Piazzetta San Marco

2019 Venice Biennale with Grand Rapids Art Museum

The fourth trip together with Grand Rapids Art Museum director Dana Friis-Hansen, D*Lux Travel's Diana Dopson, and fellow art lovers on a 7-day ArtAdventure to Italy featuring an exclusive tour of the international contemporary art exhibition La Biennale di Venezia paired with insider access to a curated mix of architecture, landscape, and culinary experiences. Our focus this week was how the ancient Romans living in the shadow of Vesuvius in Naples, Pompeii, Sorrento and Capri incorporated art and nature into their everyday lives to create spaces that have transcended time. This same emphasis is revisited every two years at the Venice Biennale, and is also the lived experience at two exceptional hotels where we stayed: Gio Ponti's Parco dei Principi in Sorrento overlooking the Bay of Naples and Byblos Art Hotel in the rolling hills outside of Verona. Along the way we met local experts, enjoyed wonderful dining experiences and boat rides, and had lots of opportunities to explore on our own.

Days 1 & 2

Napoli, Gio Ponti's Parco dei Principi, a Vintage Sailboat Ride to Dinner by the Sea, Boating to Capri, Bagni di Tiberio, the Villa San Michele

San Gennaro Napoli
Seven Acts of Mercy by Caravaggio
Flagellation of Christ, Caravaggio
Il Real Bosco di Capodimonte Napoli
Napoli treats
Napoli Catedrale
Chiesa del Gesu Nuovo Napoli
Napoli Catedrale saints
In the Cloister of Santa Chiara Napoli
Santa Chiara cloister tiles
Napoli Archaeological Museum mosaic
Napoli Archaeological Museum, Three Graces
Napoli Archaeological Museum, Dancing Faun
Gio Ponte's Parco dei Principi Sorrento
Gio Ponte's Parco dei Principi Sorrento
The stunning gardens of Gio Ponte's Parco dei Principi Sorrento
Gio Ponte's Parco dei Principi Sorrento
The view from Gio Ponte's Parco dei Principi Sorrento
Swimming near the ancient caves at Gio Ponte's Parco dei Principi Sorrento
Gio Ponte's Parco dei Principi Sorrento
The private beach club of Gio Ponte's Parco dei Principi Sorrento
The view from Gio Ponte's Parco dei Principi Sorrento
On our way to Capri
Boating through the Faraglioni Rocks
Capri, A Beautiful Place to Swim
On the boat with Ghayas
Capri, Bagni di Tiberio
Capri, the Colors of the Sea
Capri Villa San Michele colonade
Capri, Villa San Michele
Capri with Margo
Capri, the view from Villa San Michele
Capri with Mary
Capri Villa San Michele colonnade
Capri with the Sphinx
Capri, Heading Home
Sorrento dinner sunset
With Andrea, GM Parco dei Principi Sorrento
Parco dei Principi garden
Mary
Nancy and Erik
Crazy boats
on Ale's vintage sailboat
Vintage Sailboat Ride
Docking the Boat
Sorrento Sunset
Dinner by the Sea
Ale's sailboat
Parco dei Principi Pool

Days 3 & 4

Pompeii, Byblos Art Hotel, Dinner al fresco Talking about Love, Boating to Venice through the Northern Lagoon, Lunch on Torcello, a Special Visit to Lino Tagliapietra Studio on Murano, San Giorgio Maggiore

Pompeii temple
Pompeii with Marcello
Pompeii roses
Byblos Art Hotel chandelier
Dana and Luigi
Byblos Art Hotel
Byblos Art Hotel
Byblos Art Hotel
Byblos Art Hotel unforgettable dessert
Byblos Art Hotel
Byblos Art Hotel
Byblos Art Hotel
Arriving at Altino
Starting on the edge of the lagoon
Northern Lagoon route
Northern Lagoon route
Boating through the Northern Lagoon
Massimiliano our captain
Sky and birds
Massimiliano and his daughter
Torcello canal
Torcello vineyard
Lino Tagliapietra studio entrance on Murano
Lino Tagliapietra gondolas
Lino Tagliapietra gallery
Lino Tagliapietra gallery
San Giorgio Maggiore, Longhena staircase
San Giorgio Maggiore, Diana
San Giorgio Maggiore, Palladio courtyard
San Giorgio Maggiore, lighthouse
San Giorgio Maggiore, Pae White, Qwalala
San Giorgio Maggiore, Norman Foster
San Giorgio Maggiore, Carla Juaçaba
San Giorgio Maggiore exhibition
San Giorgio Maggiore, Palladio and Sean Scully, Human
San Giorgio Maggiore, Sean Scully, Human, interior
San Giorgio Maggiore belltower view
San Giorgio Maggiore Borges labyrinth
San Giorgio Maggiore belltower view of Piazza San Marco

Days 5 & 6

La Biennale di Venezia, Giardini and Arsenale

Venezia, Canale Grande
Venezia, La Dogana
Venezia, Banksy
La Biennale di Venezia, On our way
La Biennale di Venezia, On our way
La Biennale di Venezia, Arsenale, Christoph Büchel, Barca Nostra
La Biennale di Venezia, Giardini, Njideka Akunyili Crosby, Mama, Mummy and Mamma (Predecessor #2), 2014
La Biennale di Venezia, Giardini, Dana
May You Live in Interesting Times