The Quest Express: Travel, Culture & Untold Stories

VENICE:  In the last episode we left the crypt at the bottom of a church (San Zaccaria) in the 9th century. What will we find inside? Why was Giovanni Bellini's painting so earth-shattering for the times, and Who's That Girl - Angela de Moro?

Stories Chas shares in today's episode: 

• Debaucherous parties & blackmailing nuns!
• The body of St. Mark
• What was Vivaldi's role at the nun's orphanage?
• How Bellini's painting opened cultural doors
• The Disruptions of the Huns
• The Story of Angela de Moro: courtesan & politician's daughter

Contact Chas:
Navigating Venice Facebook Page
Email:  [email protected]

Painting: Detail from ‘San Zaccaria Altarpiece’ (1505) by Giovanni Bellini (c.1430–1516). Source Wikiart

Visit the Chiesa di San Zaccaria

Bio:

Introducing the First Premium, Come to You, Decentralized Dinner Society for Discerning Travelers: The Dinner Story.   Visit us and inquire here: The Dinner Story

The podcast may be over, but our curiosity and hunger for inspiring people and experiences will never end.

Join the WAITING LIST for our most unique experiences, COMMISSION a rare season of modular events, or just say HI:   [email protected]

Music Credits:  INTRO:  Loyalty - Philip Ayers | OUTRO: Grasshopper's Dance - Etienne Roussel

VENICE:  In our final week on Venice, we meet New Yorker, Chas Carner who is an award-winning NYC-based print, television, and other media writer. 

He’s traveled to Venice over 30 times, collecting friends, artists, stories, favorite sites, and hints for fellow travelers, and other “eager tourists" like himself. 

He is also co-author of the popular literary travel guide VENICEWALKS and the author of the best-selling novel, TAWNY.

In 2021, he founded and funded CarnerTales LLC, comprising teams of writers, illustrators, editors, and producers who create graphic novels that are timely, prosocial, insightful, and nonviolent, all of which promote empathy, understanding, and kindness.

His next travel project, NAVIGATING VENICE, will provide content for digital delivery via the internet and smartphone apps. 

Contact Chas:
Navigating Venice Facebook Page
Email:  [email protected]

In Tuesday's episode we learn:

• Why Venetians look straight ahead instead of down
• What most don't know about gondoliers
• How Venetians are both alike & different from New Yorkers
• What Lucca & Venice have in common
• Chas shares his favorite walk from his book "Venice Walks"
• and many more tales and synchronicities...

Introducing the First Premium, Come to You, Decentralized Dinner Society for Discerning Travelers: The Dinner Story.   Visit us and inquire here: The Dinner Story

The podcast may be over, but our curiosity and hunger for inspiring people and experiences will never end.

Join the WAITING LIST for our most unique experiences, COMMISSION a rare season of modular events, or just say HI:   [email protected]

Music Credits:  INTRO:  Loyalty - Philip Ayers | OUTRO: Grasshopper's Dance - Etienne Roussel

VENICE:  In this episode, we imagine what food guide, blogger & podcaster, Monica Cesarato would do for Venice if she was the mayor. We also discuss the famous banner on the canal and her year-long journey with "Venice Talks."

Subscribe to her podcast for free here to meet more Venetians.   

For her blog, booking & podcast go to her website: www.monicacesarato.com
Grab Monica's book in English or in Italian

Monica’s Food & Wine Tours

Inside this episode:

• Monica's format and journey as a podcaster for "Venice Talks"
• The Word Association game
• How Venice feels about the mafia
• What Mayoress Cesarato would do for Venice 

Monica Cesarato is a Travel & Food blogger, podcaster for Venice Talks and a food guide from Venice.  She wrote a book about Cicchetti called "Andar Per Bacari" and she has appeared in numerous TV shows talking about Venice and food.

Her mission is to educate, empower, and encourage exploration. She writes pieces that examine cultural issues, craftsmen, artisans and so much more in Venice.  She has worked with Alex Polizzi on her amazing Italy series, and Eugene Levy for Apple TV on the program The Reluctant Traveler. 

What others are saying:

"..With her mesmerizing storytelling skills, Monica’s tours are a whirlwind of cultural, social and epicurean information punctuated by generous glugs of wine and excellent plates of Ciccheti (Venetian tapas)…"     -- The Lonely Planet

"…It’s a way to taste real traditional Venetian food,” says Cesarato. “It’s hard to get [authentic cicchetti] at a good restaurant in Venice because many were born to satisfy tourists and don’t serve real Venetian recipes…."   -- Monica on Ciccheti inThe Boston Globe

"We visited different Cicchetti places and we finished the tour in a superb wine bar with an amazing local cuisine, everything was excellent, we've tasted many wines and I discovered the Amarone wine and many local wines.....I am speechless....it was awesome, the owner of the restaurant bar was so friendly and we felt like real Venetian!!!"  -- Review from TripAdvisor.com

Introducing the First Premium, Come to You, Decentralized Dinner Society for Discerning Travelers: The Dinner Story.   Visit us and inquire here: The Dinner Story

The podcast may be over, but our curiosity and hunger for inspiring people and experiences will never end.

Join the WAITING LIST for our most unique experiences, COMMISSION a rare season of modular events, or just say HI:   [email protected]

Music Credits:  INTRO:  Loyalty - Philip Ayers | OUTRO: Grasshopper's Dance - Etienne Roussel

VENICE: Monica Cesarato talks about her mother's cooking, the cicchetti "pub crawl" and what makes Venetian food so different from other regions in Italy.

Grab Monica's book in English or in Italian

For her blog, booking & podcast go to her website: www.monicacesarato.com

Restaurant mention, Osteria La Scuela

Inside this episode:

• What makes authentic Venetian food so different from other regions
• Where are the fruits and vegetables sourced?
• Where can you go back in time over 60 years?
• The journey from Bed & Breakfast to food tours
• Good food vs. bad food in Venice
• Get Monica's book on cicchetti

Bio:

Monica Cesarato is a Travel & Food blogger, podcaster for Venice Talks and a food guide from Venice.  She wrote a book about Cicchetti called "Andar Per Bacari" and she has appeared in numerous TV shows talking about Venice and food.

Visit Her Links:
Monica’s Food & Wine Tours

Monica’s Podcast via www.monicacesarato.com

Listen to Monica’s Podcast on Apple

Buy Monica’s Book “Andar Per Bacari”

What others are saying:

"..With her mesmerizing storytelling skills, Monica’s tours are a whirlwind of cultural, social and epicurean information punctuated by generous glugs of wine and excellent plates of Ciccheti (Venetian tapas)…"     -- The Lonely Planet

"…It’s a way to taste real traditional Venetian food,” says Cesarato. “It’s hard to get [authentic cicchetti] at a good restaurant in Venice because many were born to satisfy tourists and don’t serve real Venetian recipes…."   -- Monica on Ciccheti inThe Boston Globe

"We visited different Cicchetti places and we finished the tour in a superb wine bar with an amazing local cuisine, everything was excellent, we've tasted many wines and I discovered the Amarone wine and many local wines.....I am speechless....it was awesome, the owner of the restaurant bar was so friendly and we felt like real Venetian!!!"  -- Review from TripAdvisor.com

Introducing the First Premium, Come to You, Decentralized Dinner Society for Discerning Travelers: The Dinner Story.   Visit us and inquire here: The Dinner Story

The podcast may be over, but our curiosity and hunger for inspiring people and experiences will never end.

Join the WAITING LIST for our most unique experiences, COMMISSION a rare season of modular events, or just say HI:   [email protected]

Music Credits:  INTRO:  Loyalty - Philip Ayers | OUTRO: Grasshopper's Dance - Etienne Roussel

VENICE: We are setting the table for a culinary & travel expert on Venice, Monica Cesarato.  Learn more here.  On Thursday & Saturday, you'll learn the secrets of great Venetian food and how to find the best food in Venice. But today, get to know Monica as she shares her love of Venice and her insights on slow travel & Venetian tourism.

We cover:

• Why Venice is so safe
• Monica's first memories of Venice 
• Her startling memory of another time
• The importance of slow travel
• The indomitable spirit of the Venetians
• How to better manage tourism in Venice

Bio:

Monica Cesarato is a Travel & Food blogger, podcaster for Venice Talks and a food guide from Venice.  She wrote a book about Cicchetti called "Andar Per Bacari" and she has appeared in numerous TV shows talking about Venice and food.

Visit Her Links:
Monica’s Food & Wine Tours

Monica’s Podcast via www.monicacesarato.com

Listen to Monica’s Podcast on Apple

Buy Monica’s Book “Andar Per Bacari”

What others are saying:

"..With her mesmerizing storytelling skills, Monica’s tours are a whirlwind of cultural, social and epicurean information punctuated by generous glugs of wine and excellent plates of Ciccheti (Venetian tapas)…"     -- The Lonely Planet

"…It’s a way to taste real traditional Venetian food,” says Cesarato. “It’s hard to get [authentic cicchetti] at a good restaurant in Venice because many were born to satisfy tourists and don’t serve real Venetian recipes…."   -- Monica on Ciccheti inThe Boston Globe

"We visited different Cicchetti places and we finished the tour in a superb wine bar with an amazing local cuisine, everything was excellent, we've tasted many wines and I discovered the Amarone wine and many local wines.....I am speechless....it was awesome, the owner of the restaurant bar was so friendly and we felt like real Venetian!!!"  -- Review from TripAdvisor.com

Introducing the First Premium, Come to You, Decentralized Dinner Society for Discerning Travelers: The Dinner Story.   Visit us and inquire here: The Dinner Story

The podcast may be over, but our curiosity and hunger for inspiring people and experiences will never end.

Join the WAITING LIST for our most unique experiences, COMMISSION a rare season of modular events, or just say HI:   [email protected]

Music Credits:  INTRO:  Loyalty - Philip Ayers | OUTRO: Grasshopper's Dance - Etienne Roussel

What happens when you spend a month living off grid in Hawaii? Have you ever put your phone on airplane mode for a weekend just to calm your nervous system? And could off-grid living be a first step towards restoring Western civilization? 

Apply for off-grid weekend & 2-week experiences here

Buy Kamal Ravikant's book "Live Your Truth" here

Music Credit:  "Planting Trees", The Waiting World

Introducing the First Premium, Come to You, Decentralized Dinner Society for Discerning Travelers: The Dinner Story.   Visit us and inquire here: The Dinner Story

The podcast may be over, but our curiosity and hunger for inspiring people and experiences will never end.

Join the WAITING LIST for our most unique experiences, COMMISSION a rare season of modular events, or just say HI:   [email protected]

Music Credits:  INTRO:  Loyalty - Philip Ayers | OUTRO: Grasshopper's Dance - Etienne Roussel

VENICE: If you've ever wanted to know the real story behind Vespucci, Galileo & Casanova, listen to the last episode in our 3-part series with modern-day renaissance man, Raffaele Dessi. You can follow him on IG @raffaeledessi

Today Raffaele shares:

• The mystery of a 2nd century tunic & Nodo di Salomone
• Venice & diversity many years ago
• What you don't know about Casanova
• America's "jewels" during the Renaissance period
• Why people were able to ask WHY in Padua
• Venice Cocktail Week, Venice Fashion Week & La Festa Della Salute

Bio:

Raffaele Dessi graduated in architecture in 2003, with a thesis on the representation of Venetian architecture of the second half of the 1500s as a function of public ceremony. A practicing architect for several years, he worked in the restoration of historic buildings in the historic center of Venice.

He followed his passion for the study and dissemination of the culture of fashion and customs, leaving the world of architecture and transforming the occasional collaborations with the Atelier Pietro Longhi, taking care of all the cultural projects for the Venetian atelier, from the direction of events to the preparation of performances, as well as communication, social media and the e-commerce aspect. He has developed various training projects and itineraries within public and private structures on the theme of fashion evolution and fashion as a mirror of the cultural evolution of a people. He has created and managed several events from planning to creation of the scenography up to the direction of the entire event with the recruitment and training of the artists. With his previous experience as a restorer architect, he had access to buildings that were otherwise unknown and not open to the public as unique sets for various documentaries, thus creating faithful and reliable reconstructions.

ATELIER PIETRO LONGHI 

Responsible for the direction and subsequent artistic and logistical organization of events within prestigious Venetian structures, such as the museums of the Fondazione Musei Civici Veneziani and the G. Cini Foundation, and numerous other structures in Italy and abroad (Urbino, St. Petersburg, Helsinki, and Los Angeles).

Curator for the Italian part of documentaries for ZDF (TerraX programme), Arté, National Geographic, and Magnolia, where in addition to being a scientific consultant he collaborated as location manager and casting director. He has collaborated with the national networks Rai Storia, Canale 5 (“Journey into great beauty”, episode on Venice) and Rai 1 (“A night in... Venice). Latest subjects of the documentaries edited in order of time: Galileo Galilei, Vivaldi, Casanova, Josephine de Beauharnais, Amerigo Vespucci. Within the documentaries on Vivaldi and Galileo, Raffaele is interviewed as an expert on Italian Renaissance and Baroque culture, of which, together with other experts in different fields, where he offers a vision for a great public.

Introducing the First Premium, Come to You, Decentralized Dinner Society for Discerning Travelers: The Dinner Story.   Visit us and inquire here: The Dinner Story

The podcast may be over, but our curiosity and hunger for inspiring people and experiences will never end.

Join the WAITING LIST for our most unique experiences, COMMISSION a rare season of modular events, or just say HI:   [email protected]

Music Credits:  INTRO:  Loyalty - Philip Ayers | OUTRO: Grasshopper's Dance - Etienne Roussel

VENICE: If you've ever taken ballroom dancing or swing dance lessons, you might want to consider adding the Menuetto to your repertoire. You know it well, as you've probably seen Mr. Darcy dancing it awkwardly with Elizabeth in Pride & Prejudice.

Today, Raffaele shares with us:

• What makes Venice unique
• The events in Venice artists shouldn't miss
• Spring Festivals you might want to attend
• Why renting a Palazzo is different in Venice than Florence
• How Raffaele crossed paths with his wife 
• The wisdom of Raffaele's teacher
• Dance vs. Music & the rules of the game
• What you should never do when dancing Mr. Darcy style....

Bio:

Raffaele Dessi graduated in architecture in 2003, with a thesis on the representation of Venetian architecture of the second half of the 1500s as a function of public ceremony. A practicing architect for several years, he worked in the restoration of historic buildings in the historic center of Venice.

He followed his passion for the study and dissemination of the culture of fashion and customs, leaving the world of architecture and transforming the occasional collaborations with the Atelier Pietro Longhi, taking care of all the cultural projects for the Venetian atelier, from the direction of events to the preparation of performances, as well as communication, social media and the e-commerce aspect. He has developed various training projects and itineraries within public and private structures on the theme of fashion evolution and fashion as a mirror of the cultural evolution of a people. He has created and managed several events from planning to creation of the scenography up to the direction of the entire event with the recruitment and training of the artists. With his previous experience as a restorer architect, he had access to buildings that were otherwise unknown and not open to the public as unique sets for various documentaries, thus creating faithful and reliable reconstructions.

ATELIER PIETRO LONGHI 

Responsible for the direction and subsequent artistic and logistical organization of events within prestigious Venetian structures, such as the museums of the Fondazione Musei Civici Veneziani and the G. Cini Foundation, and numerous other structures in Italy and abroad (Urbino, St. Petersburg, Helsinki, and Los Angeles).

Curator for the Italian part of documentaries for ZDF (TerraX programme), Arté, National Geographic, and Magnolia, where in addition to being a scientific consultant he collaborated as location manager and casting director. He has collaborated with the national networks Rai Storia, Canale 5 (“Journey into great beauty”, episode on Venice) and Rai 1 (“A night in... Venice). Latest subjects of the documentaries edited in order of time: Galileo Galilei, Vivaldi, Casanova, Josephine de Beauharnais, Amerigo Vespucci. Within the documentaries on Vivaldi and Galileo, Raffaele is interviewed as an expert on Italian Renaissance and Baroque culture, of which, together with other experts in different fields, where he offers a vision for a great public.

Introducing the First Premium, Come to You, Decentralized Dinner Society for Discerning Travelers: The Dinner Story.   Visit us and inquire here: The Dinner Story

The podcast may be over, but our curiosity and hunger for inspiring people and experiences will never end.

Join the WAITING LIST for our most unique experiences, COMMISSION a rare season of modular events, or just say HI:   [email protected]

Music Credits:  INTRO:  Loyalty - Philip Ayers | OUTRO: Grasshopper's Dance - Etienne Roussel

VENICE: A native Sardinian, Raffaele Dessi shares what caused his wide variety of interests, curiosity, and love for Venice. In the first of three episodes, we discuss fashion, culture, dance, the cost of wars, and more...

In this episode:

• What type of environment creates an insatiable curiosity
• The influence of Lady Oscar on Raffaele
• Profound thoughts on war
• Why Venice never looks the same twice
• Bringing out the light and gift of historical dance

Bio:

Raffaele Dessi graduated in architecture in 2003, with a thesis on the representation of Venetian architecture of the second half of the 1500s as a function of public ceremony. A practicing architect for several years, he worked in the restoration of historic buildings in the historic center of Venice.

He followed his passion for the study and dissemination of the culture of fashion and customs, leaving the world of architecture and transforming the occasional collaborations with the Atelier Pietro Longhi, taking care of all the cultural projects for the Venetian atelier, from the direction of events to the preparation of performances, as well as communication, social media and the e-commerce aspect. He has developed various training projects and itineraries within public and private structures on the theme of fashion evolution and fashion as a mirror of the cultural evolution of a people. He has created and managed several events from planning to creation of the scenography up to the direction of the entire event with the recruitment and training of the artists. With his previous experience as a restorer architect, he had access to buildings that were otherwise unknown and not open to the public as unique sets for various documentaries, thus creating faithful and reliable reconstructions.

ATELIER PIETRO LONGHI 

Responsible for the direction and subsequent artistic and logistical organization of events within prestigious Venetian structures, such as the museums of the Fondazione Musei Civici Veneziani and the G. Cini Foundation, and numerous other structures in Italy and abroad (Urbino, St. Petersburg, Helsinki, and Los Angeles).

Curator for the Italian part of documentaries for ZDF (TerraX programme), Arté, National Geographic, and Magnolia, where in addition to being a scientific consultant he collaborated as location manager and casting director. He has collaborated with the national networks Rai Storia, Canale 5 (“Journey into great beauty”, episode on Venice) and Rai 1 (“A night in... Venice). Latest subjects of the documentaries edited in order of time: Galileo Galilei, Vivaldi, Casanova, Josephine de Beauharnais, Amerigo Vespucci. Within the documentaries on Vivaldi and Galileo, Raffaele is interviewed as an expert on Italian Renaissance and Baroque culture, of which, together with other experts in different fields, where he offers a vision for a great public.

Responsible for the direction and organization of re-enactment events for the costumed entertainment of private structures. As a connoisseur of historical dance and music, as well as an expert in the history of costume, the "minor arts", and craftsmanship, he has been involved with different types of professionals, contacted and coordinated directly for the success of the commemorative event. Raffaele is currently involved in the drafting of four chapters within an anthological document edited by Filippo Giovannelli, for the definition of the areas of historical re-enactment where he is responsible for dance.

Introducing the First Premium, Come to You, Decentralized Dinner Society for Discerning Travelers: The Dinner Story.   Visit us and inquire here: The Dinner Story

The podcast may be over, but our curiosity and hunger for inspiring people and experiences will never end.

Join the WAITING LIST for our most unique experiences, COMMISSION a rare season of modular events, or just say HI:   [email protected]

Music Credits:  INTRO:  Loyalty - Philip Ayers | OUTRO: Grasshopper's Dance - Etienne Roussel

VENICE: Today we dissect archaeological clues, architecture and the restrictions on women in Venice. Book Luisella for your next trip to Venice here: www.seevenice.it

• How archaeologists and fishermen work together
• What the ruins revealed
• What is the most political of the arts?
• Who founded Venice?
• And the first Venetian woman to graduate

Bio:

Luisella Romeo lives and works in Venice, where her family has lived since the mid-1700s. She has been a registered tourist guide since 2000. She finds the history as well as the present time of my city very fascinating and loves narrating the stories of Venice with some sense of humor, too! 

She views the Venetian labyrinth as a metaphor for the meeting between different people, an amazing multi-ethnic mix that has lasted for several centuries.

After graduating from Ca' Foscari University of Venice in North American Literature and Language, she received a scholarship from the UC at Berkeley and a travel grant from the Fulbright program to continue her studies in the US at Berkeley. At Berkeley, the first man she met became her (Italian) husband… but that’s a different CV. 

While she loved traveling, in the end, always wanted to come back to Venice and loves showing the city to both solo travelers and groups. In 2022 and 2023 she was part of the project designed by artist Maria Eichhorn for the German Pavilion Biennale Venice called “Places of Remembrance and Resistance” also regarding the Shoah in Venice during World War II.

Interests: “Photography, rowing, and sailing on my wooden boat, I love fashion and anything that is local and locally produced.”

Introducing the First Premium, Come to You, Decentralized Dinner Society for Discerning Travelers: The Dinner Story.   Visit us and inquire here: The Dinner Story

The podcast may be over, but our curiosity and hunger for inspiring people and experiences will never end.

Join the WAITING LIST for our most unique experiences, COMMISSION a rare season of modular events, or just say HI:   [email protected]

Music Credits:  INTRO:  Loyalty - Philip Ayers | OUTRO: Grasshopper's Dance - Etienne Roussel