And Now, Where do We Go? Exciting Cultural Program at T Fondaco in Venice

T Fondaco dei Tedeschi - Delfino Sisto Legnani e Marco Cappelletti © Dfs Group

(Venice, Italy) After many years of hibernating inside a colossal cocoon, the Fondaco dei Tedeschi at the foot of the Rialto Bridge recently metamorphosed into its current incarnation. An energetic nip and tuck by the renowned architect, Rem Koolhaas, and his OMA team, has lifted the monumental structure into the 21st century.

Originally constructed in 1508, the ancient building had first been the commercial center for German merchants during the Holy Roman Empire, next a customs house under Napoleon, and then a post office under Mussolini. On October 1, 2016, it officially opened as a DFS luxury department store, complete with an Alajmo brothers eatery on the ground floor called AMO (Italian for "I love"), and a cultural center on the top.

So the question is: AND NOW, WHERE DO WE GO?

The T Fondaco wants to take you on a cultural journey. Part of the arrangement they have with Venice is to open its doors to the community. Today, they announced what the program would include. It is filled with music -- in collaboration with Veneto Jazz -- dance, film, literature and other delights. Everything is free. However, there is a caveat: you must make an online reservation, and there is a limited amount of available tickets. There are 170 seats, with standing room for another 30 people.

Roberto Meneghesso, Vice President of DFS Italia, whose energy is contagious, had another surprise. He revealed a copy of the 1616 copper engraving by Raphael Custos that illustrated what the Fondaco looked like way back when.

Roberto Meneghesso, VP DFS Italia

There has been a lot of... discussion about the moving of the ancient well from the center of the Fondaco to the side (you cannot move one stone inside Venice without it becoming a topic of... discussion). Well, the well was originally just where it is now -- you can see it there on the right; it is inside that tower-like contraption. In addition to being a commercial center, the Fondaco was also home to the German community, and apparently they needed a method to hoist the water up to where it was most useful.

Fondaco dei Tedeschi by Raphael Custos (1616)

I am going to list the cultural program from February through June below, In Italian. In order to book, you must email fondaco.culture@dfs.com, except for Pulitzer-prize winning American author Michael Chabon on March 30, who will be in Venice for part of the Incroci di Civiltà literary festival, and must be booked at www.incrocidicivilta.org.

And now, where do we go?

Ciao from Venezia,
Cat Bauer
Venetian Cat - The Venice Blog 

Cultural Center - Matteo De Fina © Dfs Group

FEBBRAIO
Venerdì 10, ore 18.30
viaggianote
Fabrizio Bosso Spiritual Trio
feat. Walter Ricci

Mercoledì 15, ore 18.30
viaggiaparole
Giuseppe Culicchia
Mi sono perso in un luogo comune

MARZO
Venerdì 3, ore 19
fontegoincelluloid
Proiezione di video e documentari del Video Concorso Francesco Pasinetti

Martedì 7, ore 18.30
viaggiaparole
Viola Di Grado, Bambini di ferro
musica di Shedir

Venerdì 17, ore 18.30
viaggianote
Kinga Glyk Trio

Mercoledì 22
fontegoindanza
Viaggio Blu
ore 19-19.15 | 19.30-19.45 | 20-20.15

Giovedì 30, ore 21
incrocidiciviltà
Michael Chabon, in dialogo con Shaul Bassi e Mattia Ravasi

APRILE
Martedì 11, ore 18.30
viaggiaparole
Marco Rossari, Le cento vite di Nemesio
musica di intonarumori

Venerdì 21, ore 18.30
viaggianote
Marea & Javier Girotto
Mediterranean Symposium 10th Anniversary

Mercoledì 26,
fontegoindanza
Viaggio Rosso
ore 19-19.15 | 19.30-19.45 | 20-20.15

MAGGIO
Martedì 2, ore 18.30
viaggiaparole
Vitaliano Trevisan short cuts in jazz
musica di Paolo Brusò

Venerdì 19, ore 18.30
viaggianote
Mauro Ottolini Trio Campato in Aria

Mercoledì 24,
fontegoindanza
Viaggio Bianco
ore 19-19.15 | 19.30-19.45 | 20-20.15

GIUGNO
Martedì 6, ore 18.30
viaggiaparole
Lorena Canottiere,
D R A W M U S I C (disegno dal vivo)
musica di Stefano Risso

Venerdì 16, ore 18.30
viaggianote
Flo
Il mese del rosario