Curiosities Archivi - Hotel Bucintoro

Feb 14 2018

Giacomo Casanova

Giacomo Casanova (1725-1798) is one of the most known venetian person all over the world, especially due to his romantic relationships, which are narrated in his autobiography. Giacomo Casanova was not only a charmer but he was also an adventurer: he was the only one able to escape from the Doge’s palace’s prisons of Venice. He was in jail since the night of July 25th 1755 and put in a cell situated under the roof of the palace. This area was called “Piombi”, because the rooms were covered by plates of lead.
The terrible council of X incarcerated him due to his libertine behaviour. They saw this as a threat to the social stability. Casanova was made out as a fraud too. With his fake magic skills, he was famous for robbing to rich elderly people.
He had to stay incarcerated for 5 years, but he studied from day one how to escape. He could break out from the prison on Nov 1st 1755, together with one anothe inmate, Padre Marino Balbi. They could escape the prison through a hole made in the roof and rappeling down in the courtyard of the Doge’s palace. From there, they were able to leave as common visitors.

When he was 58, Giacomo Casanova starts again to travel around Europe and he writes books as “Storie della mia vita”, published in french, “Storie della mia fuga” of 1788 and the romance “Icosameron” in the same year. He died on June 4th 1798 in the forgotten Dux castle, whispering his lasts and famous words: “Gran Dio e testimoni tutti della mia morte: son vissuto filosofo e muoio cristiano”. (I have lived as a philosofer and i die as a cristian.) He thought that death was just a “change of the shape”.

Oct 29 2017

Ghost Tour Venice

Small square, tiny streets hide misteries, murders and legends. The ghosts of famous people wander in the ancient buildings along the Grand Canal. Walking in Venice is like to live a dream, bewteen old buildings which hide fantastic or orrible myths. Venice is not only art works but it is misterious histories, myths and old fairy tales too. The darkness and the magic wait for the visitors to walk through the hidden streets where he would see the darker side of Venice. Venice is a true labirynth that hides everywhere myths of demons, fairies, witches and ghosts.

Ghosts in Venice? Reserve your ghost tour and walk through myths and legends!

An unusual walk, discovering the myths of appearances in Venice. Until October 29th, Fridays and Saturdays, you will hunt ghosts in Venice thanks to Ghost tour Venice. This tour will guide you through Cannaregio district by night: you will live an intimate experience walking through the streets of the hidden Venice. Stories of the dark side of this town, of ghosts and the appearances will be narrated. Tour lasts 2 hous approx.

Book the tour here!

In order to book the tour, contact the agency Park View Viaggi in Dorsoduro. Tel. +39 041 5200988.The tour costs 15 euro per person. Meeting point in Campo San Geremia.

Ask at the reception for reservations!

Oct 12 2017

San Biagio church Venice

San Biagio church Venice, as known as San Biagio dei Marinai, is a religious building in Venice, situated in Castello district. The church, despite its location in the venetian patriarchate, is part of the military ordination for Italy. This area was a bit different during the 19th century. It was area of the venetian granaries that were destroyed to build new houses after the Republic fall.

San Biagio church, before its closure in the 19th century as initiative of the french government, was used as dormitory for the soldiers of Napoleon.

San Biagio, was robbed of all its furniture after it has been used as dormitory from the french soldiers of the Napoleon army. It has been re-opened to celebrate masses from Austria. They brought the floors and the altars of Sant’Anna church. It became property of the italian Marina in 1866, when Veneto became part of Italy.

The naval museum of Venice.

The italian Marina gave the property of the church back to the Italian government in 1958. A few works of renovation has been made through the years and then it has been gifted to the Naval Museum of Venice in 1991. it is part of the military parish, the Naval Museum and of course of the Hotel Bucintoro, where windows of the rooms are located above the main door.

San Biagio church and the Hotel Bucintoro in Venice.

Don’t miss the chance to stay with us!

Aug 10 2017

Acqua Alta bookshop Venice

On Calle Lunga Santa Maria Formosa you can find one of the most fascinating bookshop of the world, not to be missed by tourists or passionates: Acqua Alta bookshop Venice! This famous book shop was created in 2004 by Luigi Frizzo, born in Vicenza but he is Venice as his adoption town, who ,with his creativity, can tell about Venice in an authentic and unique way. What you can find in his bookshop? Books, akward furnishings, cats and Acqua Alta (High Tide).

The entrance of Acqua Alta bookshop Venice, on Calle Lunga Santa Maria Formosa.

Every guide of Venice talks about this place as a sightseeing not be missed. At the entrance you can find an handwritten sign: “Welcome to the most beautiful bookshop in the world”. Entering this shop you will find a vaste space, fullfilled by books, leant on shelves, one gondola, two boat hulls, bath-tubs, a well and wicker baskets full of magazines.

Acqua Alta bookshop during a day of…Acqua Alta!

In this bookshop you can find books about the history of Venice or written in venetian dialect; about theatre, cinema, biennale art exhibition, comics, encyclopedia, italian and foreign books, all used to form a particular ladder that permits to look out the canal and see gondolas passing by and the famous Corte Sconta of Corto Maltese. In the back, as in many houses or venetian shops, there is a water access with a stool and a chair that you can use to read books.

For more information about this bookshop ask at the reception!

Jun 18 2017

The Bucintoro of Venice the Doge’s boat

Today we talk about the boat that gives the name to our beautiful Hotel: The Bucintoro.

The Bucintoro takes its name from the Burcio, a simple and wide boat, used for the transportation of goods. Restyled with sculptures, gildings and carvings, it became the Bucintoro, used as official boat by the Doge.

The name Bucintoro could take its origin from its archaic form Bucentaurus. The myth says that Boukentauros (big centaur) was one of the boat of Enea, in fact ,on the first venetian Bucintoros, seems that a statue of a centaur appeared aft.

Some finishes of this boat are inspired from magical and astrological myths.

The need for a sumptuous craft such the Bucintoro to serve the Duke, can be dated from the 1117´s Benefice, where Pope Alexander III transforms in Marriage of Venice with the Sea, a marine ritual officiated by the Bishop of Castello (Olivolo) since the year 1000 in the Ascension Day.

Since then, the Bucintoro of Venice the Doge’s boat was built every hundred years, changing in size, in number of rowers and the decorative splendour of the Duke in charge. It was a state boat, used to celebrate religious fests and welcome Kings and Emperors.

The Bucintoro of Venice the Doge’s boat.

The Bucintoro of Venice the Doge’s boat was rowed by 168 men, called Arsenaloti, with 42 oars of a lenght of 11 meters. This model of boat measured 50 meters in lenght and 10 meters in width.

On the bow was a wooden and gilded sculpture representing Venice dressed as Justice, with the sword and the scales. Unlike the usual figureheads, this was located upon the bowsprit base, while on the top of this mast was the winged Lion of St. Mark. Aft a small terrace or pulpit from where the Duke used to throw the ring into the Sea during the solemn ceremony of the Marriage of Venice with the sea on Ascension day.

The 1728´s Bucintoro, launched on the 12^th of January, was the most magnificient and the most tragical one: the greed of Napoleon´s troops, after looting it of all the decorations, burned it to get the gold and silver of the gildings on the hull.

Pictures of the Bucintoro at scale 1:10 at the Naval Museum of Venice.

At the Naval Museum,a few steps away from Hotel Bucintoro, (momentarily closed for renovation) you can see a reproduction of the original Bucintoro. Do not miss this occasion!

HOTEL BUCINTORO SRL