The Mysteries of Cannaregio
In Cannaregio there are many hidden stories. Legends and tales halfway between reality and fiction, exciting to tell and fascinating to listen.
The Phantom of Marco Polo's wife
Marco Polo was a famous Venetian merchant. During a trip to China, he fell in love and married the Emperor's daughter. Together they returned to Venice, but the young Chinese princess was not well received by the sisters of Marco Polo, envious of her grace and beauty. In 1298 during a battle, Marco Polo was captured and taken prisoner. The wicked sisters told the princess that her husband had died although it was not true. In pain, the princess threw herself out the window and died instantly.
According to legend, if at night you pass in Corte del Milion, where Marco Polo once lived, you can glimpse the silhouette of a young woman dressed in white and hear her singing oriental songs.
The Camel House
The legend tells that a wealthy oriental merchant, having to leave his homeland for Venice, had a camel with a camel driver carved on the facade of his new Venetian home to make it easily recognizable to his beloved, who had not accepted his proposal to marry him: “so I leave with a broken heart and I will try to forget you, but if one day you want to reach me in Venice, all you have to do is ask where the camel house is”.
The girl never showed up... I guess she got lost in the narrow streets of Venice...
The Brothel of the Spirits
Near the Fondamente Nuove there is a lonely and melancholic outbuilding of Palazzo Contarini dal Zaffo, called the Brothel of the Spirits because considered to be the most haunted place in Venice.
It is said to be the seat of a sect that organized satanic ceremonies and rites. The stories describe hooded people and strange noises, similar to Gregorian chants that spread throughout the surrounding lagoon.
At night, through the windows there are those who saw the reflections of dim lights, similar to those of candles wandering around the halls of the building...
The Petrified Merchants of Campo dei Mori
Not far from the Camel House there is Campo dei Mori. Here lived Rioba, Santi and Alfani, three greedy unscrupulous merchants from the Peloponnese who deceived and defrauded the poor people. One day a woman prayed to God to curse the three merchants who had deceived her. Her prayers were accepted and the three merchants were transformed into statues.
The three stone busts were placed on walls of the square as a warning to swindlers and criminals.
Written by Margherita Pasotto
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Happy birthday Venice!
Happy birthday to each of your stones, streets and canals.
Happy birthday to your bridges, your corners and hidden treasures.
Happy birthday to your pigeons and seagulls.
Happy birthday to your churches, your saints and your winged lion.
Happy birthday city that doesn’t want to sink and never will because you are too beautiful.
Happy birthday Venice from all the Hotel Giorgione!
IT’S ALWAYS SUMMER AT THE GIORGIONE! The Emotional Pool opened all year
A particular novelty has been added to the all-inclusive experience at Hotel Giorgione...
Despite the arrival of the autumn, of shorter and sometimes grey days, the Hotel Giorgione wanted to extend the pleasures of summer, giving our guests a pleasant summer memory.
The large whirlpool pool, equipped with every comfort and hygienic safety, can now also be enjoyed during the autumn-winter season.
Nothing is more pleasant and relaxing than plunging in the hot water in absolute safety, in an inviting greenhouse after long walks visiting our fascinating city.
We hope that this initiative will bring relief to all our guests and represent a contribution to a pleasant escape… in this particular period, we would all really need it!
Written by Margherita Pasotto
Venice is not Sinking!
3rd of October 2020, historical date for Venice. We will find it engraved on some walls, close to the notches of the high waters that in the past flooded us, but never drowned us.
On the 3rd of October 2020, seventy-eight mobile gates protected Venice from the 135 cm of exceptional high tide.
We heard the sound of the siren, three tones, which indicate over 130 cm. We were all ready, rubber boots on the door, bricks under furniture, store goods raised, steel bulkheads settled… The Mose was activated, we stayed dry, like dry was the mouth of those who have argued for years and of those who made “Venice is sinking” a stereotype.
Venice is not sinking and those seventy-eight massive yellow gates deserve a new cover of Vogue...
Written by Margherita Pasotto
SLOW TRAVEL IN VENICE - Our exclusive Apartments for Weekly stays
After having spent just twenty-four hours in Venice, you might get that need to stay longer and take your time to understand Venice. Seeing Venice is not racing with a guide tour from one attraction to another, getting anything out of it besides photos. You deserve to leave Venice with memories that light up your face.
If you have the time, we offer you the possibility to put quality over quantity, a chance to explore Venice and get a taste of local every day life, stroll downs side streets where locals buy their vegetables and chat from balconies.
…Give yourself time to wonder and explore…
Our dedicated Promo:
An exclusive promotion to experience Venice in autumn and winter (from October to March) in our exclusive Giorgione Studio Deluxe and Giorgione Suite Apartment. For stays of at least 7 nights we offer a special rate dedicated to those who want to take advantage of this period to experience the city like the Venetians. You will enjoy all the services of the Giorgione Hotel and the maximum privacy and independence of our exclusive apartments.
CLICK HERE to check availability and special prices!
Written by Margherita Pasotto
The Acqua Alta: a natural phenomenon in Venice
High water, a phenomenon Venetians have always been used to, is nothing else but a tide peak, usually occurring in autumn and winter, mostly between November and December, when the astronomical tide, the strong Sirocco wind, the “sessa” phenomenon in the Adriatic – or a combination of these elements – determine a higher inflow of water in the Venetian Lagoon.
The height of the tide varies according to different meteorological factors. The tides are higher when the barometric pressure is particularly low or when the Sirocco wind is blowing. The widest tide excursions usually occur at new and full moon periods, in the first and last quarter of the moon the abundant high tide phenomenon is less likely to happen.
High water in Venice follows the tidal cycle, that rises for 6 hours and then lowers in the next 6: in the days with high water, this phenomenon persists only in the central hours of the rising phase. High water in Venice usually lasts about 3-4 hours, and when the level of the water lowers, the city goes back to normal.
But how high can the high water get? When the tide level is measured, the point of reference is the average sea level measured at Punta della Salute. To let you better understand, nearly all of the city (97%) is at about 100 cm over the average sea level. This means that the quantity of water that can flood the streets is always much lower than the maximum forecast tidal level. For instance, an exceptional tide of 140 cm corresponds in reality to about 60 cm of water in the lowest points of the city (Saint Mark’s Square) and floods about 54% of the historic city centre.
sustained tide
the tide level is between +80 cm and +109 cm over the average sea level
very sustained tide
When the value is between +110 cm and +139 cm;
exceptional tide
When the value reaches or exceeds +140 cm.
INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION SERVICES FOR HIGH WATER
Three times a day the Tide Forecasting Centre of the City of Venice makes a forecast of the tide levels for the following two days and communicates it to the city. About three hours before the arrival of the tidal peak a system of alarm sirens, placed in the strategic points of the city, is triggered to warn the entire population.
WHAT TO DO IN CASE OF HIGH WATER
Venice is used to cohabiting with high water. It is good for tourists to know that when tides above 110 cm over the average sea level are forecast in the city, the population is warned by sirens.
At the same time routes on gangways are prepared in the city’s main streets. These routes are indicated also by notices put up on the landing jetties of Actv, the local public transport company.
The Actv water buses continue their service, sometimes partially changing route, but anyway guaranteeing access to nearly all of the city.
Only in presence of a very sustained tide, higher than 120 cm over the average sea level, you need RUBBER BOOTS to walk in Venice. DO NOT USE plastic trash bags to cover your feet because water leeks inside immediately, it is also very dangerous because you can easily slip and hurt yourself. Anyway we remind you that this phenomenon lasts only a few hours, i.e. the necessary time for the water to flow back out to sea.
When there is high water not all of Venice goes under water. Only exceptional high water affects nearly all of the city, and anyway, even in this case, the water level is really relevant only in the lowest parts, one of these being Saint Mark’s Square.
To have an idea of the extent of the city that is flooded in presence of sustained tides, the following table indicates the flooding percentages according to the tidal levels:
+100 cm: 5%;
+110 cm: 14%;
+120 cm: 29%;
+130 cm: 43%;
above 140 cm more than 54% of the city is flooded.
Written by Margherita Pasotto
Altane Veneziane: Looking afar in Venice
The altane, some kind of terraces built with wooden planks over the roofs of Venetian houses.
The altana was used to hang the laundry, to look forward, lighten hair, refresh the skin away from prying eyes, talk to the moon or in the moonlight, dream ...
Luckily, very little has changed … we keep fantasizing on the rooftops like cats, hoping that someone will listen!
The altane are structures located above the rooftops of Venice characterizing the architecture of the city, a sort of wooden terraces supported by pillars. If you have the opportunity to stand on a church tower or rooftop of a building, or if you just look up while walking through the calli of Venice, for sure you’ll notice a few.
The altana is not however a true terrace. The structure is made up of a tray of wooden boards exposed to the sun and winds, resting on the roof. It rests on small pillars, with perhaps a side leaning against the loft through which you will be able to go outside, often hitting your head against it after climbing into the house through the attic.
Written by Margherita Pasotto
