The Marco Polo Library is a small shop hidden behind the Rialto Bridge, a paradise for travelers. There are some titles of literature, but most are maps and travel books, especially of Venice, you can find them in several languages. It also has an interesting selection of books on Venetian cuisine and the owners are friendly and accessible. They have another establishment in Cannaregio street devoted to used books, where you can exchange your own books.

The Acqua Alta Library (Lunga Santa Maria Formosa Street 5176) is located in the Castello district and is one of the most beautiful ones in the world. A gondola full of books presides the store, occasional cats rest among the mountains of books of timeless atmosphere, always a great feature that distinguishes a good bookstore. It specializes in new and used books related to Venice , and its owner, Luigi Frizzo, is a nice and friendly Venetian who loves his craft. Its back door opens directly onto the channel, so if you go by boat, you can access the library from the water!

The Edittrice Filippi Library (http://www.libreriaeditricefilippi.com/) is hidden in the medieval streets of Paradisio, dating from the XIII Century, this book store is the oldest one on the island. Books on architecture, photography, poetry, theater etc. mingle with the common denominator of Venice as the main issue, it is also a shop to find curious and out of print titles,  an ideal place for scholars and lovers of Venice.

Being Venice, you could not miss on the island a library dedicated to nautical themes, Mare di letter a cozy little shop in Santa Croce. All that has to do with the sea and the Venetian lagoon is here: charts, maps, history books of the lagoon and gondolas, etc.. It is also a publisher and has published a CD of old songs of the gondoliers and sailors of the lagoon.

To end this particular bookshop trip ,the Alberto Bertoni Library is one of the oldest in Venice, an excellent choice for people who love to rummage through used books to find a treasure. New books are discontinued and are sold at half price, an excellent opportunity to find art or rare books and old ones for much less than their true value. It has two stores, the oldest has been on Mandola Street since 1935 and the second one opened in 1999 and is located in Calle dei Fabbri, near the Piazza San Marco.

Elena Alvarez

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The list of Disney youth includes: Demi Lovato, Britney Spears, Miley Cyrus (Hannah Montana), the Jonas Brother, Justin Bieber, Selena Gómez, Christina Aguilera and many others that are not as famous. They entered the business when Disney was in crisis but had discovered that the secret to a recovery was in the market for youth aged 6 to 14. One study found that this group was Puritan, simple-minded and highly consumerist. From these characteristics they created products that met these guidelines, arriving at the Disney kids: teenagers who subscribe to virginity and abstain from alcohol and drugs while spending 24/7 in their appropriate dress, hairstyle and make-up, as determined by laboratory marketing, and having romantic relationships regulated by the industry.

On top of all this, there are the grueling tours during which they are isolated and guarded by bodyguards, diets to maintain their somewhat child-like figures, the anxiety of trying to stay at the top, the hard work of filming, photo sessions and interviews. It is understandably exhausting.

Miley Cyrus, who has separated from Disney, was known for her fondness of drugs and alcohol. Her biggest public scandal, which made the Disney executives sweat bullets, came after Annie Liebovitz took art photography of her for Vanity Fair in 2008. In them, she appeared nude and semi-covered with a sheet sporting a provocative look at a time when she was known for her role in Hannah Montana. Cyrus was forced to publicly apologize to her fans, saying she had been deceived by the magazine.

The most dramatic case is that of Demi Lovato. She has frequently been in the middle of sentimental scandals, alleged porn videos, accusations of backstage licentiousness, and leaks about drug use, depression and eating disorders that have disrupted some presentations. But what can you expect from a young woman whose own mother discusses her daughter’s lovers with the press?

Another one who has been caught up in scandals involving excess alcohol is Justin Bieber. In March, he was caught in an embarrassing jealous scene with Selena Gomez at a restaurant inMiami. Because there was such an uproar and because of his deplorable state, his bodyguards had to take them into an alley to continue the fight without witnesses.

Britney has had so many scandals that is hard to list them. But all have been triggered by the serious psychological problems stemming from fame at such a young age.

For more information: http://www.diariocritico.com/ocio/2011/Febrero/cronicarosa/252439/demi-lovato-fotos-eroticas-subidas-tono.html

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La Bohème was represented for the first time in 1896 at Teatro Regio in Turin, and it quickly became popular around Europe. During the 20th century it carried on enjoying plenty of international popularity and it was still essential in opera repertoires. It has been the subject of various musical adaptations, derived operas, stories and films. It’s an opera of four acts based on the novel Scenes de la vie bohème by Henry Murger, a story about the life of four young bohemians from the Latin Quarter in Paris in the 1840s. Almost all the booklet, created by Giuseppe Giacosa and Luigi Illica, is original and it tells the love story of Mimi, a seamstress, and a poet called Rodolfo in 1830s Paris. Both fall in love at first sight and begin a relationship, but Rodolfo leaves her for flirting with other men. Later on, Rodolfo discovers that Mimi is gravely ill. The representation at La Fenice will be directed by Daniele Callegari and the character of Rodolfo will be played by the Italian tenor Gianluca Terranova and the soprano Kristin Lewis will play Mimi.

La Fenice is a neoclassic theatre that opened its doors for the first time in 1792. It was the last of the eight theatres built in Venice during the second half of the 18th century and it soon become a world reference, premiering the most important operas in Italy, such as La Traviata, Attila, Rigoletto or Simon Boccanegra to name but a few. Rossini, Verdi and Bellini were regular collaborators of the theatre. In its long history, it’s experienced closures, renovations and fires, the latest one in 1996, which made it close until late 2003. For the latest inauguration, they represented Wagner, Beethoven and Stravinsky. The reconstruction was made by the architect Aldo Rossi, who maintained the original structure of the 19th century.

It’s a building that’s definitely worth visiting, with a magnificent decoration and an impressive historical archive. You can go on guided tours inside it too. For information on these tours and for early bird tickets for La Bohème, you can visit the official theatre website (in Italian and English) here: http://www.teatrolafenice.it/dettaglio_spettacolo.php?IDSpettacolo=610

Address: San Marco 4387, 30124, Venice. Metro Line 1, Santa Maria del Giglio.

Timetables: Tours go from 9.30am until 6pm every day. La Bohème will have sessions at 3.30pm and 7pm.

Prices: Tours with audioguide cost 8€ and concessions 5.50€. The guided tour includes a typical Venetian aperitif and it costs 39€ plus VAT. Tickets for La Bohème start at 80€. 

Elena Alvarez

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Late in the afternoon (from 18h), it is best to go and take the bacari and d’ombra route (the equivalent of Spanish tapas). There are  typical Venetian bars, with traditional decor, serving wine glasses with different snacks. We suggest you start at the Piazza San Marco and scroll through the bars one by one, the custom is not to stay very long in any given place.

During the early hours of the night, head to the Castello area, which has a concentration of Irish pubs, with interesting options like the Inishark Venezia Irish Pub , where you can buy European beers and Irish whiskey, dinner, watch sporting events and hear  live music in a relaxed and international atmosphere. The Innshark Venice is the only one that offers free wifi access.

The areas with the greatest nightlife are located around the University Ca ‘Foscari, where numerous students and local artists meet. The areas of Santa Margherita, Strada Nuova and the Rialto Bridge is where you will find the bars that open until the wee hours.

Starting from Santa Margherita in Dorsoduro around the street you have several interesting features: pubs like Margareth Duchamp, or Capo Horn, with its pirates tavern decoration , The Green and Orange Pub ,is  the newest one, a lounge bar with a resident DJ. If you prefer the clubs, on the street you have the club Contarini Corfu Piccolo Mondo, perfect for dancing house.

Strada Nuova, Cannaregio is probably the most lively and bohemian area in Venice. In the area known as the Ghetto (streets around the  Fondamenta della Misericordia) is where there is more diversity, ethnic restaurants, pubs and bars such as Paradiso Perduto. One of the most bohemian and a favorite places of artists and students, as well as serving simple and homemade food, they schedule concerts, poetry readings, art exhibitions…etc… you never know what you will find at this place. In Cannareggio Street, near the train station, the club Casanova is found, it is the most frequented one by Erasmus students.

The pubs close around 1:30 or 2 am and for night owls there are few more options . The best is to go to Club Malvasia Vecchia, near the theater La Fenice, a private club unknown to tourists, which admits only members (to do this, simply pay a fee of 15 €). It offers moderately priced drinks and good music and dancing until 4 am

Elena Alvarez

To enjoy the Venetian nightlife, it’s best to book one of our apartments in Venice and you will be able to roam the island freely, without worrying about schedules.

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TheRialtoBridgewas one of the first bridges inVenicethat was built with stone and it was the only route to cross the canal for a long time. It took some 40 years to build and was finished in 1591. Until that point in time all of the bridges of the island were made of wood. Take a break there to admire the unforgettable views of theGrand Canal. When you cross the bridge, you will arrive in San Polo.

Just a few steps away from the bridge you will find thechurchofSan GiacomodiRialto. Although there are many churches in the neighborhood, this one has the distinction of being the first church inVenice. It is believed to be from the year 421 B.C. and, curiously, the face of its clock shows 24 hours instead of the usual 12. Nearby is the Rialto Market, the principal market ofVenicesince 1097. The market, which takes place every morning except Sunday, sells fresh goods. It offers an excellent opportunity to get a glimpse of the daily life of Venetians and to try the delicious local products such as cheese, seafood, fresh pasta or typical sweets. Don’t miss the chance to try the purple artichokes from Sant’Erasmo, the radicchio fromTrevisoor the asparagus from Vignoles, which are all authentic delicacies to tempt the palate.

Another major attraction in San Polo is the Basilica deSanta MariaGloriosa dei Frari (St. Mary of the Friars Basilica). It is located in the southern part of the neighborhood and boasts an impressive Gothic façade. At over 80 meters, its bell tower is the second largest inVeniceafter the Basilica di San Marco (St. Mark’s Basilica). Inside, one can see magnificent panels by Titian and Bellini’s “Madonna and Child with Saints”. Nearby, in the Piazza San Rocco, you can make a stop at theChurchofSan Roccoand the Scuola Grande di San Rocco, which have numerous works by Tintoretto.

In the northern part of the neighborhood, you will find the Ca’Persaro modern art museum, which is located in the imposing palace of the familyPesaro, about which you can also read on our blog. Close by and no less impressive is the Palazzo Mocenigo, the luxurious residence of the family that shares its name. Today, it houses the city’sCostumeMuseumand holds a valuable library with more than 5,000 books, which is open to the public. And finally, there’s also theMuseumofNatural Historynearby.

More information: http://www.veniceclick.net/Pages/Venice/Guide-Venice/sPolo.htm

Elena Alvarez

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La Punta della Dogana

The repurposed old Venetian customs house known as Punta della Dogana has an industrial air without having ever been so and a history rife with trade. It is a triangular-shaped building which opens on two sides to the waters of the canal and is attached at the base to the Palazzo Grassi. After its restoration, the building has been used as an exhibition space. It’s high, thick walls now serve as the backdrop for the collections of the multimillionaire Pinault.

All of the exhibitions are curated by Caroline Bourgeois and take many months to organize. This is due in part to the complexity in mounting and managing the works, since many of the installations and sculptures are of such a large scale and made of such diverse materials that they are difficult to move.

In Praise of Doubt

That is the name of the exhibition currently on display which runs until the end of the year. For it, a variety of works was selected from all over the world that raise questions about what is like to be changeable, about the relationship of man in a liquid environment, about the limits of transformation and something as slippery as the adaptability or the capacity of survival when the world begins such dizzying changes that a panic breaks loose.

Caroline Bourgeois has chosen not only which works are included but also the location and placement of each in the exhibition, so that each poses a question about the following and the entirety becomes a dialogue with the spectator-viewer. If we stop to view the installations by Chinese artist Chen Zhen, we may see a visual tour of the five continents of our planet or an ironic look at women as icons and objects for marketing or for sexual satisfaction (symbolized, for example, by the Barbie Doll), which references the work of North American artist Paul McCarthy. The show closes with art projects that examine the role ofVeniceas a catalyst for avant-garde art expressions over the centuries.

The artists exhibited there are very much contemporary artists – the majority of the artists were born after 1940 and some are not yet even 35 years old. As a result, it offers a unique opportunity to see what is happening in the worldwide contemporary art scene. Here is the link to the exhibition, which also has information about how to purchase tickets: http://www.palazzograssi.it/en/exhibition/in-praise-of-doubt

Candela Vizcaíno

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Today, the options to find a partner are many. However, there are some details that you must bear in mind before using a dating page, which are known as online dating services. Before choosing the webpage that you’re going to use, check some forums and webpages related to the subject of finding a partner online, because they can give you better information on the quality of the services of these webpages and, possibly, personal accounts of couples that have met through these services. Despite the fact that some of these pages are presented as free, most of them will ask for a registration fee, as well as other payments according to the benefits or services that you want to access. Take into account that it’s important to be honest with the information that you use to complete your profile on these websites, as well as the photograph that you use to present yourself. Update your profile on these pages with real activity photos, that show you as a secure and confident person. There’s nothing more attractive than projecting yourself as confident in a photograph.

Among some of the most efficient pages to find a couple, we recommend Badoo.com, Meetic.com, Match.com and Eharmony.co.uk, which are among the most popular ones right now. However, you can find all sorts of options on the internet according to your sexual preferences, age and even fetishes. If you’re gay, for example, you can explore the webpages PrideDating.com, Gay.com and ManCrunch.com. For lesbians, LesbianRomance.com and PinkCupid.com among others. There are even pages to find love among older people, such as SeniorDatingAgency.com; love has no age, especially on the internet. When choosing the page that’s more convenient for you, you can also look for pages in other countries and languages, if what you’re looking for is meeting someone from somewhere else in the world with a different culture to yours. In love, like in war, everything is permitted, so don’t hesitate to find your partner with some of the webpages we’ve recommended.

Alexa Ray

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Located in the Plaza de San Marcos, it offers magnificent views of the Grand Canal and the lagoon and its facade changes color according to fluctuation in the intensity of daylight. Currently, its use is cultural and has become a museum, not only for its wealth and interesting rooms in classic style, but also because it regularly houses exhibits and has a magnificent collection of works form artists like Tintoretto, Titian, Bellini and Veronese .

To visit the palace, you can choose the traditional route or an alternative route that includes the most secret rooms. Both are interesting and  if you have the time a great idea is to do both,

In the traditional route, you will see the Museum dell’Opera, with archaeological remains of the original construction of the building, the rooms of the College, the High Council chamber (where the world’s largest oil painting stands, Paradise, painted by Tintoretto) and the residence of the Doge (chief minister). To access the latter, go up the Scala d’Oro (Golden Staircase). Inside the apartment, you can see works of art by Titian and other Italian painters, the route passes through the famous Bocca di Leone, where the Venetians deposited anonymous complaints against suspected neighbors .

The secret itinerary is a guided tour that must be booked in advance. It is done every morning at set times, in English, French or Italian, and in small groups. We visit the most secret rooms of the palace: the Board of Ontario, which explains how the government is administratively organized in Venice, officials rooms where judicial decisions were made, and crossing the Bridge of Sighs, so named because it was part of the road which sentenced to death crossed before they were executed. You also get to see the dungeons. there, you can see the torture chamber where prisoners were interrogated, and the cells that held the famous Casanova. It is an ideal visit to help you understand how the political and administrative system in the island works, along with interesting stories of Venice which the guide shares with the visitors.

Address: Plaza de San Marcos 52

Hours: 8:30 to 17:30 November to March and from 8:30 to 19 from April to October (open up to an hour before closing).

Prices: There is a single ticket for 16 euros, which gives access to all the museums of St. Mark’s Square and includes the Ducal Palace. The secret route has an additional charge of 20 euros. Both can be purchased online at http://www.vivaticket.it/festival.php?id=629&op=museiCivici&change_language=1

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You can start your journey in the church of San Michele in Isola, the first Renaissance building in Venice, designed by architect Mauro Codussi, key figure in the local architecture. Its façade is of marble from Istria and offers stunning views of the lagoon. The interior is divided into a nave and two islands, beautifully decorated. Passing through a door at the back of the church, you can visit the chapel Capella Emiliani, built years later, which was recently restored.

The church of San Cristoforo della Pace, though more modest than the last, is not without attractive. It was demolished for reconstruction in the XIX Century and has a bright mosaics inside that deserve a visit. The reason there are two churches on the island San Michele is that it is the result of its union in 1836 with neighboring San Cristoforo, the official cemetery of Venice since 1807.

When you reach the cemetery, keep in mind that is divided into multiple sections, so it’s a good idea if you do not have much time to carry a map of it to organize your itinerary. Otherwise, you can wander aimlessly to discover surprises that hide in the original graves. There are areas for the Orthodox, the Catholic, the Evangelical and a Protestant sections as well as curious ones as those dedicated to the gondoliers of Venice, nuns, priests or soldiers.

In the Orthodox area, there is a beautiful garden and you will see the graves of composer Stravinsky, or the one of Sergei Diaghilev, founder of Russian ballet, and members of the Russian nobility and monarchy. In the Bible Belt, lies the poet Ezra Pound. Other graves of famous people that you can visit are those of the famous composer Wolf Ferrari Ermnnano , writer Joseph Brodsky, the adventurer or the Frederick Rolfe and the painter Emma Ciardi.

The newly dead are transferred from Fondamenta Nuove in Venice in a gondola funeral. It is a solemn and moving ritual. If you have the opportunity to witness it, it is not to be missed. At the entrance of the cemetery, you can check the times of upcoming funerals.

Do not forget that the Italians a cemetery is a sacred place of rest, so please be respectful and follow the basic rules of decorum, as to etiquette and behavior.

Getting there: The quickest is to take the vaporetto 4.1 or 4.2 from Fondamenta Nuove and get off at the next stop, Cimitero, in just 5 minutes away.

Hours: The cemetery is open from 7:30 to 16, between October and March, and up to 18 hours from April to September.

Elena Alvarez

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Choosing not to drink may stem from age restrictions or customs and traditions. Health reasons is often stated as one of the most frequently given reasons for not drinking alcohol, and your partner may not want to have his or her body altered. From allergies to liver problems or digestive issues, it is true that alcohol may not be healthy for everyone. Of course, people say that wine is a good for you and helps foster good circulation and heart health. Unfortunately, however, we cannot all drink and eat the same things. Respect your partner’s health choices and agree to choose an option that will be agreeable to him or her.

Other important reasons for abstaining from alcohol could be previous addictions or alcoholism. If your partner has chosen not to drink for this reason, it is important for you to accept and respect this decision and above all, to help his or her recovery. Alcoholism is without a doubt a difficult problem to overcome, perhaps even more so than if he or she were recovering form illegal drugs. Alcohol is a socially accepted drug and available practically everywhere you go, which makes the possibility of relapse very real since it is so very accessible.

On the other hand, your partner may have been told or seen first hand that alcohol can do great damage, or perhaps it is simply against his or her beliefs. Tolerance is important in any relationship, and you should learn to respect the decision of your beloved. Traumatic childhood experiences may be another possible reason for abstaining from alcohol. The emotional and physical state of each person can also be affected by alcohol, depending on the character of the person with whom one is involved. In each of these cases, you should speak with him or her in confidence. In Venice, one can enjoy a variety of non-alcoholic drinks in addition to the excellent wines. This way, your partner can accompany you while you enjoy a cocktail or beer and there’s no need to change your trip.

Alexa Ray

Rent apartments in Venice and enjoy romantic days with your partner in a city that is both magical and beautiful.

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