Just announced: to more travelers to take advantage of discounts available to those who are planning last minute trips, VeniceConnected has reduced their advance-purchase requirement to only 7 days. Many people plan months ahead, but for those who find a last-minute flight at an irresistible price, this makes a Venetian visit that much more irresistible…and affordable. For details, visit VeniceConnected.com.
To commemorate Venice’s 1588th birthday, there will be an important program today at 16:30 in the Palazzo Ducale, in the Sala dello Scutinio. However, the Coordinamento of Voga Rowing Clubs are not letting this occasion pass without organizing their own extraordinary celebration. They’ll be towing the Serenissima up-river to Cremona, then rowing downstream for 36 hours straight to arrive in the lagoon at Chioggia on Sunday morning, row across the barrier islands and Pellestrina to Lido, and enter the Bacino to some well-deserved fanfare.
Should the weather hold, there’ll be a host of oar-powered craft to accompany and receive the Serenissima on its reentry.
So, keep your eyes peeled for this grand entrance, and give these proud, exhausted rowers an enthusiastic reception.
Once again, Happy Birthday, Venezia! You don’t look a day over 1488…
More concerts from Alberto Fano and the association archiviofano.it
In observation of Lent, 2009
“Ad Te levavioculos meos” (Ps.122)
ELEVAZIONI MUSICALI AL VESPRO
Music by composers of the 15th to 19th centuries
Organist
ROBERTO MICCONI
Sundays at 5 p.m.
March 1st, 8th, 15th, 29th; April 5th
Celebration of Vespers
Saturday, March 21st, 5:30 p.m.
Giorno di Organistica Europea in honor of J.S.Bach
NOTE:
There is no charge for the concerts.
Enter from Piazzetta dei Leoncini on the north side of the Basilica
If this works, it could be a very good thing.
Active as of today, VeniceConnected.com guarantees you lower prices for a variety of venues and services (along with avoiding having to stand in line to buy them) if you book through their site. You must make your purchase at least 15 days in advance, but low, medium, and high visitation periods are colorfully indicated on the calendar you’ll use in the booking process, so you can determine when your savings will be greatest.
At the moment, you can reserve parking, purchase public transport passes (from 12 hours to 7 days, good for ACTV vaporetto & land buses), Alilaguna airport transfers, museum passes, paid toilet services by the day or the week. Wi-fi access (city-wide availability due mid-year!) and Casinò entrance are included with any other purchases.
I’ve created a VeniceConnected article with more info, usage instructions, and some screen shots. If you use the site, do come back and post your experience with it.
Incrociamo le dita…
I can’t wait to try it out.
Beginning February 1, the multi-lingual avatar Giulia will be at VeniceConnected.com to help you reserve selected services in advance of arriving in Venice…and letting you know when they’re discounted the most (that is, when the city is less crowded). If this works, everyone will benefit: Venice, travelers, vendors…maybe even locals.
With Giulia’s assistance, VeniceConnected.com will allow the traveler to review a variety of services, reserving and paying in advance for those they need. At the moment these are limited to vaporetto passes, museum tickets and passes, parking (don’t park, drop the rental), and so on, but more will be added as time goes on, including city wi-fi access when it arrives later this year (woot!).
According to the press release, the site will function as a one-stop-shop, where instead of going to individual sites to purchase various services, you can not only accomplish it in one operation, but score a discount in the bargain. Once you select your service and make your payment, you’ll be assigned a voucher number, that will give you direct access to the prepaid services, and a bar-code that will allow you to check the status of the services you’ve purchased.
If you’re plannng a trip yourself, you’ll have to give it a try and get back with your results.
Incrociamo le dita…