ITALY THE HIDDEN CARNIVAL. Federico Sutera PARALLELOZERO

Size: px

Start display at page:

Download "ITALY THE HIDDEN CARNIVAL. Federico Sutera PARALLELOZERO"

Dustin Norton
6 years ago
Views:

1 ITALY THE HIDDEN CARNIVAL Federico Sutera PARALLELOZERO

2 Venice, Palazzo Pisani Moretta, Ballo del Doge: a waiter preparing for the event.

3 Venice is going back to its very roots, but they can t have a solid grip as they re forced to go down in the crumbly sand of the Adriatic lagoon. With its public balance sheets champing at the bit because of EU s Stability and Growth Pact, it s the private, trading scene of the town now in charge of the licentious side of its life the way it went centuries ago, at the time of the Serenissima, the Most Serene Republic of Venice. During Carnival days, residents and visitors indulge in dreamy intrigues to find fallen aristocrats and illicit loves in Piazza San Marco or in the moody calli (Venetian alleys). To say it all, the soul of the Venice that ruled the Mediterranean now lives somewhere else, but it s bringing back to the top many prestigious palaces, often unknown or never open to the public. Abandoned places, apparently, but hosting parties and celebrations only a few luscious lips can tell. In fact, thousands of Euros or a whole shipment of spices are needed in order to smoothly slip among elite s perfumes, face powders and breasts squeezed in luxurious corsets, an elite considering Venice dialect just one of the language spoken on the Seven Seas. Perfect bodies, provocative nudities, lacquered nails, stolen caresses and glances: the erotism of Casanova s time is alive and kicking, in the end, but you need the right keys to walk through the right doors. Sometimes giving a dance or offering yourself as a gallant swain may be enough to discover business chances at planetary level... So, who s really behind the affected masks enlivening this hidden Venice? How many destinies are still decided in the rooms of the Contarini-Polignac and Pisani Moretta palaces? Many think these palaces are just meeting points nurturing voices of excesses that have always been part of the high society. But being them La Fenice boxes or San Gallo theatre s trapdoors, these are the places where a change is occurring, a metamorphosis of roles, identities and authorities giving back to Venice the power it had until the falling of the Republic, on Sometime between January and March (it s Easter s Sunday determining the three Carnival weeks calendar), the really exclusive events you don t want to miss are two: the truly unique Ballo della Cavalchina and the Gran Ballo del Doge. The first one sees the arrival of a VIP inside the La Fenice theatre riding a white horse like it was used, in the past, for the winner of the horse race held in Piazza San Marco. The second is the real landmark of Venice Carnival, nowadays, with fashion designer Antonia Sautter calling the shots for games, acrobatic numbers and the splendour of the costumes. Venetian photographer Federico Sutera tried repeatedly, between 2012 and 2015 s Carnivals, to catch the oldest secret of Venice, but a final, real answer is still missing. In his shots, the old Serenissima just suggests, gives rare, partial confessions to those having attentive eyes and ears. Maybe Venice destiny is just to seamlessly float in the sea mist... At least until the day its last truth will be free to sink in the lagoon.

4 Venice, Teatro La Fenice, Gran Ballo della Cavalchina: the audience while watching the show.

5 Venice, Teatro La Fenice, Gran Ballo della Cavalchina: participants of the masked ball entering the theatre.

6 Venice, Teatro La Fenice, Gran Ballo della Cavalchina: two masked women preparing for the ball.

7 Venice, Teatro La Fenice, Gran Ballo della Cavalchina: masked participants in the foyer of the theatre.

8 Venice, Palazzo Pisani Moretta, Ballo del Doge: detail of a mask.

9 Venice, Teatro La Fenice, Gran Ballo della Cavalchina: a kiss in the mess.

10 Venice, Hotel Regina/Europa hall: the last arrangements in the hall of the hotel.

11 Venice, Teatro San Gallo, Decadenza: a masked man entertaining a little audience.

12 Venice, Palazzo Pisani Moretta, Ballo del Doge: an artistic performance.

13 Venice, Palazzo Pisani Moretta, Ballo del Doge: the audience while watching the show.

14 Venice, Palazzo Pisani Moretta, Ballo del Doge: an artistic performance.

15 Venice, Palazzo Pisani Moretta, Ballo del Doge: a waiter serving some dessert.

16 Venice, Teatro La Fenice, Gran Ballo della Cavalchina: an artist leading the horse to the main hall.

17 Venice, Palazzo Pisani Moretta, Ballo del Doge: an amazed audience watching the show.

18 Venice, Palazzo Pisani Moretta, Ballo del Doge: an artist during his performance.

19 Venice, Palazzo Pisani Moretta, Ballo del Doge: a detail of a dress.

20 Venice, Palazzo Pisani Moretta, Ballo del Doge: two masked ladies watching the show.

21 PARALLELOZERO, VIA DONATELLO 19/A, MILAN - INFO@PARALLELOZERO.COM

VAT

VAT Rif. 0515 Lionard Luxury Real Estate Via de Tornabuoni, 1 50123 Florence Italy Tel. +39 055 0548100 Venice LUXURY APARTMENT FOR SALE IN VENICE DESCRIPTION This Luxury Apartment For Sale in the heart of