In May Venice Gets Ready for Painting and Art Biennale While June is All About Rome and Vatican Celebrations

Traveling to Italy this summer?  You’ll definitely want to visit Venice and Rome!  Italy is the perfect place to be immersed in culture, art & paintings, and to enjoy luxury travel.  Previews of the 55th International Art Exhibition will be held in Venice May 29^th through 31^st; most art venues will be open daily from 10am to 6pm.  The exhibition will run from June 1^st to November 24^th, 2013.  If you want to attend the preview, or get special access during the event, consider purchasing a Biennale Card.  Historical Archives of Contemporary Arts benefit 100% from revenue related to sales of the Card.

On July 30^th, a fundraising event will be held in Venice for the Historical Archives of Contemporary Arts.   In the basin of San Marco and the Giudecca Canal, hundreds of boats will be illuminated with paper lanterns. A boat bridge will float from the Dorsoduro to the Giudecca. Once a hotel, The Ca' Giustinian is a former 15th century gothic palace near Ca Rezonico, just a canal view across from Palazzo Grazzi. The evening’s sit down meal will include local dishes and conclude with a 30 minute fireworks display just before midnight.  This event will definitely be worth attending, not only to support art, but to enjoy the beauty and magic of the city of Venice.

During June, there are many religious observances in Rome. Make sure you witness at least one of the masses, processions and feasts.  On May 30^th, Corpus Christi starts with a Mass at San Giovanni en Laterano, followed by a procession to Santa Maria Maggiore.  On June 24^th, in observance of San Giovanni (John the Baptist), an additional mass, attended by hundreds of thousands of people, is held at San Giovanni Rome Cathedral. The feasts are typically comprised of street vendors who serve snails and suckling pig, flavored with pestled celery and caraway seeds, and roasted in traditional Roman style with salt and olive oil.  This year expect the celebrations to elevate to highlight the entry of newly enthroned Pope Francis.

I found out about these great events from my favorite travel guide, Travel with Carnet!