Luscious gold & silver foils for this modern obi depicting the Basilica di San Marco on St Mark's Square in Serenissima Venice (poke @mafaldinablabla 🦁)
The Caffè Florian opened in St Mark's Square, where it still stands today, on 29 December 1720. Important people have passed through this café, such as: Lord Byron, Vivaldi, Goethe, Rousseau, Stravinski... y también Casanova.
El Caffè Florian abrió sus puertas en la Plaza de San Marcos, donde sigue permaneciendo, el 29 de diciembre de 1720. Por este café han pasado personajes importantes, como: Lord Byron, Vivaldi, Goethe, Rousseau, Stravinski... y también Casanova.
Il Caffè Florian aprì in Piazza San Marco, dove si trova tuttora, il 29 dicembre 1720. In questo caffè sono passati personaggi importanti, come: Lord Byron, Vivaldi, Goethe, Rousseau, Stravinski… y también Casanova
(English / Español / Italiano)
The Europe's oldest Café was opened on 29 December 1720 by Floriano Francesconi and was called "Alla Venezia Trionfante" (To Triumphant Venice), although the clientele later renamed it "Caffè Florian" in honour of its owner.
While the finest wines and coffees from the Orient, Malaysia, Cyprus and Greece were served, history was unfolding outside. Its windows witnessed the splendour and fall of the Serenissima Republic of Venice and the secret conspiracies against French and then Austrian rule. It is divided into small rooms connected by a corridor and has a huge terrace on St. Mark's Square for sunny days. The rooms are decorated in different styles;
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El Café más antiguo de Europa fue inaugurado el 29 de diciembre de 1720 por Floriano Francesconi y se llamaba “Alla Venezia Trionfante” (A la triunfante Venecia), aunque la clientela posteriormente lo rebautizó como “Caffè Florian” en honor a su dueño.
Mientras se servían los mejores vinos y cafés de Oriente, Malasia, Chipre y Grecia, la historia se desarrollaba afuera. Sus ventanas presenciaron el esplendor y la caída de la República Serenissima de Venecia y las conspiraciones secretas contra el dominio francés y luego el austriaco. Se encuentra distribuido en pequeñas salas unidas todos ellas, por un corredor y además, tiene una enorme terraza en la plaza San Marcos para los días soleados. Las salas están decoradas en distintos estilos.
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Il Caffè più antico d'Europa fu aperto il 29 dicembre 1720 da Floriano Francesconi e si chiamava "Alla Venezia Trionfante", anche se poi la clientela lo ribattezzò "Caffè Florian" in onore del suo proprietario.
Mentre venivano serviti i migliori vini e caffè provenienti dall'Oriente, dalla Malesia, da Cipro e dalla Grecia, all'esterno si svolgeva la storia: le sue finestre sono state testimoni dello splendore e della caduta della Serenissima Repubblica di Venezia e delle cospirazioni segrete contro il dominio francese e poi austriaco. È diviso in piccole sale collegate da un corridoio e dispone di un'enorme terrazza su Piazza San Marco per le giornate di sole. Le sale sono arredate in stili diversi.
The Senate Hall. This is where the Venice Biennale was born.
La Sala del Senado. En ella nació la Bienal de Venecia.
La Sala del Senato. Qui è nata la Biennale di Venezia.
The Chinese room, the oldest and one of the two initial rooms.
La Sala China, la más antigua y una de las dos iniciales.
La Sala Cinese, la più antica e una delle due sale iniziali.
The Sala Orientale, added in 1750, although the present decoration dates from the 19th century.
La Sala Orientale, agregada en 1750, aunque la decoración actual es de s.lXIX.
La Sala Orientale, aggiunta nel 1750, anche se la decorazione attuale risale al XIX secolo.
Hall of the Seasons, decorated with floral motifs and women in long dresses symbolising the seasons.
Sala de las Estaciones, decorada con motivos florales y mujeres de largos vestidos que simbolizan las estaciones.
Sala delle Stagioni, decorata con motivi floreali e donne in abiti lunghi che simboleggiano le stagioni.
The Hall of Illustrious Men, ten illustrious Venetians, such as Titian and Marco Polo, look down on us from the wall.
La Sala de los Hombres Ilustres, diez venecianos ilustres nos observan desde la pared, como Tiziano o Marco Polo.
La Sala degli Uomini Illustri, dieci illustri veneziani, come Tiziano e Marco Polo, ci guardano dal muro.
The Liberty room, added, in 1920, with a more modern atmosphere, decorated with mirrors with painted floral motifs and Murano glass chandeliers.
La Sala de la Liberty, agregada, en 1920, con un ambiente más moderno, decorada con espejos con motivos florales pintados y lámparas de cristal de Murano.
Nel 1920 è stata aggiunta la Sala Liberty, con un'atmosfera più moderna, decorata con specchi con motivi floreali dipinti e lampadari in vetro di Murano.
The Caffè Florian in a painting by Canaletto in the National Gallery in London.
The Florian was the first place that allowed women in Venice, which explains why Casanova chose it for the hunt for his conquests.
El Florian fue el primer local que permitió la entrada a mujeres en Venecia, lo que explica porqué Casanova lo eligió para la caza de sus conquistas.
Il Florian fu il primo locale che permise alle donne di entrare a Venezia, il che spiega perché Casanova lo scelse per la caccia alle sue conquiste.
Who wouldn’t fall in love with beautiful Venice? This unique city sitting on its own lagoon where everything is connected by the canal system, is an amazing place; but it’s also a challenge.
The maze of narrow streets, bridges and waterways combined with thousands of tourists and 30 degree heat made Venice an exhausting prospect. Luckily, we were staying just a 20 minute ferry ride away so it was very easy to get in and back out again.
We loved the history and the architecture - beautiful St Mark’s Square where a four piece band played to diners and those who had stopped for a coffee or a glass of wine. Doge’s Palace was incredible and we enjoyed the view from the Rialto Bridge along the canal as the gondolas manoeuvred through the busy waterway.
We also found the Bridge of Sighs - a famous Venice landmark - which connects the palace to the old prison cells.
Searching for an escape from the crowds, we headed for the Ca’ Rezzonico, a Baroque palace on the Canal Grande now the home of a museum on 18th Century Venice. At the back of the museum there is a peaceful garden and a fountain where turtles and Coi Carp live. It was the perfect place to rest in the shade before the next round of sightseeing.
Obviously, the city has its fair share of designer shops and in the shopping centre tourists can book a free ticket to go onto the roof for a view of the city. Alex took the lift to the terrace - but unsurprisingly I stayed below!
Our final stop was at The Basilica di Santa Maria Gloriosa dei Frari - the largest church in the city - which houses, among others, the tomb of the composer Monteverdi, a pioneer of Opera. So much history but we lost our way more than once, and had to catch a later ferry when we couldn’t find the terminal, as we tried to navigate this unusual city.