Venice is a museum without walls — but behind her doors, each palace tells a different story.

In this episode, Monica takes you through the city’s most fascinating museums — places where beauty, history, and imagination still breathe.

In this episode:

• 🕯️ Ca’ Rezzonico — the Museum of Eighteenth-Century Venice, where frescoes, chandeliers, and candlelight revive the world of Tiepolo and Longhi.
• 🎭 Casa di Carlo Goldoni — the intimate home of Venice’s great playwright, filled with laughter, marionettes, and the rhythm of daily life.
• 💎 Palazzo Mocenigo — a sensual journey through silk, scent, and Venetian elegance.
• 🌙 Palazzo Fortuny — Mariano Fortuny’s poetic atelier, where fabric, light, and invention meet.
• 🏛️ Palazzo Grimani — a Renaissance collector’s dream, filled with myth, marble, and classical echoes.
• 📚 Fondazione Querini Stampalia — art, architecture, and reflection in perfect balance, with Carlo Scarpa’s serene touch.
• 🦴 Museo di Storia Naturale — fossils, skeletons, and the living science behind the lagoon.
• 🎨 Ca’ Pesaro — a Baroque palace reborn as a home for modern art, where Klimt, Rodin, and Boccioni share space with the shimmer of the Grand Canal.
• 🪞 Palazzo Cini Gallery — an elegant Dorsoduro haven of Renaissance treasures, from Botticelli to Piero di Cosimo.
• 🧵 Museo del Merletto, Burano — a hymn to patience and grace, where women turned thread and air into lace.

💬 A gentle walk through palaces, studios, and stories — discovering the many ways Venice keeps her art alive.

🎧 Listen now on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you tune in.

✨ Credits:

Hosted by Monica Cesarato

Produced by Monica Cesarato, Sentire Media

If you love hearing the voices of Venice, subscribe and leave a review — it helps others discover these stories too.

💌 Want to share your own Venice?

Send me a short audio clip (2 minutes max) telling me what you loved most about the city — at [email protected].

In this episode of Venice Talks, Monica sits down with Marco Cammozzo, founder of MC Leather, to explore the fascinating world of Venetian leather craftsmanship — where ancient techniques meet sustainable innovation.

From the scent of tanned hides to the rhythm of skilled hands, Marco shares how his work blends tradition, creativity, and environmental awareness in a modern Venice that still beats with artisan spirit.

✨ Key points from the conversation:

• The story of MC Leather and its deep Venetian roots
• How craftsmanship and sustainability can truly coexist
• The transformation of raw material into timeless design
• The role of artisans in preserving Venice’s identity

✨ Credits:

Hosted by Monica Cesarato

Produced by Monica Cesarato, Sentire Media

Guest: Marco Cammozzo from Mc Leather

🎧 Listen now on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

If you love hearing the voices of Venice, subscribe and leave a review — it helps others discover these stories too.

💌 Want to share your own Venice?

Send me a short audio clip (2 minutes max) telling me what you loved most about the city — at [email protected].

Venice wears many masks — some glittering, some dark.

In this episode of Venice Talks, Monica sits down with David Hewson, Philip Gwynne Jones, and Gregory Dowling, the brilliant minds behind the Venice Noir Festival. Together, they unravel how mystery, crime, and the haunting beauty of the lagoon intertwine to create a festival unlike any other.

From the secret alleys that whisper of centuries past to the logistical labyrinth of organising a noir event in the world’s most theatrical city, this conversation dives deep into the art of storytelling, the magic of place, and the pulse of Venice itself — elegant, elusive, eternal.

• The origins and vision behind the Venice Noir Festival
• Why Venice is the ultimate noir city — beauty and danger intertwined
• How three celebrated authors became cultural curators
• The delicate balance between tourism, art, and authenticity
• Writing Venice: how the city itself becomes a living, breathing character
• The challenges of organising a festival on the water (and under the fog!)
• The future of noir in Venice — and beyond the lagoon

✨ Credits:

Hosted by Monica Cesarato

Produced by Monica Cesarato, Sentire Media

Guest: David Hewson, Gregory Dowling and Philip Gwynne Jones

Listen on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or your favourite platform — and do not forget to follow, rate, and share to keep the stories of Venice alive in every shadow and reflection.

🎙️ Episode Description

In this episode of Venice Talks, Monica welcomes Giada Valenti, the Venetian-born singer whose career has brought the spirit of Venice and the language of love to audiences around the world. Known for her romantic voice and elegant stage presence, Giada shares the journey that took her from the quiet canals of her childhood to the bright lights of international stages.

Together they talk about Venice as an endless source of inspiration, the universal power of music to connect people, and why romance continues to matter today more than ever.

This is a heartfelt conversation about music, passion, and carrying Venice in your soul no matter where life takes you.

✨ Show Key Notes

• Growing up in Venice and discovering music
• Giada’s path from the lagoon to international stages
• Love and romance as the heart of her artistry
• How audiences in America and Europe listen differently
• The importance of storytelling through music
• Venice as muse and constant companion
• Future dreams and projects inspired by her hometown

✨ Credits:

Hosted by Monica Cesarato

Produced by Monica Cesarato, Sentire Media

Guest: Giada Valenti, singer

📌 Listen & Subscribe

Do not miss this intimate and inspiring episode with Giada Valenti.

👉 Listen now on your favorite podcast platform, and remember to subscribe, rate, and share Venice Talks so you will always be part of the stories that keep Venice alive.

In this episode, Monica meets two extraordinary women who brought the rhythm of the East to the heart of the lagoon.

Katerina, from Russia, and Regina, from Kazakhstan, met by chance in Venice — and chose to stay.

Together, they created Venetians (By Choice and By Occasion), the very first Russian-language radio show on Radio Ca' Foscari.

Their story is one of identity, migration, and transformation — a testament to how Venice can welcome, inspire, and redefine belonging in the most unexpected ways.

🔑 Key Show Notes:

• Meet Katerina and Regina: their journey from Russia and Kazakhstan to Venice
• How a casual meeting in the lagoon turned into a life-changing friendship
• Behind the scenes of Venetians (By Choice and By Occasion) on RCF
• What it means to be "Venetian" without being born in Venice
• Finding a voice — and a purpose — in a new language and a new land
• Cultural integration, unexpected challenges, and proud moments
• Why Venice has a magnetic pull on those who come from far away
• The role of language, radio, and community in feeling at home

✨ Credits:

Hosted by Monica Cesarato

Produced by Monica Cesarato, Sentire Media

Guest: Regina & Katerina from Venetians by Choice & by Occasion

🎧 Listen now on your favorite podcast platform!

🌟 Follow and subscribe to Venice Talks to never miss an episode filled with voices, stories, and secrets of La Serenissima.

📩 And do not forget to share it with fellow lovers of Venice — wherever they may be.

In this special episode of Venice Talks, Monica sits down with journalist and CNN anchor Erica Hill, who recently hosted the powerful documentary Saving Venice as part of The Whole Story with Anderson Cooper. Together, they explore what it means to tell the story of a fragile, beloved city through an international lens.

What happens when a global media giant turns its cameras on Venice? How does storytelling impact preservation? And what was it like, for Erica, to walk through the calli and canals with a microphone in hand and a mission to share Venice’s truth?

Whether you love Venice, live in Venice, or dream of Venice — this conversation is a must-listen.

🔑 Key Show Notes:

• What inspired Erica Hill and CNN to create Saving Venice

• Behind-the-scenes moments from filming in the city

• Erica Hill’s personal impressions of Venice

• The challenge of balancing beauty with urgency in storytelling

• Reflections on overtourism, climate change, and local voices

• How media can be a force for cultural preservation

• Monica’s own perspective as a Venetian insider

✨ Credits:

Hosted by Monica Cesarato

Produced by Monica Cesarato, Sentire Media

Guest: Erica Hill from CNN

✨ Listen now, subscribe to never miss a story, and follow Monica on Instagram for more behind-the-scenes of Venice’s soul.

In this new episode of Venice Talks, Monica Cesarato steps aboard Il Nuovo Trionfo and speaks with Martino Rizzi, one of the founding members of the Compagnia della Marineria Tradizionale Il Nuovo Trionfo. Together, they recount the extraordinary story of Venice’s last great trabaccolo — a sturdy cargo boat of the Adriatic, lovingly restored to sail once more thanks to passion, perseverance, and a deep love for the sea and the lagoon.

⚓ Key points you will discover in this episode:

• The inspiring journey of Il Nuovo Trionfo and how Martino Rizzi and the association helped bring it back to life
• The trabaccolo’s role in Venetian and Adriatic maritime history
• The challenges of restoring and maintaining such a historic vessel
• The mission and spirit of the Compagnia della Marineria Tradizionale
• Martino’s personal memories and magical moments aboard the Nuovo Trionfo
• How all of us can contribute to safeguarding this floating treasure

Set sail with Monica and Martino on a journey through wood, wind, and water — a living tribute to Venice’s seafaring soul.

✨ Credits:

Hosted by Monica Cesarato

Produced by Monica Cesarato, Sentire Media

Guest: Martino Rizzi from la Compagnia della marineria tradizionale Il Nuovo Trionfo

🎧 Listen now on your favourite podcast platform — and do not forget to subscribe, follow, and share this episode with fellow lovers of Venice’s history!

In this episode of Venice Talks, Monica Cesarato sits down with Valeria Boncompagni, the creative force behind one of Venice’s most intimate and soulful jewelry ateliers. Nestled under the arcades of Piazza San Marco, Valeria's workshop is a sanctuary of emotion, craftsmanship, and timeless beauty.

A master of the ancient lost-wax casting technique, Valeria doesn't just design jewelry—she sculpts feelings, memories, and personal stories into bronze and silver. Her pieces are not made to follow trends but to follow emotions. Each creation is a wearable sculpture, infused with history, heritage, and heart.

🔑 Key Highlights of the Episode

• Valeria’s deep connection to the lost-wax tradition—and how she makes it contemporary
• The story of her family-run atelier and the legacy passed down her family
• The emotional process behind each unique piece
• How the rhythms and light of Venice shape her artistic vision
• The meaning of jewelry as personal storytelling and emotional memory
• Why Valeria views herself as both an artisan and a sculptor
• The challenges (and joys) of running a boutique art space in Piazza San Marco
• Her philosophy of slow, intentional creation in a world that rushes toward the disposable

✨ Credits:

Hosted by Monica Cesarato

Produced by Monica Cesarato, Sentire Media

Guest: Valeria Boncompagni

📢 Listen & Subscribe

Love hearing stories of powerful women, Venetian artisans, and the quiet revolution of handmade art? This episode is for you.

🎧 Tune in on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Google, or wherever you listen.

❤️ Don’t forget to follow, subscribe, and leave us a review to keep Venice’s voices alive in the world!

In this captivating episode of Venice Talks, Monica sits down with internationally renowned artist Judi Harvest to explore the luminous, layered world she has built between Murano’s glass furnaces and Venice’s buzzing garden beehives.

Judi shares how a brief trip to Venice decades ago became a lifelong journey — one that has shaped her art, her activism, and her sense of belonging. From collaborating with Murano glassmasters to creating installations that highlight the fragility of both nature and culture, her work is a powerful blend of beauty and urgency.

This is not just a conversation about art — it’s about transformation, memory, and the deep emotional threads that connect people to place.

🔹 Key Notes from the Episode:

• How a brief visit to Venice became a lifelong artistic and personal journey
• The magic and heartbreak of working with Murano’s master glassmakers
• Why bees, gardens, and endangered ecosystems have taken center stage in her work
• The intersection of art, activism, and preservation in a city at risk
• Reflections on legacy, inspiration, and staying rooted through change

🎧 If you love Venice, art with meaning, and stories that shimmer with life, this episode is for you.

✨ Credits:

Hosted by Monica Cesarato

Produced by Monica Cesarato, Sentire Media

Guest: Judi Harvest

📢 Don’t forget to subscribe to Venice Talks on your favorite podcast platform — Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, or wherever you listen.

👉 And if this episode moved you, please leave a review and share it with fellow Venice lovers!

In this evocative episode of Venice Talks, Monica speaks to Laura Pritchard, a British-born artisan who swapped the foggy landscapes of the UK for the light and tides of Venice. Today, Laura is one of the few women working as a maestra d’ascia, a traditional boatbuilder shaping the iconic vessels of the lagoon with age-old tools and timeless care.

Together, they talk about what it means to embrace an ancient craft in a foreign land, how wood and water can become a language of belonging, and the quiet revolution of carving one’s place—literally and metaphorically—in a deeply rooted tradition.

It’s a story of reinvention, resilience, and reverence for Venice’s maritime soul.

Laura’s journey from the UK to Venice:

• beginnings, motives, transformation
• what it means to be a maestro d’ascia in a city built on water
• gender and tradition: carving out space in a male-dominated craft
• the relationship between wood, water, and identity
• how craftsmanship bridges cultures and generations

✨ Credits:

Hosted by Monica Cesarato

Produced by Monica Cesarato, Sentire Media

Guest: Laura Pritchard

If you love stories of transformation, tradition, and the quiet power of craft, this episode is for you.

🎧 Tune in to Venice Talks on your favorite podcast platform—Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Google, or wherever you listen.

🔔 Don’t forget to subscribe so you never miss a voice from the lagoon!