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Situated
at the commercial crossroads between the flourishing markets
of Europe and the exotic emporiums of Asia, Venice was a
natural meeting point for both peoples and cultures and
emerged as Europe's most cosmopolitan center.
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In
A City of Nations,
you’ll enter into the tiny worlds created by the many ethnic
groups that populated the Mediaeval and Renaissance city to
discover how they lived and worked and learn the various
economic, political, and religious forces that brought them to
Venice. Throughout the visit, you'll also discover the
impact of their new cultural environs on their religious
convictions and artistic traditions.
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 Beginning
at the former German Exchange, we’ll see how the Venetian
government viewed the many foreigners in the city and how
transient merchants actually lived and conducted business
inside the Exchange. We’ll then set off for the Jewish
Ghetto where the gilded synagogues, the former pawn shops, and
the cramped living quarters all await you. Along the
way, we’ll discuss some of the many issues raised by the
presence of the foreigners: the repression of heretical
beliefs, the economic concessions made to skilled immigrant
artisans, and the commercial privileges reserved for the
Venetian citizenry among others. We’ll then relive the
moment of economic and military crisis that led to the
segregation of the city’s Jewish population and recreate
day-to-day life inside the Ghetto when Christian printers
published authoritative Hebrew commentaries and Jews from
throughout Europe came to study with Venice’s learned
rabbis. Next, it’s off to the Turk Exchange where
we’ll talk about the commercial relationships between Venice
and its nemesis during times of war and about the problems of
public order created by the presence of Turkish merchants in
the city. At the church of the Holy Cross, we’ll then
relive the saga of the Armenian people before traveling to the
Dalmatian School, religious and cultural heart of the
community that rendered hundreds of years of faithful service
to the Venetian Republic. Our journey will then conclude
at the church of Saint George of the Greeks where we'll
immerse ourselves in the mysticism of the Near East.
Retracing the history of the city’s all-important Greek
community from the exodus of the first artisans at the time of
the iconoclastic crisis up until the loss of Venice’s Greek
colonies, we’ll also talk about its fundamental role in the
diffusion of classical culture
throughout Renaissance Europe.
DURATION
MAJOR
SIGHTS
ENGAGING
TOPICS
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Heretics, schismatics,
and infidels: economic integration and religious isolation
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Transient foreigners:
sojourn permits
and the policing of the State
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De intus et extra:
the road to citizenship
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The Venetian press in
Europe: culture and faith
in the Jewish, Armenian, and
Greek diasporas
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Apologetics: the
justification of cultural differences
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“Turcherie”: the
fashion for a declining foe
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The Veneto-Cretan
icon: Eastern faith meets Western art
AVAILABILITY
This
guided tour is not available in its entirety on Saturday and
Sunday and on all Jewish and Christian holidays.
PRICE
AND SPECIAL NOTE
The
price indicated is intended to cover the costs of the
Society's continued research initiatives and organization
and is in compliance with the conditions concerning the
activities of non-profit organizations as set forth in the
Ministry of Finance Unified Code Article 111, paragraph 3
(Art. 111, T.U., comma 3)
SUGGESTED
READING
To help make
this guided walking tour a culturally enriching and
educational experience, these
books are recommended.
Comments
on
A City of Nations
“We
were introduced to the many arriving cultures and peoples and
to how they lived side by side and, on occasion, atop one
another. Venice was a city full of Greeks, Slavs,
Germans, Turks, Jews, and Italians from everywhere else, and
its culture is a hotchpot of each of these groups. For
someone to be able to convey to the uninitiated the
differences is a wonder, and we are richer for it.”
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Scott Clarkson
and Cheryl Friedling
Los Angeles, Califormia
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“Single-handedly
the most gratifying organized touring experience my wife and I
have ever had! The tour was very focused on the various
transient and permanent foreigners present throughout Venetian
history. At the same time we learned so much information
about the overall history of Venice and of the foreign
populations. The guide’s knowledge of history seemed
boundless, and his insights on politics, economics, and
religion were fascinating. Yet the guide was rigorous in
pointing out the distinction between facts and his own
interpretations and suspicions. He truly had an uncanny
ability to tie in all aspects together to paint a beautiful
and comprehensive picture of Venice and its peoples. The
private visits the Church of the Holy Cross of the Armenians
and the Church of Saint George of the Greeks are over the top
and make any trip to Venice truly unique.”
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Tom and Aleks
Sufleta
New York, New York
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“A
wonderful glimpse back at the groups of people who came to
Venice and at each group's impact on the history of the city.
The neighborhoods, churches, and synagogues were both
fascinating and awe-inspiring. Without this in-depth
tour, we would have missed a very important part of the story
of Venice.”
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Steve and Nancy
Wiley
Ann Arbor, Michigan
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“Absolutely
fascinating! A City of Nations is essential to
understand what made Venice such an international city and how
differing cultures and faiths interact, clash, or simply
coexist. I was especially interested in the Jewish
Ghetto with its remaining synagogues. But I discovered
to my delight that there were equally fascinating treats in
store — the Scuola di san Giorgio degli Schiavoni, one of
the city's missed artistic jewels, opened my eyes to the
contributions of the Dalmatians to the greatness and glory of
Venice whilst the private visit to the Armenian church proved
another of the day's highlights.”
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Amy Selwyn
London, United Kingdom
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“Very
moving as well as educational. Our fellow travelers
expressed great disappointment to have missed out on
experiencing such an important part of local as well as world
history. Standing in the square of the first ghetto was
a moving moment. Following along from there to learn the
history and experiences of other ethnic groups was important
in understanding the “soul” of Venice.”
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Pete and Lorelei
Redding
Kettering, Ohio
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“Full
of fascinating information about the development of the city
by various groups”.
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Paul Stark and
Susan Ulick
New York, New York
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For further information
about this unique guided walking tour,
call 011 39 041 520 6361 or write to:
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