Blog Posts for Angela K Nickerson

Scala Contarini del Bovolo

Angela K Nickerson — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 10:07:22 -0800

Medieval and Renaissance Venetians often built exterior staircases on their homes to save precious living space. But the architects of the Scala Contarini del Bovolo -- or staircase of the snail shell -- took the art of floor-to-floor mobility to a new artistic level. Peter Contarini added the staircase and series of loggias to his palazzo near the end of the 1400’s. The staircase and ...

The World's Best Pumpkin Pie

Angela K Nickerson — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 10:06:34 -0800

I have to be honest. My family doesn't share this recipe with just anyone. But we're friends, right? So, once again I am sharing the recipe for my family's pumpkin pie -- the best and easiest recipe in the world. I blogged about baking at my grandmother's house last year about this time. This was one of the first recipes I learned to make, and I make pumpkin pie all fall and winter. ...

Photo Friday: Wedding in Piazza San Marco

Angela K Nickerson — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 12:20:40 -0800

You all know how much I love brides, and on this last trip to Venice, I watched a particularly gorgeous wedding party having their photos taken in Piazza San Marco. They were happily chatting in both English and Japanese. The mother of the bride's kimono was absolutely gorgeous. And look how delighted they all seem to be!To see more photos of the wedding party, check out my home ...

The Spritz: Venice's Other Cocktail

Angela K Nickerson — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 08:43:49 -0800

While the history of the Bellini is as clear as a glass of Prosecco, that of the Spritz is much like that of Venice -- colorful and mysterious. Cocktails much like the Spritz are common in parts of Austria, so most agree that the Spritz owes its origins to the Austro-Hungarian influence on Venice. And to those 18th century Austrian occupiers, we can all say, “Grazie!”To read more about ...

The Perfect Bellini

Angela K Nickerson — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 10:17:25 -0800

There are two cocktails which are irrevocably identified with Venice: the Spritz and the Bellini. The Bellini was born in Venice’s most famous watering hole: Harry’s Bar. Owner and barkeep, Giuseppe Cipriani, created his bubbly celebration-in-a-glass in the 1930s. When he reopened his bar after World War II, he resurrected the cocktail and christened it “the Bellini” in honor of Giovanni ...

Santa Maria della Salute

Angela K Nickerson — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 10:42:24 -0800

In 1630-31, the plague devastated Venice. One third of the population -- 95,000 people -- died during the outbreak. In October, 1630 as the plague had Venice on her knees, the Doge and the Senate vowed to make a holy processional each Saturday for fifteen weeks. And he also promised to dedicate a church to the Virgin Mary as a plea for her help. Soon thereafter the plague outbreak ...

Must See Museums: The Vitruvian Man in Venice

Angela K Nickerson — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 07:57:07 -0800

Leonardo: The Vitruvian Man Between Art and Science October 10, 2009 - January 10, 2010 Wandering the calles and campos of Venice where a good photograph lurks around every corner, I sometimes have trouble dragging myself inside. But on my last trip to Venice, I made a special point to visit the Gallerie dell’Accademia -- or Academy. Why? Because Leonardo da Vinci’s “Vitruvian Man” ...

Hotel Cipriani

Angela K Nickerson — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 10:42:56 -0800

The varnished, wooden boat with curtained windows pulls up to the dock, and the handsome driver offers me his hand as I step into the boat. “Buon giorno, Signora,” he says, “Please...” and he gestures toward the boat’s empty seats. Sitting in the back with the wind blowing through my hair, I feel like a starlet being whisked away to my secluded Venetian hideaway as the sun sets behind ...

Happy Halloween Michelangelo-Style!

Angela K Nickerson — Sat, 31 Oct 2009 09:51:37 -0700

Happy Halloween! It's a day of ghosts and goblins... and Michelangelo? Yep. Michelangelo! Read on... and maybe get some costuming inspiration? The Opening of The Sistine Chapel "Finally, on October 31, 1512, the chapel’s doors were opened and Romans flocked to see the wonders therein. Michelangelo’s work created an immediate sensation in the city and beyond. In covering the ...

Photo Friday: The Lion of Venice

Angela K Nickerson — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 08:54:30 -0700

Here in the centre stand the glass. Light Is the lion that comes down to drink. There And in that state, the glass is a pool. Ruddy are his eyes and ruddy are his claws When light comes down to wet his frothy jaws. -- Wallace Stevens, "The Glass of Water" The pride of lions -- stone and otherwise -- in Venice numbers in the thousands. For centuries the king of the beasts has served ...