is an unique mixture of tradition, entertainment, history and transgression in only one city – Venice. The carnival has always drawn very many visitors each year because it is the most important event celebrated here. Going back to its origins, we find out that the Carnival of Venice marks the transition from the cold winter to fresh spring, and due to this fact, everything looks like an illusion, making the poor people look powerful while wearing the specific masks and costumes. Last year’s carnival, that is in 2009, the celebration lasted for 9 days,



 from February 13 to 24 and it was called “Sensation, 6 senses for 6 districts” and it consisted of discovering the charming city together with its atmosphere, an invitation to immerse yourself fully into the emotional experience that only the Venice Carnival can give



However, in the past, the carnival was much bigger that it is now and it included even fights and bear-baiting, bull-fights and secret assignations in gondolas. In its best period, the Carnival lasted from Christmas until Shrove Tuesday and it used to begin only when a government official granted the permission that all social status people may wear masks. Masks were worn by almost everybody: from beggars to nobleman. The program of the Venice Carnival is full of opportunities and fun for all ages, from the Contest for the best mask for children in St. Mark’s Square, to the musical programs provided by ALL MUSIC in Santa Margherita and the Medieval and seventh-century music Concerts in Campo San Barnaba, to the reenactment of historical parades at St. Mark. The richer you were dressed, the better for youThe crowds in St. Mark’s Square routinely comprised Cossacks and Barbary pirates, Chinese mandarins and characters from the commedia



dell’arte. Every winter local businesses do a brisk business hiring out colorful costumes and masks. The Carnival of Venice will last this year from from February 6 to February 16 2010 and the costumes and masks will be in honor of such figures as Mozart and Casanova and Saint Valentine. Despite the fact that this year’s edition is not as opulent as in the past, the Carnival still remains an emblem of Venice. The city’s population often doubles during this period, and the authorities have been known to close the causeway to the mainland when the city becomes too crowded.



The senses the Carnival in 2009 was about included smell, touch, sight etc. In the Santa Croce district you could attend performances at the street theater, dedicated to experiments with the sense of smell. San Paolo district hosted the “sight”. For the young people the evening atmosphere was enlivened with music in the Campo bella Vienna, a few steps from the Rialto Bridge. “Taste” was tried during the food events in the Cannaregio district and “touch” will bring you verym many surprises.

from -http://travel.smart-guide.net/venice-carnival

Is "Al Paradiso" restaurant on San Polo in Venice, Italy still in business?

Is "Al Paradiso" restaurant on San Polo in Venice, Italy still in business?
Hi everyone,

Does anyone know if this restaurant is still in business. Someone on another web site told me they thought it might have closed and an e-mail I send bounced back as undeliverable. It sounds like a good restaurant if anyone knows if it is still in business (might close part of Jan & Feb)?

If not I am hoping for a bistro or trattoria with a prix fixed menu for 1 or 2 nights in Venice, Italy. I am hoping for authentic Italian food for 2 adults (we will try anything once) and a picky 15 year old girl. She will eat plain spaghetti/pasta etc. I would rather eat somewhere where the locals eat rather than an over priced tourist trap restaurant so it doesn't have to necessarily overlook a canal. Any help would be appreciated since this is our first trip to Europe. Thank you.

Business Travel Venice

This page details the largest choice of serviced apartments when looking for Business Travel Venice. Serviced apartments choice offer a spacious, flexible and cost effective housing solution. For stays of a short period of time or a longer stay an Business Travel Venice is a good accommodation when traveling or settling in. A search for Business Travel Venice is often related to the search for flexible and furnished apartments.



-This Apartment completely refurbisched,elegantly furnisched and equipped with all you need for your holiday in Venice. The apartment is located really close to Grand Canal Boat Stop named Ca D'Oro
-The apartment is located in the Dorsoduro neighborhood, near the "Zattere", a splendid walkway that runs along the Giudecca Canal which is considered one of the most exclusive and romantic areas of the city.Within a 5-minute walk you can come to the Guggenheim Museum which hosts one of the most prestigious collections of modern works of art in Italy