Venice Talks

In this episode of Venice Talks , Monica Cesarato sits down with Elena Bozza , Head of Digital at Linkness and one of the voices of Face To Face , the program produced by a local television channel based in the Venice area that tells stories from Venice and the Veneto region. Together they explore how Venice is communicated today: not only as a beautiful postcard, but as a living, working, changin...

In this episode of Venice Talks , Monica Cesarato welcomes back the story of Women for Freedom , an organisation dedicated to supporting women, girls and children living in situations of poverty, violence, exploitation and fragility. After the first conversation in 2023, this new episode takes the story forward with Sara Memo , part of Women for Freedom, to understand what has changed, what has gr...

In this episode of Venice Talks , Monica speaks with Laura from Maranteghe , a vintage and second-hand shop in Cannaregio where fashion becomes memory, identity and a small act of resistance. Founded by Miriam, Sara and Laura , Maranteghe was born during the pandemic, among wardrobes to reinvent, forgotten clothes to rescue and the desire to create something with meaning. What began as a shared pa...

Venice is a city that moves on water. Every day, thousands of residents, workers, students and visitors step onto a vaporetto without always thinking about what happens behind that simple act of getting from one stop to another. But in Venice, public transport is not a road, a bus lane or an underground line. It is the lagoon. It is the Grand Canal. It is tides, fog, wind, night shifts, crowded la...

What does Venice smell like? In this episode of Venice Talks , Monica sits down with Joan Giacomin , Brand Ambassador for The Merchant of Venice , for a journey into the fragrant history of Venice. Together they explore how the city became a crossroads for rare ingredients, refined beauty, and perfume culture, and how scent offers a unique way to understand Venice beyond what we see. This conversa...

In this episode of Venice Talks , Monica meets Shanti Ganesha , founder of Meracu , a contemporary leather workshop in Venice. We talk about the first moment leather felt like a language, the leap that led to opening a workshop in 2022, and how living between Venice and India shapes a design identity that feels built into every piece, not added on. From material to method, we explore how a hide is...

In this episode of Venice Talks , Monica sits down with Bryan Brazeau , Academic Director of the Warwick Venice Centre , to talk about what happens when a university and a city begin to think together. We explore Venice not as a setting, but as a working intellectual environment, and Warwick not simply as an institution abroad, but as a way of approaching knowledge through place, daily life, and l...

In this episode of Venice Talks , Monica speaks with Sergio Vidal of Atelier Martina Vidal Venezia , a family atelier that has safeguarded the art of Burano lace for four generations. They talk about patience as a creative act, about heritage that does not live in museums but in the hands of artisans, and about the quiet strength required to carry an ancient craft into the present without losing i...

Beyond the Facade: Not Just Churches In this episode of Venice Talks , Monica Cesarato sits down with Monica Gambarotto for an informal conversation that drifts away from the usual itineraries and into a quieter Venice. Together, they explore five churches that rarely make it onto must see lists, yet reveal something essential about the city. These are not monuments to rush through, but places sha...

In this episode of Venice Talks , Monica Cesarato sits down with Matteo Seguso , Murano glass engraver, to explore the world of engraved glass, craftsmanship, and time. The conversation moves inside the workshop and the gesture. We talk about engraving as a language, about the discipline of the hand, and about what it means to carry a centuries-old craft into the present without turning it into no...

Venice never stands still. It simply changes rhythm. In this episode of Venice Talks , Monica Cesarato sits down with Romena Brugnerotto to walk through Venice’s 2026 cultural calendar, one month at a time. From the first signs of Carnival to the quiet glow of Christmas, this conversation follows the city as it moves through exhibitions, festivals, celebrations, and shared rituals. No lists to mem...

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. 🎭...

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 bea...

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...

🎙️ 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. Tog...

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 transformati...

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...

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, an...

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 sculp...

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 collabora...

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 embr...

In this episode of Venice Talks , we sit down with Cesare Peris , president of the historic Società di Mutuo Soccorso fra Carpentieri e Calafati , a unique Venetian institution rooted in solidarity, shipbuilding, and memory. 🔑 In this episode, we explore: The fascinating origins and mission of one of Venice’s oldest mutual aid societies Who the carpentieri e calafati were, and their essential rol...

Join us on Venice Talks as we dive deep into the story behind NoCDA (No Contributo D’Accesso a Venezia) , the grassroots movement formed by Venetians standing against the controversial tourist access fee. In this episode, Monica interviews Alessandro Tonin , the creator of the NoCDA website and the visionary mind rallying locals to protect Venice’s accessibility and spirit. Key topics covered in t...

In this fascinating new episode of Venice Talks , we dive deep into the rich history and artistry of Murano glass with Michele Zampedri, a renowned historian and expert on the subject from Vivarini srl , a amous furnace in Murano. Michele shares insights into the centuries-old traditions, unique techniques, and the evolution of Murano glass , a symbol of Venetian craftsmanship. Whether you’re a lo...

In this exciting new episode of Venice Talks , I had the pleasure of sitting down with Leontine Hamer , the creative mind behind the Venice Dress Up Experience . This incredible experience allows you to step into the world of Venetian history by dressing up in stunning, meticulously crafted costumes that transport you to a different time. I had the chance to take part in the experience myself, and...