ART: Venice Carnival

Masks are synonymous with the Carnival of Venice. People come from the world over to attend private and public masked balls and masked revelers of all ages invade the campo’s of Venice where music and dancing continues nearly day and night.

The Venice Carnival starts two Fridays before Ash Wednesday. ‘Carnival’ the word comes from the Latin for "Farewell, meat!” and on Ash Wednesday, Lent begins, so people have to consume all the meat, butter and eggs before the fast. This religious activity became the great cause for the people to party.

Historically the Venice Carnival started after 1162. It is believed that in that year the Republic scored a victory over Ulrico, Patriarch of Aquileia, they started the tradition of celebrating the victory by slaughtering a bull and twelve pigs around Shrove Tuesday. Slowly these celebrations gained momentum.

During the eighteenth century the Carnival was at its peak. The spirit of the Carnival is best demonstrated by the paintings of Francesco Guardi and the diaries of Giacomo Casanova. The period of 1930s saw a notable slide of the Carnival, when it was prohibited by Mussolini. In 1979, the Carnival was leased a new life through the efforts of some of the Venetians. Slowly the tradition got momentum and today the image of the masked revelers is the worldwide icon of Venice in February.

As of today, during the Carnival everybody is wearing masks and this abolishes all social divisions and everybody is free to enjoy. You can find groups of people of varying age groups partying, carousing, and singing, dancing and playing games in all the open spaces and on the streets. The Bautta, is a most common costume, consisting of a black silk hood, a lace cape, a voluminous cloak (the tabarro), and a three-cornered hat and a white mask which completely covers the face. The wearer can walk around without being recognized.

Since the 1980’s, the Venice Carnival has gained more popularity. Private and public masked balls, theatrical performances and an array of ancient games are being organized for the entertainment of tourist as well as locals. Italian folklore, history, and society inspire the types of masks worn today. The masks fall in several categories, like Commedia dell'Arte masks are inspired by traditional characters like satyrs, demons and lawyers to sailors, bakers, butchers Harlequin and Pierrot, the fantasy masks are inspired by history and also the imagination of the manufacturer.

Latest Venice Holiday apartments on Holiday Velvet:

Venice Jewel: sleeps up to 6 in Venice Cannaregio

Castello View: sleeps up to 4 in Venice Castello

Mini Palace: sleeps up to 2 in Venice San Polo

ART: Ravello Festival

Ravello, perched high above the Amalfi Coast, is known for its tranquility and serenity and possesses a distinct laid back atmosphere - but this quiet town is not without its entertainment.

There is an open air festival that has been known to attract many musicians and artists. This festival is called by many names such as the Summer Music Festival, the Ravello Festival or the Wagner Festival. This is the one event that can make the town of Ravello transform from its usual peaceful atmosphere into one that is vibrant and exciting. Ravello at this time comes to life and is filled with persons all interested in the music festival.

The festival was originally a way to bolster tourism using the historical visit of Richard Wagner to Ravello. It has developed from its beginnings in 1953 where focus was only on Wagner’s music to today where it has expanded to include many genres of music. The festival is now two months long and includes music from orchestras, chamber groups, dance, art shows and many other exhibitions. There are many renowned visitors to the festival and the festival offers meetings with musicians and other artists as well as a film aspect that has been included.

The festival starts on the 30th of June and continues to the 17th of September with performances from over eight hundred artists. There are eight sections, some of which include the visual arts and film. Some performers included Luis Bacalov with the Orchestra Mozart Sinfonietta on the 5th of August and a piano concert by Arturo Stàlteri featuring music ranging from Genesis to the Rolling Stones. For more information on the Ravello Festival visit the website www.ravellofestival.com.

Accommodation in Ravello is obviously very scarce at the time of the festival, so you will need to book early in order to get a room. Some Villas in Ravello are beautiful and very luxurious, so holiday rentals in Ravello are not just music lovers but also for those who want to appreciate the Amalfi Coast in style.

ART: Positano Music Festival

In one of the most picturesque town of the Amalfi Coast, in Positano is held every year between the months of July and September The Festival Musica d'Estate; also commonly referred to as the Chamber Music Festival. This festival has many genres of music and has not been limited to merely classical music. You’ll find a fantastic diversity of jazz and folk music as well as modern music from around the world.

The Festival Musica d’Estate has many activities to suit the avid music fan and musician. There are private and public shows and concerts as well as talks and master classes that take place during the festival. These are conducted by persons renowned in the different types of music. This year the Festival was held from the 17th of July to the 30th of July. There were many artists present and classes were given for the piano, strings and vocals. The piano master classes were conducted by Great Maestro Aldo Ciccolini. Some performers and teachers at this festival were Eileen Huang, Hristo Popov and Joseph Rosen to name a few.

If you're planning on going to the Musica d'Estate in Positano, you could stay in one of our beautiful villas or apartments in Positano:

»Casa Pasitea.
»Giardino.
»Casa Gladioli.

ART: Barcelona Sonar Festival

Barcelona is well known for the music festivals and the Sonar Festival is one of the most popular. Every June, the Sonar Festival is a progressive music event held over three days and three nights. The festival was held this year from the 15th of June to the 17th of June. This was the 13th edition of the festival and featured both national and international artist that are well known.

The Festival boasts of over 300 activities and includes Dj sets, concerts and film. The festival uses all the latest technologies to provide a state of the art entertaining festival using all forms of multimedia. In Sonar Festival 2006 there were all kinds of music from electronic music to dance sounds as well as other exotic music types such as the sounds of Jamaica. This is a meeting point for artists, the public and music professionals from all sectors of music and the modern arts. There are two very distinct and separate parts to the Sonar Festival. The ‘Sonar by day’ which is held in the Museum of Contemporary Art, and features not only great live music and DJs, but also art installations, screenings of low-budget films, and also fairs where you can buy records. The ‘Sonar by night’ part attracts some of the biggest names in avant-garde and techno music.

This city has much to offer and has great food and accommodation in Barcelona. If you are seeking accommodation in Barcelona there are many hotels and other accommodations such as apartments that can provide luxury and comfort. Barcelona is a gem of a holiday destination with activities for persons of all ages.

Thinking about going to the Sonar festival in 2007? check out some of Holiday Velvet's apartments in Barcelona and the Gothic Quarter:

»Ramblas Bacardi - Sleeps 4 people
»Flat Tibidabo Slope - Sleeps 8 people
»Rambla 1 - Sleeps 2

ART: Prague Spring Festival

The Prague Spring Festival of 2006 started on the 11th of May and continued until the 3rd of June: more than 2 weeks of fun.

In a continuous tradition from 1946, the Prague Spring Festival celebrates classical music through concerts. The festival frequently celebrates musical anniversaries through its programme and displays Czech composers alongside premiers of contemporary composers from around the world.

The international competition for young musicians made famous through TV shows is every bit as spectacular as in real life. The festival seems to only get more intense once the winner is known. Next year the festival will be the 62nd Prague Spring Festival (commencing on the 12th of May 2007) and will again feature many classical music artists. For more information on the Prague Spring Festival you can visit their website Prague Spring Festival.

In terms of finding accommodation in Prague, there are many apartments, and places that offer all the necessary amenities for a comfortable stay. If you’re looking for accommodation in Prague, you can opt to stay in one of the many tourist-focused hotels, or in a privately rented apartment. The latter have proved to be very popular with Western Europeans, to the point where buying accommodation in Prague is seen as a financial investment. Within the Old Town there is a wealth of great accommodation, and many luxurious hotels can be booked separately or as part of packages; but there is also bed and breakfast type accommodation in Prague that can be more reasonable. Prague is a great tourist destination that is safe and offers tourists an inviting atmosphere.

If you're planning on going to the Prague Spring Festival, Holiday Velvet has some wonderful apartments right in the historical center of Prague and near to the Old Town Square:

»Central - Sleeps 6 people
»Old Town - Sleeps 3 people
»Hastalska Alchymie - Sleeps 4 people

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