Travel Series: Art & Society parties in Venice, Italy

photo David Hoare

Oh Venice, you have everything don't you? Well, except for streets, you just have canals, but that's what makes you... you!

If you've ever been to Venice you know the feeling I'm talking about when you can't find ANY cars, just boats as far as the eye can see. A "Waterworld" without Kevin Costner stealing your aluminum cans. If you get up early enough you can see the garbage boats hauling away everyone's trash from the edge of the canals, and supply boats taking crates of produce and palettes of L'Aranciata to the corner store or cafe.

It's a very whimsical destination and today's post is taking a peek into the unique society parties that took place in early June during the opening of the Venice Biennale, the largest contemporary art exhibition in the world.

Above is a photo of a cocktail party in the ballroom of the Palazzo Pisani Moretta, a palace built in the 15th Century for the Pisani family. Are you having a little bit of venue-jealousy right now?

Above, guests mingle before being seated for the Venetian Heritage Gala dinner.

Below is a dinner party at the STUNNING Palazzo Albirizzi, another palace that has been in the hands of its original owners, the Albrizzi family, for over 500 years. If you're looking for a vacation rental, an exclusive apartment here is just $12,000 a week...

And last, we round out the night at Hotel Cipriani where Russian artist Stella Kesaev hosted a party to celebrate her Moscow-based contemporary art foundation. Czech out the bovine-inspired upholstery!

Incidentally, Hotel Cipriani is an Orient-Express Hotel just like our very own Charleston Place.

I hope this travel series was fun, we have to go again sometime! Ciao!

(below, me and my hubby on our honeymoon)

party photos from David Patrick Columbia