What if Venice was much more than a beautiful city of canals, palaces and art? What if its extraordinary history helped shape some of the ideas about freedom, government and democracy that still influence our world today?

In this episode of Venice Talks, Monica Cesarato welcomes Joseph Loconte, New York Times bestselling author, historian, educator and filmmaker, to uncover a fascinating side of Venetian history that often gets overlooked.

Joseph is the director of the Rivendell Center in New York City and a senior fellow at the Sagamore Institute. His work brings history to life through books and documentaries, including Benjamin Rush: The American Revolution's Indispensable Doctor, available on Amazon Prime.

He is currently working on a new documentary, Venice: The Freedom Republic, exploring the remarkable political history of the Serenissima, its institutions and its lasting influence on the modern world.

From the extraordinary longevity of the Venetian Republic to its surprising connections with America's Founding Fathers, Joseph takes us on a journey through centuries of political innovation, independence and ideas.

But was Venice really a republic of freedom? How did it manage to survive for over a thousand years? And what can its history teach us about the challenges facing democracies today?

Monica also shares her personal connection to the documentary, having been invited to participate in the filming, and talks with Joseph about the experience of bringing Venice's history to the screen.

It's a conversation about history, politics, storytelling and why Venice still has so much to teach us.

• The inspiration behind Joseph Loconte's documentary Venice: The Freedom Republic.
• Why Venice was one of the most extraordinary political experiments in European history.
• How the Venetian Republic maintained its independence for more than a thousand years.
• The surprising connections between Venice and the American Founding Fathers.
• Venice's contribution to printing, publishing and the circulation of ideas.
• Freedom, censorship and power: the contradictions of the Venetian political system.
• The relationship between religion, politics and Venetian identity.
• Behind the scenes of filming a historical documentary in Venice and the importance of local voices.
• What modern democracies can learn from the successes and failures of the Venetian Republic.

If you love Venice, its history and the people who bring its stories to life, Venice Talks is the podcast for you!

✨ Credits:

Hosted by Monica Cesarato

Produced by Monica Cesarato, Vivace Media

Guest: Joseph Loconte from Joseph Loconte

Listen to the full episode, subscribe to Venice Talks on your favourite podcast platform and follow the show so you never miss a new conversation.

You can also visit www.monicacesarato.com for more stories, articles and insights into Venice.

And if you enjoy this episode, please share it with someone who loves history or Venice as much as we do!

Because Venice is so much more than what you see. It's the stories behind the city that make it truly extraordinary.

What if the best way to experience Venice was to turn the entire city into a treasure hunt, while also making a difference for a good cause?

In this episode of Venice Talks, Monica Cesarato welcomes Simone Pavlovich, the creative mind behind A Caccia con Filippo, a project that transforms Venice's streets, bridges and hidden corners into an exciting adventure filled with clues, discoveries and unexpected stories.

Venice is a city where every detail has a story to tell, but how often do we actually stop to notice them?

Through their treasure hunts, Simone and Michele invite participants to look beyond the familiar landmarks, pay attention to the little things and experience Venice with a fresh sense of curiosity.

But there's another important side to A Caccia con Filippo: its connection to charity. The project supports CDKL5 – Insieme verso la Cura, an association dedicated to helping families affected by CDKL5 deficiency disorder, a rare genetic neurological condition, and supporting the search for treatments.

It's a wonderful example of how creativity, community spirit and a love for Venice can come together to support something much bigger than a game.

During our conversation, we talk about how the project began, the challenges of designing treasure hunts in a city as extraordinary as Venice and why getting lost can sometimes be the best way to find something special.

We also discuss the importance of giving back, the people who have embraced the initiative and the ambitious plans to make the experience accessible to an even wider audience through a multilingual web app.

From the stories behind the clues to the meaningful cause at the heart of the initiative, this conversation reminds us that sometimes the greatest treasure isn't something you find, but something you help create.

• How A Caccia con Filippo began and the story behind its unusual name.
• The creative process of turning Venice's history and hidden details into treasure hunt clues.
• How games can encourage visitors and residents to experience Venice differently.
• The funniest and most unexpected moments from previous treasure hunts.
• Why slowing down and paying attention can change the way we see Venice.
• The charitable mission behind the project and its support for CDKL5 – Insieme verso la Cura.
• How a treasure hunt can bring people together while raising awareness for an important cause.
• The challenges of transforming a creative idea into a growing community project.
• The plans for a multilingual web app and the role of technology in making the experience more accessible.
• What Simone and Michele hope participants will remember long after the game is over.

If you love Venice, its hidden stories and the people who are making a positive difference in the city, this episode is for you!

Listen to Venice Talks on Spotify, Apple Podcasts and your favourite podcast platforms.

✨ Credits:

Hosted by Monica Cesarato

Produced by Monica Cesarato, Vivace Media

Guest: Simone Pavlovich from A Caccia con Filippo,

Don't forget to follow the podcast, subscribe and share this episode with anyone who loves Venice, enjoys an adventure or believes in the power of community.

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Follow Venice Talks and join us for more conversations about the real Venice, one story at a time!

Learn more about A Caccia con Filippo: https://www.acacciaconfilippo.com/

Visit: https://www.monicacesarato.com/

In this episode of Venice Talks, Monica sits down with Regina Maksimova and Alexandra Zagrebelnaia, the team behind Venice Art Insider, a platform created to help people discover and understand the extraordinary art world of Venice.

From historic masterpieces and museums to foundations, galleries, independent spaces and the Biennale, Venice Art Insider looks at the city as one vast cultural landscape. Regina and Alexandra explain how they select what to feature, how they build curated routes and how they help visitors navigate a city where art is quite literally everywhere.

The conversation also explores the relationship between art and place, the impact of the Biennale on Venice, the role of social media in the way we experience exhibitions and the challenge of making art accessible without oversimplifying it.

This is an episode about looking at Venice differently, slowing down and learning how to notice what is often hidden in plain sight.

• Who Regina and Alexandra are and how Venice Art Insider began
• Why Venice needed a clearer way to navigate its immense art scene
• How they choose exhibitions, museums, galleries and cultural spaces to feature
• The importance of connecting art with the neighbourhoods and architecture of Venice
• How the Biennale changes the city and what remains once it is over
• Discovering Venice beyond the major museums and famous masterpieces
• The different perspectives Regina and Alexandra bring to the project
• How social media is changing the way people discover and experience art
• Making art more accessible without losing depth or context
• How to approach Venice as one enormous, layered art experience

A conversation about art, Venice, discovery and the many layers of a city where masterpieces, galleries, museums and unexpected cultural spaces are waiting around almost every corner.

If you enjoy Venice Talks, follow the podcast and subscribe on your favourite platform so you never miss a new episode. And if you enjoyed this conversation, share it with someone who loves Venice, books and a good mystery.

Remember to follow and subscribe to Venice Talks so you never miss a new conversation with the people who make Venice the extraordinary, complex and endlessly fascinating city it is.

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

✨ Credits:

Hosted by Monica Cesarato

Produced by Monica Cesarato, Vivace Media

Guest: Regina Maksimova and Alexandra Zagrebelnaia from Venice Art Insider

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Send me a short audio clip (1 minutes max) telling me what you loved most about the city — at info@monicacesarato.com.