Venetian cultural visits: Cini ​Foundation and La Fenice Theater

FRS114 having croissants (plain, cream & ​chocolate) & drinks (water + coffee) for ​breakfast! Picture by Dr. Gisolo.

Scenic vaporetto ride down the Grand Canal en route to the Cini Foundation

A couple of FRS114 students pictured right ​before taking a vaporetto from San Marco to ​San Giorgio Maggiore.

a​lmost at the Cini Foundation!

inside the Cini Foundation!

i ate squid ink pasta with garlic on top :D it ​was very, very scrumptious. -Myra

Our guide went through in detail the rich history of the La Fenice Theater, also known as “the Phoenix”. Most surprising was the reason why it burnt down in 1996. Apparently, electricians intentionally set the theater on fire to cover up delays in their work which would cause them hefty fines. Nevertheless, the theater was rebuilt and able to rise again from the ashes, much like a phoenix.

The whole squad (minus Rhodes because he ​got into an accident w a water taxi) in La ​Fenice Theater

Personal reflection

BY JERRY

The morning started off cold and foggy, and I got to see Venice wake up before my own eyes. I witnessed cargo being unloaded off ferries and workers getting ready for their day. It was fascinating seeing the city come to life before the hordes of tourists descended. I enjoyed soaking in the atmosphere, sipping on a cappuccino in front of the Rialto bridge.

We next visited the Cini Foundation, where we learnt a great deal about the history of Venetian glass through the General Archive of Venetian Glass. In particular, archives relating to the renowned Antonio Salviati Glassworks were displayed. The Cini Foundation also worked closely in collaboration with the EPFL to digitize Venetian Cultural Heritage using some truly remarkable methods (methods to digitize books, scanning the entire island of San Giorgio Maggiore, etc.)

During my free time, I explored the various shops of Venice and came across a wide range of trinkets, glass artworks, clothing and more. Visiting the Peggy Guggenheim collection was a most remarkable experience - it was a very small but well curated selection of contemporary artworks.

We concluded with a tour and chamber concert at La Fenice, which was the highlight of the day. It was such a privilege to be able to appreciate the rich history and heritage of La Fenice. I especially liked its Rococo style, and the various architectural elements that contributed to a heavenly atmosphere. The chamber concert that proceeded after the tour was spectacular as well, and I was enraptured by the musicality and virtuoso technique of the performers.

This was a very memorable day and I am grateful to Princeton University and our donors for enabling us to have such an experience. Special thanks to Dr Feng and Dr Gisolo for making this happen!

Personal reflection

BY CALEB

In my opinion, this was our best day in Venice. It was a perfect mixture of learning about glass history, free time, and cultural immersion. Although it was a foggy and cold morning, getting breakfast at the cafe right next to the Rialto bridge was a relaxing experience. Going to the morning market and seeing the unique kinds of seafood and mouthwatering pastas and vegetables almost made me feel like a local and made me extremely hungry. The Cini Foundation was not only situated in a beautiful campus, but also was my first exposure to historical archival research. The process of digitizing and creating archival footage for the millions of Venetian artifacts on hand requires a ginger hand and seems like grueling work. Some of their artifacts were hundreds of years old, and they had sketches and physical glass works that were simply breathtaking. After the Cini foundation, getting lunch and shopping got so much more relaxing once the sun came out. Although I failed to find anything that I wanted to buy, sitting down at a cafe in a large piazza with the sun beaming and a cappuccino on the table was one of my best memories of the trip. I felt like I could have retired right then and there. The Peggy Guggenheim afterwards was also amazing. Every piece felt very meticulously curated, so the museum felt extremely impressive even though the actual building was quite small and condensed. My favorite byfar was the picture on the top left, titled The Kiss. I love the composition of the piece and the title left me pondering the artist’s interpretation of a kiss. The funniest one is the picture on the top right titled, The Angel of the City, for obvious reasons. In the back of the museum, there was also a beautiful view of the canal. After our free time, the La Fenice Theater was one of the most beautiful halls that I have ever been inside. Visiting the main box was also super cool. The chamber concert itself was awesome as well. As a cellist, I was enraptured by the cellist’s skill and poise throughout the entire concert. Afterwards, going out with a couple friends was also a great time. This day was full of fun, beautiful sights, learning, and was overall an amazing experience.

Personal reflection

BY MYRA

This day was very notable and memorable due to it involving both the furthering of our knowledge of ​glass and the furthering of our awareness of Venetian art and culture. The early morning walk, even ​though it was foggy, allowed us to appreciate the beautiful scenery of Venice without many tourists ​around. The visit to the Cini Foundation was a wonderful opportunity for us to expose ourselves to the ​history of glass, and more specifically, the details in how glass is archived. Plus, the library within the ​Cini Foundation was very, very beautiful. The six hours of freetime that we were granted allowed for us ​to explore Venice, and the surrounding area, on our own. These six hours of freetime was the highlight of ​my day because I got to spend it just doing whatever I wanted with my friends in Venice! We did a lot of ​shopping and a lot of eating! The shopping adventures that my friends and I went on further emphasized ​to me the tourist-friendly nature of Venice. Plus, we came across a lot of shops that hand-made their ​items. These items ranged from glass jewelry to bookmarks to paintings. I found it very intriguing and ​admirable because it goes to show how passionate each and every store owner is in selling their products. ​And the food, of course, was incredible. Venice has amazing seafood and my friend Elijah loves their ​cicchettis .. and tiramisu .. and cannolis. Plus, obviously, spending hours in Venice with your friends is ​bound to lead to an endless amount of unforgettable memories. After the freetime, we had to go to La ​Fenice for a tour and to go see a music concert. The architecture in La Fenice was absolutely beautiful. ​The design was glamorous, intricate, and absolutely mindblowing, Everyone was taking a ton of pictures ​and videos, and for very, very good reason. The theater was probably one of, if not the, most beautiful ​building we visited. Plus, the story that our tour guide told us about how La Fenice was burned down was ​incredible to hear about. Plus, the sandwiches we were served were top tier. At La Fenice Theater, we ​watched and listened to a music concert which was absolutely beautiful. The passion that the performers ​displayed while performing was incredible and the music they produced was even more so. It was an ​unforgettable performance. I ended off my day by getting dinner and staying up late with friends. ​Overall, it was a very, very memorable experience. Thank you to Dr. Feng & the rest of the FRS program ​for giving us this amazing trip!