Archive for 'Veneto'

In 2005, a very unusual discovery was made on the Venetian island of Lazzaretto Nuovo. Among other bodies discovered in the mass plague graves of the island was a woman's skull with a brick jammed into her mouth – a vampire. Thus, Lazzaretto Nuovo became the vampire island of Venice and news outlets from around the world reported on the discovery of the strange corpse. Of course, you might wonder why a brick in her mouth didn't merely suggest an accident or prank but the act of putting a brick in the mouth of a corpse had a very distinct reasoning behind it.

St Mark's Basilica in Venice, is the city's cathedral. The original church was built inside the complex of the Doge's Palace in 828 to house the relics of St. Mark the Evangelist which had supposedly been stolen by Venetian merchants from Alexandria. It was burned to the ground in 976 during an uprising and rebuilt twice. By the time it was to be rebuilt for the second time, the Venetian Republic had become a much greater power and, to symbolise its growing power and wealth, a new basilica complex was built and consecrated in 1094. This is the building that we know today. First, it was only used as the doge's private chapel and became the city's cathedral in the nineteenth century.

Marostica, a typical Italian medieval hill-town in Veneto is known for two famous festivals. The first celebrates the unique heart-shaped cherries that grow in the area and the second involves a chess game played using human beings on a giant marble-inlaid chessboard in one of the main squares of the town. The Marostica Human Chess Game has ancient origins in the city, connected to local legend and is an absolute spectacle to behold. Taking place on even numbered years, the next game will be in September 2016, however, you can visit the chessboard whenever you like and try it out for yourself. Find a luxury villa in Veneto and visit next September to see the real deal or, if you can't wait that long, pop by and have a run around the board with some friends.

It is a well-known fact that Venice is built above a marshland and is home to famous canals, that it is traversed by boats rather than vehicles. Due to this, the city is, understandably, prone to flooding. While some of the city's most luxurious hotels and elegant stores constantly fight against their surroundings to maintain pristine buildings, other people have just given in to the reality of living and being based in Venice. One example of this is a very famous bookshop in the city, Libreria Acqua Alta, who leave the water flow as it will and have placed their goods inside waterproof containers and storage instead.

A very special monument is perched on the top of Mount Grappa in Treviso. This is the Military Memorial Monument of Mount Grappa, or the Sacrario Militare Del Monte Grappa, which is one of the most important military ossuaries of WWI. It was built in 1935, and was designed in collaboration by Giovanni Greppi and Giannino Castiglioni. Its distinctive architecture is inspired by military fortification and the striking form rises up against the skyline, large and austere. The result is rather dramatic. If you're a WWI buff or fond of dramatic 20th century architecture and landscapes, this is the perfect spot for you. Find a luxury villa in Veneto and spend a day trekking the mountain with the view of the area and the monument as your reward.