Ahhh … Venice. (Or Venezia in Italian.)  It truly is a magical destination, full of romance, history and art. Few places can lay claim to such a spectacular natural setting, untainted architectural heritage, or awe-inspiring vibe of the main drag in the Grand Canal. Venice sprawls across hundreds of low-lying islands in a lagoon in the northern crescent of the Adriatic Sea. These islands are connected by bridges, with the Grand Canal acting as its main thoroughfare, and traffic moves by boats that range from the traditional gondolas to refuse barges. The absence of automobile noise means you can hear the laughter of children from your window, as well as footsteps seemingly just around the corner.

One of our top advisors, Wendy Sifford, just returned from a magnificent tour de force trek of Italy during which she visited some of the best destinations that Italy has to offer, and Venice was her first stop. She’ll be writing about several of her adventures in upcoming blog articles, starting with her explorations of Venice and the surrounding area in an article to be published in a matter of days … so stay tuned! Consider this month’s video share a Venetian “appetizer” to prime your senses and whet your appetite for what Wendy has to share with us in her blog article later this week.

The video below, simply titled Venezia, was created by London and Rome based digital director, photographer, and world traveler Oliver Astrologo and his team. In reference to the making of this video, Oliver writes: “Much has been made about the wonders of Venice, but few ever venture deep enough across its less touristy, yet still historical hidden places. Beyond hundreds of canals and a diverse architectural style, a secret facet of Venetian life lives on, in which the journey of hand crafting gondola wooden oars and loomed fabrics remains rooted in ancient folk traditions. This short film uncovers the secrets that have been handed down from father to son and projects you to the Venice that existed 500 years ago, immersing you in the extraordinary craftsmen’s veiled workshops that belong to a long lost era.”

So sit back, relax, and enjoy Venezia!

The Avant Team