Campanile in the Piazza San Marco - St Mark's Square

Exhibitors and sponsors, all from Veneto, included Uvive, a consortium of Veneto wine growers (http://www.uvive.it); the Bisol vineyards, which makes one of the world’s finest proseccos (http://www.bisol.it/eng/azienda.htm); Grana Padano, the famous italian cheese makers; Vicenzaoro, an association of master goldsmiths and jewelers and the host of one of the world’s largest gold and jewelry fairs (http://www.vicenzaoro.org/uk/index.php); Benetton (www.benetton.com); Venezia Marketing, which promotes the cultural, historic and sporting events that take place in the city, the city’s museums, restaurants, hotels, transportation and its famous Carnevale the Venice Casino (www.veniceconnected.com); the city of Verona, birthplace of the story of Romeo and Juliet and site of the house where the historical Juliet’s family lived and where today couples can hold weddings (www.sposamiaverona.it); Verona is also the home of the third-century Roman amphitheater, the Verona Arena, which can hold 22,000 people and is the location of the Verona Opera Festival (http://www.arena.it/); Ditech Biometrics, which creates the fastest, most accurate fingerprint identity verification algorithms available (www.biogatetech.com); Elle (www.elle-international.biz) has supported from Italy the technical organization of the exhibit.

The Piazza San Marco, or St Mark's Square

The exhibitions were part of the 2009 Columbus Celebration, which included the Columbus Day Parade, held on October 12 on Fifth Avenue, 47th to 79th Streets from noon until 3:00 PM. Also part of the celebration was a raffle of a Maserati Quattroporte S, which was on view in Grand Central Terminal. Proceeds of the raffle went to the Columbus Citizens Foundation scholarship fund, which this year is providing scholarship assistance in the amount of $1.8 million to over 600 students. Veneto: A Bridge Between Venice and New York was sponsored by the Region of Veneto and organized by the Columbus Citizens Foundation. The Foundation is a non-profit organization in New York City committed to fostering an appreciation of Italian-American heritage and achievement. The Foundation, through a broad range of philanthropic and cultural activities, provides opportunities for advancement to deserving Italian-American students through various scholarship and grant programs. The Foundation organizes New York City's annual Columbus Celebration and Columbus Day Parade, which has celebrated Italian-American heritage since 1929.

Members of the Fondazione Aida performed The Harlequin’s Secret

 

 

The Sights, Sounds and Artistry of Italy in Grand Central Terminal

Region of Veneto Open House in Vanderbilt Hall Showcased Venice, Verona, Murano Glass, Romance and Innovation

The theme of the Vanderbilt Hall Exhibit was Veneto: A Bridge Between Venice and New York

The historic grandeur of the Piazza San Marco and the soaring beauty of the Dolomites came to life last October in an exhibition in Grand Central Terminal’s Vanderbilt Hall as part of the 2009 Columbus Celebration.

Veneto: A Bridge Between Venice and New York highlighted the Veneto region’s timeless beauty and its vibrant culture (www.veneto.to). From the opulence of the architecture of the Doge’s Palace and canals of Venice to the Region of Veneto’s unsurpassed artisans, the exhibition informed and delighted visitors hungry for a sampling of this land of natural beauty, historic sites, and thriving culture.

The exhibits featured displays of Murano glass, exquisite hand-crafted miniature shoes replicating contemporary and historic styles, and free jazz performances.

Jazz performances were sponsored by the Region of Veneto and by Veneto Jazz

And throughout the run of the exhibit, Veneto and companies from the region provided complimentary espresso and bottled water.

The Tree of Friendship, blanketed with Murano glass ornaments, presented to Mayor Michael Bloomberg by the Region of Veneto and the Promovetro Consortium

Among the highlights of Veneto: A Bridge Between Venice and New York was an imposing replica of the façade of the Doge’s Palace, instantly recognizable for its Gothic arches. Two golden winged lions – symbols of St. Mark, the patron saint of Venice –welcomed the visitors recreating the glamourous atmosphere of the enchanted city and its internationally reknown film festival. A brilliantly lit 14-foot tall steel tree was blanketed with hundreds of unique examples of Murano glass creations that illuminate Venice’s long tradition of exceptional glass blowing. The tree was donated to the City of New York by Region Veneto and the Promovetro Consortium, an association of Venetian glass artisans and craftsmen.

The outstanding workmanship of Veneto artisans was evident in a small exhibit, Piccoli Passi (Small Steps), a unique collection of miniature shoes, entirely made by hand by Pietro Martello, a skilled artisan from the Riviera del Brenta. The collection illustrated fashions in footwear over the span of several centuries recreated in two- to four-inch miniature.

Exquisitely hand-crafted miniature shoes in historical styles were presented in the Piccoli Passi exhibit.

A giant screen continually displayed images of the fascinating cities, mountains, lakes, beaches, castles, churches, rivers, and vineyards of Veneto, in a breathtaking kaleidoscope of images, accompanied by Italian classical and popular music.

Veneto’s famed hospitality was sampled with free, authentic Italian espresso and the refreshing San Benedetto water, both products of Veneto.

Veneto Jazz, a cultural association that promotes jazz in Italy and around the world, presented a series of regularly scheduled free performances by some of Venice’s leading jazz musicians