What to see in Venice

From England we have seen emerge some of the most important important bands in the history of music, from The Beatles, The Smiths, Oasis or even Blur. But, later on, closer towards the year 2000, some other ones starting to emerge that are still playing with plenty of success. One of them is Kasabian, who play alternative rock that reminisces brit pop and reaches fans all over the world.

The band began in 1998 when some teenagers from Leicestershire decided to start playing music. Despite that it began in 1998, they didn’t release an album until 2004. The debut was a self-titled album, followed by ‘Empire’ in 2006, ‘West Ryder Pauper Lunatic Asylum’ in 2009 and, finally, at the end of 2011, ‘Velociraptor!’.

Today, the band is led by Tom Meighan on vocals, Serge Pizzorno on guitar, keyboard and chorus, Chris Edwards on the bass and Ian Matthews on the drums. It’s touring around the world to bring their fans their latest hits that are part of ‘Velociraptor!’ that, according to Pizzorno, is the most important album they’ve released yet.

On this occasion Kasabian has a gig programmed close to Venice on the 25th of February, where all their fans can enjoy a great show at the Gran Teatro GEOX, in the city of Padova, some 25 miles from the City of the Canals.

More information:

http://www.granteatrogeox.com/kasabian-padova/

Gran Teatro GEOX: Corso Australia, 55 Padova, Italy

MiLK

If you want to visit one of the most beautiful cities in the world, full of canals that you have to see, museums full of history, amazing monuments and classic Italian restaurants where you can eat the most exquisite food, you just have to rent apartments in Venice and not miss out on this chance.

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Touring a city is not only about watching streets and monuments, try to get lost in avenues and roads, without getting lost you will never discover what the city is really about. A drifting travel route through the city, is perhaps the best way to realize how the city itself is articulated with its inhabitants, what benefits does it offer, what are its restaurants, plazas, cafes and stores made of.

If you are in Venice, of course, the routes along the canals of this city will surely lead you to an unknown location where to relax and above all, where to taste some of the finest wines. In Venice you will find a wide variety of delicious Italian wines, however a long list of international wines will also be at your disposal. Some of the best wine bars of Venice also offer delicious tapas you will love trying with the highest quality of wines. Here are some options for your wine tour in Venice:

Since 1999, the Wine bar Al Prosecco serves some of the best Italian and international wines. Located in Campo San Giacomo da l’Orio, away from the tourist areas of the city, Al Prosecco also features a beautiful and welcoming environment, surrounded by trees. This is a classic and romantic place for you. You can also find regional and national wines, as well as delicious local food.

Vini to Bottegon is another place you have to visit if you are a wine lover. Their exceptional selection of high quality wines, is available to take away or to drink on site. Here you will be able to find wines like Giuseppe Quintarelli at a very good price. Also, you should try the delicious Cod Ciccette, vegetable and meat salads, fresh bread, variety and delight. It is better come here place for lunch, since it closes at 8:00 pm.

Ai Artisti is another good option if you enjoy drinking good wine. This is a cozy and picturesque place where you will also enjoy the best local cuisine based on meat, fish and vegetables. Ai Artisti also pays special attention to traditional flavors and classic Italian wine over other wines. If you want to know in depth the variety of flavors, aromas and textures of Italian wine, this is definitively the place to go.

A wine bar that you can’t miss is Mascareta. Mostly frequented by locals and few tourists, this wine bar also offers delicious fresh fish tapas to make the perfect starter to other typical dishes. The staff is friendly and lively as Venice itself. Nothing better than walking the streets exploring Venice, photographing its canals and valuing its rich culture, food and wine.

Alexa Ray

Get apartments in Venice and enjoy fine wines and the best Italian food. The magic of Venice will catch you, its canals and magnificence certainly make it one of the most romantic cities in Europe.

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Translated by: Hans
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The Transformers saga, from its origin as an animated series, doesn’t stop representing one of the most constant battles between universal good and evil. But, are we sure? No, not exactly. And it’s because Transformers, like many other mass culture products, just persists in violence and sells to the world the hierarchy of certain nations above others, the abuse of power as well as fascism. The plot of Transformers is pretty simple: according to the first version of the cartoons, a group of alien robots arrives to Earth in the middle of a great battle, between the ‘good’, the ‘Autobots’, and the ‘bad’, the ‘Decepticons’. After a crash landing, both sides arrive on Earth to carry on their war in the middle of humanity, which is completely astonished in front of the presence of such aliens.

The problem here is understanding Transformers further than entertainment. In the recent film ‘Transformers 3: Dark of the Moon’, we’re once again in front of an ‘American’ country that has knowledge above the rest, and that discovers in 1969 that, in fact, there’s alien life, and that the space race of that time between the USSR and the USA wasn’t but a reason to reach the discovery of an abandoned ship on the Dark Side of the Moon. Therefore, once again, all search of knowledge is just a cover up for the urgency of acquiring much more political power, which is actually power but hidden, the power of knowledge that’s not shared, that’s not publicised “due to international security measures”.

The war of Transformers isn’t but two big masses of armed, mechanical and futuristic power on a terrain that doesn’t belong to them, which is planet Earth. In this way, the near-apocalyptic devastation that occurs in the cities that are shown in the film, are just the desert or the jungle or the playing field of two great big power dimensions, that confront their power without the slightest interest of their surroundings. In the same way, the Autobots ‘agree’ to protect the human race and ‘liberate’ it from the iron fist of the Decepticons. Again, this has a loophole, and the judge tries to be the true authoritarian, that of justice.

If we could put a face on Megatron or Optimus Prime, the leaders of both sides, the faces of Berlusconi, Bush, Zapatero, Blair, Bin Laden (RIP), Obama, Rasputin, El Duce or whichever other could easily fit these transformable robotic bodies. Of course one must remember that fascism is everywhere and that there isn’t a good or bad side behind the screen, that the search and desire of power hasn’t stopped corrupting the interest of any subject, that the mega world enterprises are those who have control and that this is a corporate reality where ‘beings from other worlds’ don’t stop fighting to solve their own mafias, leaving the citizens to one side. Watch Transformers carefully and think. For more information visit: http://www.transformersmovie.com

Alexa Ray

Pay more attention when you watch a blockbuster movie from Hollywood, there’s always a message between the lines. This summer, get apartments in Venice and watch Transformers.

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Translated by: aleixgwilliam
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It doesn’t send me to sleep exactly, but it doesn’t grab me. I don’t know if this has ever happened to any of you – even though the opera always sounds like a great idea, I have never managed to enjoy a whole show. Somewhere around 40 minutes in, my mind starts to wander and I lose concentration. Maybe its because the story doesn’t surprise me, because I already know what happens, or maybe it’s because I am used to things happening faster, I don’t know. Perhaps its just that I am lacking the sensibilities needed for letting myself get swept away by the magnificent job of the musicians. Maybe. I do enjoy it, but just not from start to finish.

I’m not alone in this problem, and that’s why event organizers have created an alternative – shows in which elements of different works are chosen, and compiled to produce a whole new spectacle – this is the idea behind cultural association Musica a Palazzo which as its name suggests, is dedicated to putting on concerts in palaces.

These concerts perform songs from different well-known operas, interpreted throughout the different parts of the palace, allowing them to incorporate fresh new elements in each one, so that the recitals are never exactly the same. One of the most successful concerts has been “Duetti D’Amore” in which a duo of tenors performs a selection of love-themed extracts from La Boheme, Manon Lescaut, La Traviata and Cavalleria Rusticana. The quality of the interpretation, the proximity of the musicians and the movement from one space to another makes for a dynamic, engaging and truly special concert.

The setting also brings a lot of charm and romance – the Barbarigo Minotto palace was built in the 15th century, its walls are adorned with works of art (Tiepolo, Fontebasso, Mingozzi, Carpoforo, Mazzetti and Tencalla) and enjoys an unparalleled view of Venice’s grand canal. Also, Musica a Palazzo puts on special shows for the national holidays, like New Year, or the Venetian carnivals (a party that you have to go to at least once in your life).

There are lots of projects like this in Venice, and all are aimed at the revitalization of the rich traditions of Italian culture, hoping to give viewers more options for getting the most out the country’s classical arts. It’s a brilliant idea – as proven by its great reception from the public.

Miruton

Visiting Italy is one of the most culturally rich experiences out there – for its architecture, exhibitions, food, traditions…there’s a lot to learn. But it’s also one of the best places for anyone in search of some romance. It might sound like a cliche, but Venice is the perfect place for lovers to fill their days and nights with passion. Rent anone of the apartments in Venice and find out for yourself.

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Translated by: Poppy
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Black Rebel Motorcycle Club is one of those groups that people either love, or love to hate. Their musical style is very particular, and today few bands share the psychedelic garage rock style that makes them popular. The group was founded in ’98 in San Francisco, California, but they have since settled in Los Angeles, epicenter of commercial culture extraordinaire, so as to continue their ascent to stardom.

BRMC is a reference to a group of motorcyclists who are in the movie “The Wild Ones” which starred Marlon Brando and was made in ’53.  They initially called themselves “The Elements” but as there was another band that had the same name they had to change it to avoid legal problems.

One of the things that bothered group members (Peter Hayes, Robert Been and Leah Shapiro) was that the critics and the press lumped them together in what they called the New Rock Revolution, a musical movement that emerged between 2001 and 2003, led by bands like The Strokes or Kings of Leon.

They disliked being stereotyped musically and aesthetically, and that is why their second album Take Them On, On Your Own includes songs like “Generation” or “U.S. Government” to attack the United States and George Bush.  It was a departure from typical, rockstars and crazy life fare that made up the group’s previous lyrical offerings.

In March the group released Beat The Devil’s Tattoo, their sixth studio album, and they are currently touring around the world. Their tour will bring them to Venice Nov. 27th at New Age Club. If you attend a vibrant show where the psychedelic and garage rock will star, rent apartments in Venice and enjoy this trio.

Donna Leon is one of the world’s most recognized writers of crime fiction and her works have been translated into over 30 languages.  Voracious readers can barely wait for the next instalment by this talented writer. This time, they can satisfy their impulse by reading  “Question of Belief ” about inspector Brunetti and his case number 18.

Between murders, false soothsayers, the Venetian court, the canals of this beautiful city and corruption that develops this interesting story will mesmerize readers.

Donna Leon was born in New Jersey in 1942 but now lives in Italy, where most of her novels take place. Venice is the writer’s favourite city, and the canals figure heavily in many of her stories.

Through the “Question of Belief” the author seeks to reveal the world of esotericism, divination, and the surrounding dark culture which envelops this unfamiliar subculture. She attempts to show how these con-men try to take advantage of the naivety and desperation of people to swindle them out of their money. A murder will change everything.

Lovers of detective literature and especially of Venice will automatically be hooked on a “Question of Belief”, a novel that runs through the canals with suspense and reveals a different city, full of beautiful and mysterious places and secrets.

This book will surely incite a desire to rent apartments in Venice and enjoy a place like few others, while enjoying relaxing afternoons getting to the bottom of all of life’s mysteries.