Medici Treasures: Venice Trip 2010

The second annual Medici Treasures trip, April 6 – 12, 2010, promises to be every bit as magical as the first one. This time, our destination will be Venice, which we will approach though the eyes of the Medici dynasty. During centuries of rulership, the Medici family’s personal dealings with Venice were almost always clouded by intrigue or scandal. The story begins with Cosimo de’ Medici the Elder, who found a safe haven here during his 1433 exile from Florence, using the opportunity not only to build powerful new political alliances, but also to broaden his cultural horizons. The archival research of the Medici Archive Project reveals that Cosimo’s fascination with Venice was a recurring family trait. But what made Venice fascinating also made it dangerous--something that Lorenzino de' Medici, Don Giovanni de' Medici, and Prince Ferdinando de' Medici discovered only too late. On this exclusive trip, we will host a select group of patrons on a six-day exploration of Venice. This trip will include the best of local Venetian cuisine; luxury gondola rides; an after-hours visit to the Basilica of San Marco; art-historian guided visits to monuments and museums; and a cooking lesson. Please check back as we post all of the details regrding this trip or email Rachel Harms -- rharms@medici.org