Venice, Italy

Venice is a truly magical place with a rich history. It is truly the most serene republic as there are no cars, but the sounds of birds and waves splashing. I love to walk through the narrow streets and peep into puppet and mask shops, as well as smelling the various spices from all over the world. In the two following videos, Dr. Ilaria Serra tells us about her course at Florida Atlantic University “Venice & Its Reflections” which is taught each summer abroad. In this course, one can learn the history and literature of the renown courtesan poet (my favorite), Veronica Franco. Students can also read the memoirs of Casanova as  well as my favorite English poet, Byron. This course’s title was actually inspired by the reflections of the water and sunlight on the city’s historical and precious walls. In the second video, see a musical montage, dedicated to the beautiful city of Venice.

Venice has no other purpose than herself,
and her magnificent beauty. Everything
here seems uniquely devoted to beauty
and dreams. She was built by a team of
magicians in order to enchant and this
enchantment pervades her every molecule
of dust. They say she is destined to sink,
to disappear like every illusion. But she
happily doesn’t mind it: the metaphor that
in life nothing has a purpose, but life itself.

Emanuele Pettener, Venetian

Venezia non ha altro scopo che se stessa,
la sua bellezza magnificente. Tutto qui
sembra devoto unicamente alla bellezza,
al sogno. E’ stata costruita da una pletora
di maghi unicamente al fine d’incantare e
sprigiona incanto da ogni molecola di polvere.
Dicono sia destinata a sprofondare, a sparire,
come ogni illusione, e se ne infischia
allegramente: e’ la metafora che nella vita
nulla ha uno scopo, se non la vita.

Emanuele Pettener, veneziano