Vivaldi, Canaletto &
Casanova in Venice
Peter Medhurst with Tom Abbott

INTRODUCTION

Antonio Vivaldi, Giovanni Antonio Canal (Canaletto) and Giacomo Casanova were all iconic figures of 18th century Venice, known for their unique contributions to music, art and literature, respectively. At the same time, they lived through Venice’s last great cultural flowering, an era characterised by lavish parties, masked anonymity and immense artistic output. With live 18th century music to the fore and visits to a range of palaces, churches, museums and outdoor locations, the tour - literally - follows in the footsteps of these three remarkable sons of Venice.

Day 1

Our Venetian odyssey begins with a flight from London to Venice Marco Polo Airport, where we are met by our tour guide and art historian, Tom Abbott and our local professional guide. Once everyone is assembled, they will accompany us in water taxis and ferry us over the lagoon directly to the water gate of the 4* All'Angelo Art Hotel, located just 50 metres from Piazza San Marco. This evening, we enjoy a private drinks reception and a welcome dinner.

Day 2

Our theme today is the world of Vivaldi, but we begin our time together with a lecture that sets the scene for the week: ‘Venice through the eyes of Vivaldi, Canaletto and Casanova’. We then make our way to the Querini Stampalia Museum, which consists of a series of atmospheric rooms, reflecting the charm of 18th century Venice - La Serinissima - in its heyday. On arrival we have morning coffee and biscuits. In the afternoon, we visit Santa Maria della Pietà Ospedale, the institution most closely associated with Vivaldi and his music. We visit the church of San Giovanni in Bragora, where Vivaldi was baptised, and finally call in at the Chiesa Parrocchiale di San Martino di Castello where traditionally Vivaldi is said to have played the organ. Peter will give an organ recital on the Nachini organ.

Day 3

We begin our day with a visit to the historic Ridotto Rooms located in the Hotel Monaco, just off Piazza San Marco. Here it was that Casanova famously played the tables, while eyeing the ladies. The rooms represent the West's first public, legal mercantile casino. Casanova often mentioned the location in his memoirs, describing it as a prime spot for meeting potential lovers, such as the nun M.M., and engaging in games such as faro. We then head to the Ca Rezzonico on the Grand Canal, to view two early examples of Canaletto’s veduti: ‘View of the Grand Canal’ and ‘Rio dei Mendicanti’ - which are the only works by the artist in a public collection in Venice. Lunch is followed by some free time until the evening, when we visit St Mark’s Basilica for a private viewing of the floodlit interior - a space represented several times in the works of Canaletto.

Day 4

Today we leave Venice and make our way by coach to Padua, since the city has many connections with our distinguished triumvirate. For example, it was in Padua that Vivaldi presented his Violin Concerto in D RV212, Canaletto painted his views of the Prato della Valle, and Casanova enrolled at the university, and had his first significant romantic encounters. Following coffee on arrival in the city, we visit the Basilica of St Anthony. Vivaldi composed his Concerto fatto per la Solennità della S. Lingua di S. Antonio to perform himself in February 1712 at the annual Padua Festival of the Holy Tongue of Saint Anthony. We will view St Anthony’s tongue in the side chapel of the building! After lunch we explore the Prato dela Valle, enjoy an organ recital with Peter in La chiesa di Sant’Antonio Abate, and visit the Scrovegni Chapel to see the Giotto frescoes of 1305.

Day 5

We start the day with a lecture on Canaletto’s views of Venice and then make our way to La Fenice, Venice’s principal opera house for a guided tour of the interior. La Fenice opened its doors for the first time on 16th May 1792 with a specially written opera by Giovanni Paisiello, ‘I giuochi d'Agrigento’. The tour takes in the marvellous auditorium, the Royal Box, and the Apollinee Halls. In the afternoon, we follow a planned walking route through Venice comparing and contrasting Canaletto’s views with modern day Venice. Locations include Piazza San Marco, Rio dei Mendicanti and the Rialto area.

Day 6

Today we spend the morning in the Conservatorio di Musica Benedetto Marcello di Venezia (The Venice Conservatory of Music) housed in the monumental Palazzo Pisani, the largest patrician house in Venice. We begin with a guided tour of the historic interiors and then enjoy panoramic views of Venice from the roof terrace. Afterwards, we make our way to the concert hall for a recital of music drawn from the era of Vivaldi and his contemporaries. Following lunch, we take a private boat to the Lido for an exclusive visit to the church of San Nicolò al Lido (permission pending). The famous church featured heavily in the Festa della Sensa celebrations, when the Doge sailed out into the lagoon and threw a ring into the water as a sign of Venice’s eternal union with the Adriatic. The festival was commemorated many times in the works of Canaletto. We then enjoy another organ recital by Peter, this time in the Chiesa Patronato Di Santa Maria Elisabetta, on the Lido. A private drinks reception is followed by a farewell dinner.

Day 7

After checking out of our hotel, we spend the morning in the Doge’s Palace. However, our visit is a private one, and takes a route through parts of the palace that are rarely seen by the general public. Part of our tour visits the cell from which Casanova escaped imprisonment on the night of 31st October 1756. He is the only person ever known to have escaped from the Piombi prison inside the Doge’s palace. After lunch, we return to Marco Polo Airport by water taxis for our afternoon flight back to London.

We stay six nights at the 4* All'Angelo Art Hotel (www.allangelo.it) located in an ancient 17th century palazzo, just 50 metres from Piazza San Marco and the Doges Palace. All rooms are en suite. Welcome and farewell dinners are included. The remaining four nights are on bed and breakfast basis. 

Insurance (including Covid cover) £92

Single room supplement £249

Double room for sole use supplement £299

Local accommodation tax to be paid directly to the hotel (approximately €4.50 per person per night).