High water in Venice

Exceptional High Tide on St. Mark's Square

6 May 2015 | From Massimo of Italy

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"Acqua alta" (high water) is a phenomenon which generally takes place in Venice in winter time, when a combination of astronomical tide, strong south wind (scirocco) and seiche (see glossary below) can cause a larger inflow of water into the Venetian Lagoon.

Exceptional tides (when the water-line is equal to or more than 140 centimetres on the mareographic zero of "Punta della Salute", located near the Salute Church, in front of St. Mark's Square) statistically occur once every 3 years. They are caused by a combination of various factors, such as the astronomical tide, low pressure on the Tyrrhenian Sea, strong south wind (scirocco) and the Adriatic seiche. Further two larger phenomena also contribute to increase the water level: eustasy (see glossary below) and the subsidence of the Venetian Lagoon, which, together, have caused an altimetric loss of about 26 centimetres in the last century.

High waters may occur in autumn or winter seasons and are most likely to happen in November and December. But even in these months, high waters usually affect only the lowest parts of the town, such as St. Mark's Square. High water depends on the tide cycle (the alternation of high and low tides happens every 6 hours): when there is "acqua alta" on the streets this lasts only a few hours during the peak of the high tide (usually 3 to 4 hours). Once water goes down again, things go back to normality. 

Source: Comune Venezia

Italian Art Appreciation

da Vinci and Carraci

30 Mar 2015 | From Roberto of Italy

OFFICIAL POSTCROSSING

This card is actually two what-may-seem-to-be-an-ad-card glued together to form one postcard. The original backside of the front-card contains too many texts to write a message or even the address. And the original front side of the back-card only contains random texts that it would not pass as a postcard. I figured that much because the two cards are not entirely glued. I was trying to separate them thinking that there may be a hidden surprise within. But before I could tear the two postcards apart, I realized that there isn't one. It is just what it is - two cards glued together :p

The front card is most likely from the Leonardo da Vinci Museum. Leonardo da Vinci is without a doubt one of the most famous Tuscan and Italian historical figures of all time. The Leonardo Museum presents one of the most extensive and most original collections devoted to the multiple interests of Leonardo  the technologist,  the architect, the man of science and, more generally, to the History of Renaissance techniques. It is located in the heart of Florence, and gives visitors the sensation to be immersed in a history of extraordinary relevance.

The backside shows the La Madonna con il Bambino e Santi with a matching stamp. 'The Madonna and Child with Saints' by Agostino Carracci, an Italian painter and printmaker, is an oil painting on canvas dated, as stated in the inscription on the edge of the step down, in 1586. The work is preserved at the National Gallery Parma. In the painting, the figures of the saints are arranged symmetrically around the throne on which sits Mary which common in the sixteenth century altarpieces.

Ancient ruins of the Roman Empire. Lecce

Roman amphitheater, seat and column

11 Feb 2015 | From Massimo of Italy

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The Province of Lecce (Provincia di Lecce) is a province in the Apulia region of Italy. Its capital is the city of Lecce which is known as the Florence of the South because of the rich Baroque architectural monuments. The province itself is called the "Heel of Italy". Lecce is a historic and beautiful baroque town packed with upmarket boutiques, antique shops, restaurants and bars.

The city also has a long traditional affinity with Greek culture going back to its foundation; the Messapii who founded the city are said to have been Cretans in Greek records. To this day, in the Grecìa Salentina, a group of towns not far from Lecce, the griko language is still spoken. Lecce had a theater and an amphitheater and was connected to the Hadrian Port (the current San Cataldo). The Roman Amphitheatre, built in the 2nd century and situated near Sant'Oronzo Square, was able to seat more than 25,000 people. It is now half-buried because other monuments were built above it over the centuries. The theatre is currently used for different religious and arts events.

Coca-cola Light: Delightful - third postcard

Strip light

24 Nov 2014 | From Massimo of Italy

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Diet Coke, the first version of Coca-Cola without sugar, was launched in 1982 with the advertising slogan "Just for the taste of it!" It instantly became the largest-selling low-calorie soft drink in America.Some countries began using the term "Coca-Cola Light" as early as the 1990s, with others adopting the name later on, while others continue the use of "Diet Coke".

Diet Coke was sweetened with aspartame, an artificial sweetener, after the sweetener became available in the United States in 1983. In other countries in which cyclamates are not banned, Diet Coke or Coca-Cola Light may be sweetened with a blend containing cyclamates, aspartame, and acesulfame potassium.

In the postcard is a man enjoying a Coca-cola Light and a strip-tease at the same time. I just hope that he won't enjoy that bottle of Coke more than the show in front of him... or else there will be trouble :p

Coca-cola Light: Delightful - second postcard

Night light

24 Nov 2014 | From Massimo of Italy

POSTCROSSING FRIEND 

Diet Coke, also known as Coca-Cola light, is a sugar- and calorie-free soft drink with a deliciously crisp taste that gives you a light boost in your busy day.  It was introduced in the United States on August 9, 1982, as the first new brand since 1886 to use the Coca-Cola trademark. The product quickly overtook the company's existing diet cola, Tab, in sales.

Adding a new meaning to drink-and-drive, enjoy a bottle of Coca-cola Light during your night drives with your friends. Keep the night light and fun :)

Coca-cola Light: Delightful - first postcard

Uuuuhhh lu light

24 Nov 2014 | From Massimo of Italy

POSTCROSSING FRIEND 

This is one of the three Coca-cola concept cards Massimo sent me. They are Coca-cola advertising postcards from Italy. Coca-Cola HBC Italia is one of the biggest companies in the non-alcoholic beverage industry in Italy and is a franchised bottler of The Coca-Cola Company.

This postcard shows a happy Italian couple enjoying their bottle of Coca-cola, I suppose in a club, theatre, or cinema. Coca-cola can definitely be enjoyed everywhere :)

A Frida Kahlo Self-Portrait

 

Self-Portrait with Braid. 1941

10 Oct 2014 | From Sergio of Italy

OFFICIAL POSTCROSSING

I am not that familiar with Frida Kahlo and her works. In fact, I have only knew about her from the 2002 Miramax/Ventanarosa biopic 'Frida' which stars Salma Hayek in the title role. I haven't watched the movie yet though. Or maybe I have but forgot about it.

Sergio described Frida as a great but sad and unfortunate artist. Frida Kahlo de Rivera is a Mexican painter best known for her self-portraits. Her work has been celebrated in Mexico as emblematic of national and indigenous tradition and by feminists for its uncompromising depiction of the female experience and form.

Frida's life was a life of hope and defiance. Betrayal, miscarriage, abortion, childlessness, a crippling road accident: Frida Kahlo transformed her suffering into transcendental art. Kahlo's art has a lasting power. The feminist movement of the 1970s led to renewed interest in her life and work, as Kahlo was viewed by many as an icon of female creativity.

Source: The Guardian

City of Venice

Zoning map of Venice

4 Oct 2014 | From Massimo of Italy

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Venice (Venezia) is one of the most interesting and lovely places in the world. This sanctuary on a lagoon is virtually the same as it was six hundred years ago, which adds to the fascinating character. It is located in the marshy Venetian Lagoon which stretches along the shoreline, between the mouths of the Po and the Piave Rivers. Venice is renowned for the beauty of its setting, its architecture and its artworks. The city in its entirety is listed as a World Heritage Site, along with its lagoon.

The postcards shows a map which outlines the zoning designations within the city’s boundaries. There are six zones represented by different colors. For a more detailed zone map of Venice, click here.

Source: Wikipedia

An upside down view :p

Greetings from Trentino!

12 Aug 2014 | From Massimo of Italy

POSTCROSSING FRIEND

I was flipping, turning, and rotating the postcard several times trying to figure out why was the text in front written in that manner. I thought there was a river and the view is just a reflection. But there's none. Or perhaps this is the angle of the view that you might see if you were to ski here and get tumbled upside down. Hmm maybe the picture was just really drawn this way.

The words translates to "Greetings from Trentino". Trentino is an autonomous province of Italy. Its capital is the town of Trento, historically known in English as Trent. Trentino is renowned for its mountains, such as the Dolomites, which are part of the Alps.

I love the Nutella stamp! I've just found out today that Nutella, the hazelnut chocolate spread, originated from Italy. It was manufactured by the Italian company Ferrero, and was introduced to the market in 1964. I thought it was American :p

Artwork by Elena Razina

Ladybird  

12 Aug 2014 | From Svetlana of Italy

OFFICIAL POSTCROSSING

Elena Razina is a well-known artist from  Penza, Russia. Her work makes use of the technique 'silk painting'. Subjects of her work are mostly of cute animal pictures. Each of these animals has a distinctive human character and its own history. Elena's relationship with her ​​characters is full of love and a touch of irony.

Carnival of Venice II

Carnevale di Venezia in the Bridge of Sighs

19 Jun 2014 | From Massimo of Italy

POSTCROSSING SWAP

Here's another postcard showing the Carnevale di Venezia. In the background you can see the Bridge of Sighs, Ponte dei Sospiri. The enclosed bridge is made of white limestone and has windows with stone bars. It is generally known as one of the finest examples of bridge architecture in the world.

It is believed that it got its name from the prisoners that would "sigh" as they crossed the bridge, probably catching their last glimpse of the outside world. Another story says that if a couple kisses under the bridge Bridge of Sighs, Venice while drifting below on a gondola at sunset, they will enjoy eternal love. Thus, the "sighs" are said to come from lovers who are overwhelmed by the romance of the whole scene.

Source: A View on Cities

Coca-cola Light Ad Card

Hello You

15 Apr 2014 | From Massimo of Italy

POSTCROSSING SWAP

This is a glittery Coca-cola Light ad card from Italy. At the back of the postcard are the Italian words "Hello 100% gusto senza calorie", to which I think translates to "100% taste without calories."

Designer Coke Bottles

Roberto Cavalli for Coca-cola Light

15 Apr 2014 | From Massimo of Italy

POSTCROSSING SWAP

For the 2008 Milan Fashion Week, Roberto Cavalli dressed up and stylized the bottles of Coca- Cola Light . Three exclusive versions have been designed containing three famous animal skin prints - leopard, zebra, and tiger. Only 300,000 bottles will be available in Italy from September to December 2008.

Sights and Scenes: Lido di Jesolo

Lido di Jesolo

15 Apr 2014 | From Massimo of Italy

POSTCROSSING SWAP

The Lido di Jesolo, or Jesolo Lido, is the beach area of the comune of Jesolo in the province of Venice, Italy. Its miles of sandy beach, rows of sunbeds and night-time entertainment attract thousands of holidaymakers every summer.

Lido di Jesolo has a ten-mile long beach made of yellow dolomite sand. Along the back of the beach is a long paved walkway, running between the sand and the many hotels which face directly onto the beach. The town's main street is a couple of blocks inland, with many small lanes connecting the beach with the road.

Source: Italy Heaven

Carnival of Venice

Carnevale di Venezia

15 Apr 2014 | From Massimo of Italy

POSTCROSSING SWAP

Carnevale di Venezia is an annual festival, held in Venice, Italy. The Carnival ends with the Christian celebration of Lent, forty days before Easter on Shrove Tuesday (Fat Tuesday or Mardi Gras), the day before Ash Wednesday. The festival is famed for its elaborate masks.

Travel Souvenirs

Postcards from Brazil and Milan

4 Apr 2014 | From Rogerio of Brazil

POSTCROSSING FRIEND

Rogerio got the dino card from a recent field trip in some dinosaur museum in Brazil. I think it may be the Uberaba Dinosaur Museum. He shared that as a teacher, he really enjoys visiting museums.

The postcard set is from Milan (9-postcard set). Rogerio visited Milan some years ago. He told me some of his friends are not fond of Milan, but he stressed that it is actually a nice place to visit.

Along with the postcards is a Brazilian 5-Reais banknote.

Italy's largest lake

Lago di Garda

19 Feb 2014 | From Massimo of Italy

POSTCROSSING SWAP

Lake Garda, or Lago di Garda or Lago Benaco, is the largest lake in Italy. It is a popular holiday location and is located in Northern Italy, about half-way between Brescia and Verona, and between Venice and Milan.

A historical row-boat race

Ponte di Rialto. Regata Storica

12 Dec 2013 | From Massimo of Italy

POSTCROSSING SWAP

The Regata Storica is the main event in the annual "Voga alla Veneta" rowing calendar. This unique sport has been practised in the Venetian lagoon for thousands of years and today it is particularly well-known for the spectacular historical water pageant that precedes the race. Scores of typically 16th century-style boats with gondoliers in period costume carry the Doge, the Doge's wife and all the highest ranking Venetian officials up the Grand Canal in a brightly coloured parade.

Roman Architecture

Rome, the Eternal City

29 Nov 2013 | From Henri of Italy

POSTCROSSING SWAP

Rome is a city and special comune (named "Roma Capitale") in Italy. Rome is the capital of Italy and also of the Province of Rome and of the region of Lazio.

Rome's history spans more than two and a half thousand years, since its legendary founding in 753 BC. Rome is one of the oldest continuously occupied cities in Europe. It is referred to as "The Eternal City", a notion expressed by ancient Roman poets and writers. In the ancient world it was successively the capital city of the Roman Kingdom, the Roman Republic and the Roman Empire, and is regarded as one of the birthplaces of Western civilization.

Ancient Roman architecture adopted many aspects of Ancient Greek architecture, creating a new architectural style. The Romans were indebted to their Etruscan neighbors and forefathers who supplied them with a wealth of knowledge essential for future architectural solutions, such as hydraulics in the construction of arches. The Romans absorbed the Greek Architectural influence both directly (e.g. Magna Grecia) and indirectly (e.g. Etruscan Architecture was itself influenced by the Greeks), the influence is evident in many ways; for example, in the introduction and use of the Triclinium in Roman villas as a place and manner of dining. The Romans were also known to employ Greek craftsmen and engineers to construct Roman buildings. Roman architecture flourished throughout the Empire during the Pax Romana.

My first Italian postcard... is from France

Café Crème

12 Jul 2013 | From Laura of Italy

OFFICIAL POSTCROSSING | POSTCRAD SENT FROM ITALY

This postcard came from Laura of Rapallo, Italy - a tourist, seaside town in the province of Genoa, in Liguria, northern Italy. She wrote that she loves the cafés in Paris, and especially love this card for the colors.