Yvonne Farrell and Shelley McNamara are the curators of the 16th International Architecture Exhibition of Venice Biennale 2018 , which takes place from May 26th to November 25th 2018 at the Biennale’s venues of Giardini and Arsenale and in other places in town. The Biennale 2018 is titled Freespace , which represents the generosity and the sense of humanity at the core of architecture’s agenda. The attention will be focused on the quality of the space itself. With this theme, the Biennale Architecture 2018 will present to the public examples, proposals, elements – built or unbuilt – of works that exemplifies the essential qualities of architecture: modulation, richness and materiality of surface, the orchestration and the sequencing of movement, reaviling the embodied power and beauty of architecture.

Cannaregio district Venice is the largest and most populated district of Venice after Castello. Cannaregio covers most of the territory on the norther side of the Grand Canal.

Dorsoduro district Venice connects itself to San Marco district through Accademia bridge . The west side of this district is composed by the Mendigola island, one of the first areas of the town that has been colonized, few centuries before Rialto became the center of Venice (810). In the century XI, on Mendigola island, was built the famous church of San Nicolò dei Mendicoli. The islands nearby were colonized in the following years until Punta della Dogana , who is named due to the presence of the Custom of Venice.

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.

The second Sunday of the venetian carnival, everyone gathers in Saint Mark’s square to assist at the famous Flight of the Angel. What is this? The winner of the contest of the Marias , of the previous edition of the Venice carnival, jumps, attached with a rope, from the tower in Saint Mark’s square to reach the Doge’s palace.

The Venice Carnival – Festa Delle Marie was a tipical celebration in Venice that took place every year from 9th century during Venice carnival. It has been suspended in 1379 but it came back recently as historical reenactment . The traditional “Festa Delle Marie” recalls the homage of the Duke to twelve beautiful young and humble ladies, of jewelry for their wedding. The occasion, an unique moment to admire the venitian costumes, lasted more than one day. The celebration included the couples’s blessing and the raffle of the most beautiful twelve girls of the poorest families in town. Every girl was assigned to a rich family, who had to give them clothes, jewelry and dowry in order to get married. In the following days were celebrated few civil and religious cerimonies that ended with a boats’s parade along the Grand Canal . During this parade, the “Marie” (this is the name of the twelve girls) flaunted their beauty and jewelry. Dances, banquets and parties came along with the cerimonies. Participate to this parade was considered of good omen and a joy to the men’s eyes. A lot of people, from all over the world, came to Venice to admire these girls. The celebrations could last more than a week too!

The Venice Carnival 2018 is famous all around the world and every year it attracts a lot of tourists. The first document that testifies the festivity in town dates back in 1094 but it is known that Venice carnival has more ancient origin: some pagans rites celebrated the end of winter time and the start of spring time, also if, with the Christianity , this event has changed its meaning, turning this in a period of joy and festivity before the Lent. Through the centuries, the carnival has changed. The decline of the Carnival began with the end of the Venetian Republic despite some islands continued to celebrate it. Since 1979, thanks to some popular initiatives and the support of institutions, the tradition that recalls tourists and sponsor, has relived.

San Marco is the smaller district of the town but it contains the political and religious heart of Venice. It has always been inhabited by the nobility and, together with Rialto and San Pietro di Castello, it is part of the original nucleus in the development of Venice . It is limited north by the Grand Canal , south by Saint Mark’s basin, west by Rio del Palazzo and east by Rio de San Zulian. It borders north with Cannaregio district and east with Castello district, it is connected with San Polo district through Rialto bridge and with Dorsoduro through Accademia bridge. Administratively, the district contains San Giorgio Maggiore island too.

The restaurant “ Hostaria Da Franz ” takes its name from Franz Hubeler , an austro-hungarian soldier who lived in Venice at the end of the 19th century. He turn an old ropery in a place where people could enjoy and taste the products of the lagoon and its islands. In 1984, Gianfranco Gasparini became the owner after working for years in the best european hotels. After 30 years near the Giardini della Biennale, the Gasparinis moved to the Arsenale area, more central but off the beaten paths at the same time. Hostaria Da Franz became , through the years, one of the most famous restaurant of the town, listed in the most important italian and international food guides. It has been visited also by celebrities. Maurizio, inherited from his father and the Chef Gianfranco, the passion for the tradition and the history of our town and its island and it takes good care of his clients in his 36 seats-restaurant.

Hidden inside a small court on the side of Campo Manin , at the end of a tiny street, rise in all its beauty the Scala Contarini Del Bovolo Venice. This staircase, a particular structure for the venetian architecture, is part of the Palazzo Contarini del Bovolo , a gothic-style palace built between the 14th and 15th century as mansion of the Contarini family. In the end of the 15th century, when the staircase was annexed at the palace, they family name became “Contarini dal Bovolo”.

Castello district Venice is the biggest and the second, for inhabitants, of Venice town. It is also the only district that is not on the Grand Canal . It has been one of the first living area of Venice (V-VI century). The district takes its name from the castle who rised. It was built as defense from the attacks coming by sea. You can find also the Arsenale in this district, for centuries the biggest in the world.

The Madonna della Salute feast Venice is a religious feast instituted by the venitian Republic in 1630. This event is celebrated every year on November 21st, since four centuries. It is a very popular feast by the venetian and by the pilgrimages that come to Venice to thank the Holy Mary for miracoulous healings.

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.

Harry’s Bar is a historical public bar of Venice. It has been declared in 2001 national heritage by the Minister of Culture . It opened its doors in 1931 thanks to Giuseppe Cipriani and, as he told, the name recalls one young american student Harry Pickering who came to Venice with his aunt in the ’20 to treat his alcohol dependance. Harry was left by his aunt alone in Venice without money, after a fight. Giuseppe Cipriani, bartender at the Europa & Britannia hotel, where Harry was staying, gave 10.000 lire to this yopung man to help him to get back to the U.s. After two years, Harry came back to Venice, after he healed to his dependance, and gave to Cipriani the money he borrowed him plus 30.000 lire to open his own bar. Cipriani decided to entitle his place in “Harry’s Bar” as gesture of gratitude to Harry Pickering. The bar opened on May 13th 1931.