{take me away № 12 | Venice, Italy}

The day’s itinerary may have held a leisurely stroll along the canal and a lovely visit to the Basilica di San Marco, the Peggy Guggenheim Collection and Gallerie dell’Accademia, and perhaps even the Ca’ Pesaro; a stop or two for long lunch and a little shopping. But as the day of discoveries and sites comes to a close, the sun begins to set in the sky, casting an indescribable golden glow over the beautiful buildings and canals of this magical city.

There are gondolas with enchanted passengers return for the evening — there are no cars, but vaporetti. Traditional melodies trail through the waterside streets, through the buildings, and over the rooftop terraces, creating such an impossibly beautiful mix of sights and sounds, and the night has just begun . . .

For this New Year’s Eve, let’s take a trip to Venice, Italy, for a masquerade ball, held in “The City of Masks” in celebration of the year to come.

Masquerade balls, which date back to roughly the 11th century, were extravagant and lavish affairs in which attendees would dress in costume, accompanied with an intriguing mask for disguise. These balls were often associated with the tradition of the annual Venetian Carnival in Italy, and were said to be the highlight of the festival.

Carnival, meaning, ‘farewell to meat’, is a pre-Lent festival that is celebrated throughout all of Italy, with the Carnival itself, being first held in Venice in the 11th century. As for the masks, they were initially seen on the streets of Venice in the 15th century; some were rather simple in design, while others were much more elaborate, constituting incredible works of art.

In the 18th century, however, masquerade balls were no longer, and it wasn’t until the late 1970s/1980s that the fun of such balls was realized and re-interpreted for modern times. For modern day, masquerade masks may be designed with plastic and fabric, or traditional elements such as clay and papier maché. Not only do they continue to appear at the Venetian Carnival each year, adding an element of fun and history to the event, but throughout the world, at numerous celebrations and occasions such as New Year’s Eve.

Carnival in the 18th century actually began with a series of balls located in St. Mark’s Square, which can be seen on the fresco on the walls of the famous Caffè Quadri. [more about the restaurant just below]

So take your finest jewels and accessories—[perhaps a few feathers]—and your most glamorous gown, and slip on the mask of your choosing—you are no longer yourself, but whomever you wish—if only for just one night . . . and away we go for a most unforgettable evening in romantic Venezia . . .

 

WHERE TO STAY | WHERE TO EAT | WHAT TO PACK

 

01 | Villa F

Villa F only recently announced the exciting unveiling of 11 well-appointed suites — marking a true boutique hotel — in May 2011. Situated on the beautiful island of Giudecca, Villa F faces the Grand Canal and San Marco, and is only a few minutes away, by boat, from the heart of Venice.

Originally built as a home for noble Venetian families, in the early 20th century it became a luxury pensione for artists, actors and writers of the era. Located in an historic palazzo from the Renaissance, the hotel has been restructured with modern conveniences.

The grand villa, with its soaring ceilings, has been separated into private residences, some with one bedroom, an ensuite and a lounge, while others are two bedroom ‘residenza’ with ensuite bathrooms, terraces, large living rooms with fireplaces, separate, custom-designed kitchen, and views overlooking the private gardens.

There are also full hotel services offered, including: concierge, chef, governess, and butler. Villa F sits on three roaming acres of private gardens, and includes a winter garden and Mediterranean Pool.

02 | Hotel Danieli

A majestic staircase, high ceilings adorned with golden leaves, Murano glass, and ornately carved pink marble columns greet guests magnificently, at this exquisite palace turned hotel.

And in fact, the feature accommodation in the movie, The Tourist, Hotel Danieli occupies an excellent location on Riva degli Schiavoni, (arguably the most desirable of locations) with easy access to Piazza San Marco, a multitude of cultural attractions, La Biennale di Venezia, shopping, outdoor cafès and wonderful restaurants.

There are 225 guestrooms and suites, decorated in carefully chosen materials quite indigenous to the very heritage of Venice. Guests are welcomed to sumptuous and elegant surroundings, some of which feature antique furnishings, precious fabrics and luxurious marble bathrooms, many of which look out onto the dreamy Venice lagoon; a stay here would be easily considered one of the most elegant of hotel experiences in all of Italy.

03 | Ca Maria Adele

A rather unique and intimate hotel, Ca Maria Adele is located in a tranquil corner of Venice’s Dorsoduro district. Famed for its grand gestures, modern touches and impeccable service, the hotel offers 12 rooms to to accommodate guests.

Beyond the inspiring rooms themselves, the more communal spaces have been decorated in an eclectic manner, with an intriguing mix of antiques and contemporary pieces, selected from around the world. Though quite professionally put together, this boutique hotel seems to welcome guests just as a home might, with every space very much like a new discovery, and yet remarkably comfortable.

And as a fun & unique concept, each room in the Ca Maria Adele has its own title, description, mood, colour, dress code, sound, and so on. Such details beautifully add to the experience of this unique slice of Italy.

[editor’s note : ca maria adele was first featured on {this is glamorous} on april 18, 2008] — r.