For art connoisseur Shalini Passi, Venice is a living, breathing piece of art.
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MY LOCAL EXPERIENCE
The canals weave through like veins through the heart of the city, making
movement and stillness coexist beautifully. It reminds me of Varanasi. Both cities exude an ethereal sense of eternity, where the past seeps into the present. Wandering through Dorsoduro district, beyond the main galleries, the smaller ateliers and studios tucked into alleys carry raw, unfiltered creativity that speaks to me deeply.
THE WORLD OF ART
While the Venice Biennale venues and the Peggy Guggenheim Collection are iconic, I find myself drawn to Palazzo Grimani with its theatrical Renaissance architecture. Ca’ Rezzonico is an immersive peep into the beautiful 18th-century Venetian life. Museo Fortuny feels like walking into a time capsule of an artist’s inner world with its gorgeous interplay of textiles, light, and art installations. Giudecca island brings a raw, industrial feel: Spazio Punch, a contemporary art space here in a former distillery, is incredibly edgy and thought-provoking.
TEH CITY THROUGH MY EYES
Sipping coffee in the elegance of Caffè Florian at Piazza San Marco feels like participating in a centuries-old ritual. Harry’s Bar is iconic, for its Bellinis, and storied past. At Hotel Danieli, interiors feel like a continuation of Venetian opulence. For me, the quieter, less-trodden corners of Venice bring in pure poetry, intimacy and surprise.
Shilpi Madan for Namaste.ai