An island with many names: Nicolò della cavana/ Madonna del Rosario/ Madonna del Monte

The lagoon of Venice is surrounded by numerous islands, many of which were originally entrusted to the Benedictine order.

A couple of the islands, San Giacomo in Palude and Madonna del Monte, on the route between Murano and Burano no longer show traces of their ancient splendor. In more recent times they were used as gunpowder deposits due to a Napoleonic decree passed in the beginning of the 19th century.

Although both islands are in a state of disrepair, the conditions of Madonna del Monte are worse.

The brick walls of the gunpowder deposit on Madonna del Monte island

The island was once called San Nicolò della Cavana, better well-known today as Madonna del Monte, it is easily recognizable by the brick structure of the gunpowder deposit that is still standing. (see picture above and below)

Madonna del Monte today

In the beginning of the 14th century the island served as shelter for pilgrims and for those who went to the neighboring islands. Those who stopped on the island were welcomed by the Benedictine nuns, a small group of four women, who depended on the nearby island of Mazzorbo.

When the nuns died, the monastery was abandoned and the place turned into a swamp.

Between 1600 and 1700 the island was sporadically inhabited by hermits with the consent of the Benedictine nuns of Mazzorbo. In the meantime a new church was built, and it was called Madonna del Rosario.

After becoming seat of a powder magazine, the island was abandoned forever and today it is still in a banned state waiting for someone to intervene to re-evaluate its aspect and its surrounding area.

The Venetian patere: details in a city devoted to details.

Palazzo Vitturi in Campo Santa Maria Formosa

Particular decorations can be seen on the exposed terracotta facades of some Venetian palaces. These decorations are called patere and are a typical example of ornamental bas-reliefs.

They are made in white stone or marble from the Veneto-Byzantine era, with a diameter from 20 to 80 cm and a thickness of 10 cm. They could be confused with other square tiles but in general they are circular.

Detail

They were made following different processing techniques: flat modeling (the oldest), low or medium relief, strong overhang, concave bottom, openwork ( the more recent).

These ornaments came mainly from Constantinople and were reused and inserted into the facades as bare materials. They are a sign that distinguished the creativity of the skillful craftsmen of the past.

Detail

Furthermore, these stone materials were moved from an older building to a newer one under construction. For this reason they have been defined erratic sculptures.

Their subjects are mainly zoomorphic and very often keep their mysterious meaning with them. Many represent the lion, the symbol of Venice, but also other themes such as trades and people.

A cake for the Befana: the tradition of the Venetian “pinza”

The Befana

The word “befana” comes from the Greek “epiphany” and it means apparition. In the collective imagination the befana is an old woman with a long nose and a sharp chin, who travels at night on a broom. She appears at night on January 6th bringing gifts to all the good children. The night before her arrival they are supposed to leave a sock under the fireplace or in the kitchen that she fills with gifts, but especially candies and sweet coal.

To thank her for her visit as a reward in the past, it was tradition to leave her favorite cake, “the pinza” ready for her on the kitchen table.

The Pinza

This cake is usually prepared during Christmastime, and it is a rustic and substantial sweet, made especially with leftovers.

There are two versions to create this cake related to the use of the basic ingredient: made with soaked bread or with corn. In Venice soaked bread is preferred to corn, and it is mixed and amalgamated with sweet spices, dried fruit, dried figs, apples and raisins and plenty more.

Although the “ pincia” is part of the Venetian tradition, today it is rarely made at home, and it is sold only in some bakeries.

It belongs like all the traditions to the past, which are rediscovered by new generations when someone in the family brings it to life.