"The best book ever written about Venice"
When you find this message written on the very first cover of the book you just picked up and in which you hope to find all the information you need, more or less, and when the message also comes from The Sunday Times, then you really can't resist it.
It's about Venice, Venice seen through the eyes of Jan Morris, that Venice I wanted to discover too, a glimpse of everything this fabulous city means, which has fascinated generations and continues to do so, in a grand style.
It doesn't matter if you've been to Venice or not. This book will spark a burning desire to go. Considered, if not the best, certainly among the best books ever written about Venice, Jan Morris's book not only promises but also succeeds in taking us on the most fascinating journey through this unique city in the world.
Incredibly well written, with detailed observations about the temperament of the inhabitants, the breathtaking beauty of every corner, the canals, bridges, squares, smells, sounds, lights, colors and more.
Jan Morris manages to include in a special way details, sometimes with great detail, about the beauty of the architecture, which has remained as a legacy of all those famous Venetian artists, recognized worldwide.
Venice Through the Eyes of Jan Morris
As you've already seen in my previous articles, I also made a quick trip to Venice. It really was a quick one, because it didn't want to keep me there too long, as if I had stolen some of its beauty (Ahahahaaa!!!).
Venice had been on my list for a long time. And I arrived, the first day everything was fine and beautiful, it welcomed me with open arms, sun, warmth, superb. The second day, completely the opposite. The waters rose and rose, so I packed my bags and left. The irony of fate: to be happy that you leave a day earlier. Ehhh that's it... I have a good reason to come back!
I had ordered Jan Morris's book about a month before. And I started to read it thoroughly, taking notes, dog-earing pages, with places to visit, with various points of interest, which I wouldn't have been able to discover anywhere else.
And the more I read, the more cool things I discovered about this city. Venice really must be awesome, I said to myself. And it is, it really is. But I forget that I only managed to enjoy it for one afternoon. And I didn't manage to put into practice everything I had noted down from Jan Morris.
I really would have liked to be able to interact with the people, besides those cool places. With ordinary Venetians... if they still exist...
"Venice remains an oddity. Since Napoleon's arrival, despite moments of heroism and sacrifice, it has largely turned into a museum, whose doors are endlessly stormed by armies of tourists. (...) Travelers still find it astonishing, exasperating, overwhelming, overpriced, strident and, to quote the words of a 16th-century Englishman, 'decadent in grandeur'. Venetians have long since become Italian citizens, but they are still a sui generis race, comparable to (...) Like poor relatives or provincial squires, Venetians like to meditate on their glorious pedigree, discovering ever older roots (...). Venetians like to tell you about 'my grandfather, renowned for his culture and intelligence' (...)
There is nothing offensive in this local pride, for Venetians are not boastful, but merely convinced, sometimes even passionate. Modern Venice is not half as extraordinary as they like to believe. Its brilliance and vitality depend largely on the tourists who come here in the summer, and its intellectual life is rather lazy."
Venice Through the Eyes of Jan Morris, With Good and Bad...
There's no forest without deadwood, as we know all too well. And so, not everything in Venice is as we would like it to be. But Morris has such a cool way of presenting all the facets of this proud city, that you can't arrive in Venice and be unprepared.
Here goes:
Primitivism goes hand in hand with dirt. Venice is a dirty city, despite its imposing facades and well-swept streets. There are strict laws prohibiting the dumping of garbage in the canals - repeat offenses are punishable by imprisonment; nevertheless, a lot of pestilential garbage is thrown, and Venetian housewives have no problem throwing their garbage or sweepings out the window...
Venice is Venice, one of the most sought-after destinations among tourists. A place still on my list of destinations and certainly, Jan Morris's book will accompany me on my journey in the next Venetian escapade. Because there will surely be at least one more.
