with
Venice...
In Venice, distances are short, It only takes an hour or so to
walk from one end of the city to the other. The townscape is
made up of a cluster of islets, each of which forms a miniature
“town Centre” with its own church, campanile, or bell-tower, a
square know as a campo, and shops nestling in among the houses.
Most of residential buildings have several entrances for it is a
uniquely Venetian tradition that each apartment should be
independent, with its own door and entrance hall. Whether large
or small, the shops in Venice are laid out to a very similar
plan and are rendered more attractive to live in by various
forms of decoration.
The bright colours and rich, artistic designs of Venice’s shops
suggest exotic markets scattered everywhere to beautify the
streets of the city’s. Nevertheless, shops do more than just
bear living testimony to the changing tastes of their owners.
They also provide us with a sort of concentrated history of art
that passes from the details of ancient products of the XVI,
XVII and XVIII-century created by artisans still now.
"...the great beauty was created not by those who have talent
or by genes, but by ordinary men who have managed to preserve
the life in the depths of their spiritual dimension.
Sōetsu Yanagi
"Once did she hold the gorgeous east in fee; And was the
safeguard of the west: the worth Of Venice did not fall below
her birth, Venice, the eldest Child of Liberty. She was a maiden
City, bright and free; No guile seduced, no force could violate;
And, when she took unto herself a Mate, She must espouse the
everlasting Sea. And what if she had seen those glories fade,
Those titles vanish, and that strength decay; Yet shall some
tribute of regret be paid When her long life has reach’d its
final day: Men are we, and must grieve when even the Shade Of
that which once was great is pass’d away."
William Wordsworth
