SSShhhh! I will let you in on a secret: one of my sponsors, Incentive Harmony, is creating a new venture called Venezia Segreta, or "Secret Venice," a Venetian experience designed especially for you.

I've always thought that Venice was a real-life video game, a celestial Divine Comedy to be played here on earth, written by the Wise Ones.

You can start at Ground Zero and still have a chance, but it is nearly impossible these days to penetrate the beyond the Closed Doors. A good heart and a bit of luck could get you far. If you don't have time for that, money, of course, always helps, but there is no guarantee where you might end up. A good heart plus money might get you very far indeed. That is where Venezia Segreta comes in...

We hold the key to Venezia Segreta, a hidden, secret Venice known only to a few. Let us guide you through the labyrinth of this ancient, magical city created centuries ago by master builders, a jewel in the center of a lagoon. A city of whispers... a city of romance... a city of fantasies and dreams... Venezia Segreta will help make your dreams come true.

With the most beautiful town in the world as your stage, Venezia Segreta will write a script designed to fit your individual wishes. From business meetings and conventions, to marriage proposals, weddings and anniversaries -- and Carnival, of course -- we offer a unique, personalized service tailored especially for you.

Accommodations - The Setting

The personal space designed specifically for your character is where the story begins. Quaint bed and breakfasts, five-star luxury hotels, ancient locandas, elegant boutiques, private apartments and more, the unique accommodations hidden in Venice are unlike anywhere else in the world. Venezia Segreta will find the perfect lodgings to match your personality, tastes and budget.

Meetings and Conventions - A Unique Scenario

For centuries, Venice has been a hub of power. In the past, competition between rich, powerful families created beautiful palazzi and places of business, each trying to outdo each other with grandeur and design. Today, it is still possible to enjoy the splendour of their ambitions. Venezia Segreta will find a distinct location best suited to your most exacting requirements, and transform your business event into a unique theatrical production. While you get down to business, Venezia Segreta will handle the details, and organize the catering for relaxing coffee breaks, scrumptious lunches and divine dinners. We will provide the necessary technical and multimedia equipment, as well as arrange the logistics of airport and in-town transportation.

Venezia Segreta organizes seminars, conferences, congresses and business meetings. Our complete, professional service combines efficiency and planning down to the smallest detail. With majestic Venice as the backdrop, your event will have a special flair, making it an unforgettable experience.

The Carnival - A Classic Scenario
Plan your story around the most magical event on the Venetian calendar: Carnival, which takes place in the days leading up to and culminating on Shrove Tuesday (or Mardi Gras). Have you ever fantasized about being an elegant Count or Countess, a heart-broken clown, or even a sexy servant? During the Venetian Carnival, you have the freedom to wander through the maze of your mind. The wearing of a mask puts everyone on the same level: rich and poor, nobleman and citizen, beautiful and ordinary, old and young. Venezia Segreta offers a full program of events where you can act out your most fanciful dreams.

If you want to experience Carnival but cannot make the date, Venezia Segreta will wave their magic wand and whisk you away to your own personal Carnival, at a time and date suitable to your schedule. Venezia Segreta can create Carnival when you dictate, any time of the year you choose, complete with costumes, masks and balls. Any time can be Carnival time!

Please visit http://www.incentiveharmony.com/ to see photographs and programs of past Carnivals.

Weddings, Marriage Proposals and Anniversaries - Scenarios of Romance and Seduction

Venice first married Neptune, the god of the Sea, more than one thousand years ago, and repeats the ceremony up to the present day during the Festa della Sensa, celebrated every year on Ascension Day. She is a professional bride ready to coddle and nurture you during one of the most important occasions of your life. Venezia Segreta guarantees a joyous, stylish event, whether you wish a traditional, romantic experience, or something a bit more avant-guard.

We will supply and organize:
*An enchanted setting
*Romantic accommodation
*Catering - Venezia Segreta offers a wide range of menus sure to suit the most discerning palate, from traditional Italian and Venetian regional dishes, to exotic cuisine, to choice finger food and hors d'œuvres.
*Floral decorations and bouquets, harmonized to complement your event
*Top quality musical entertainment
*Special Wedding Gondola

A proposal of marriage is one of the most important decisions a man must make. Dinner by candlelight... champagne and chocolate... an evening gondola ride... Venezia Segreta will provide the ultimate romantic setting so that your future bride will be sure to answer, "Yes!"

After many years together, sometimes a sprinkling of fairy dust is what a couple needs to put the magic back in their lives. A personal massage... exotic food... wine blessed by Dionysus himself... Let Venezia Segreta make your wildest fantasies come true in the most mysterious and sensual city in the world.

Special Occasions and Unique Events

Whether it's fireworks and a private boat for the Festa del Redentore, or a Grand Canal view for the Regatta Storica, Venezia Segreta can plan your event around the unique holidays that only Venice can share. New Years Eve or Christmas, Easter or Passover, Venice celebrates her holidays like no other city on earth. La Biennale's program runs throughout the year, offering contemporary art, dance, architecture, music and theatre events, in addition to the world famous Venice Film Festival.

We Organise...
Secret gardens... palazzo concerts... photography tours... Venezia Segreta unveils a new, secret Venice, offering alternative guided tours which peak into the hidden corners and whimsical delights of this most visited, yet still mysterious city. Follow in the footsteps of Casanova, circle Venice by helicopter and see the lagoon city through the eyes of a seagull, savour top vintages at our wine tastings, and master the secrets of Italian cuisine with our cookery courses. With our guidance, you will be sure to uncover your own secret Venice, known only to you.

We highly recommend :
*Private Carnival ball any time of year, suitable to your schedule
*Historic and classic Venetian cuisine
*Secret Venice in a private gondola
*Gliding down the Brenta River in the“Burchiello” and a visit to Villa Palladiano
*Supper on hidden island in the Venetian lagoon
*Visiting Basilica di San Marco at night
*Private visit of Venice’s museums
*Private visit to a classic Murano glass factory
*Wine tastings

Incentive Harmony's Clients

20th Century Fox - Rocket Science Laboratories (United States)

3 - Film & Phone Festival (Italy)

American Express (Poland)

Arte Moderna e Contemporanea - Galeria Flora Bigai - - (Italy)

Association des Bibliothécaires suisses (Switzerland)

Associazione Maria Callas e Arthur Rubinstein (Italy)

Blue (Italy)

Canon (Switzerland)

Carven (France)

Cisco System (Belgium)

Compaq Computer (Germany)

Deutsche Telecom (Germany)

Ford (South Africa)

Géodis (France)

Golden Leaves (Germany)

Global Multi-Strategies Fund of Funds (Switzerland)

Lloyds Insurance TSB (United Kingdom)

Maserati (France)

Meta Finance (Germany)

Missenden Tours (United Kingdom)

News magazine (Austria)

Nexus Medical (France)

Novell (France)

Olivetti Server Club (Italy)

Oracle (Germany)

Peugeot (France)

Pharmacia (United States)

Plantronics (United Kingdom)

Prague Television (Hungary)

Saint-Jude Medical (France)

Siemens (Italy - Germany))

UBS (Switzerland)

Wines Plus (United Kingdom)

For enquiries or questions, please contact:
Nicolas & Jeane-Benedicte Arnita

Incentiveharmony San Polo 1022 - 30125 Venice - Italy
Tel. +39 041 52 01 855 - +39 041 77 93 002
Fax +39 041 52 85 914
ecgroup@incentiveharmony.com
http://veneziasegreta.com/

Photo credits:
Sshhh: http://blog.libero.it/chaud/5855754.html
L’ombra del Leone, Ca Giustinian, La Biennale headquarters
Masks by: Bottega dei Mascareri: http://www.mascarer.com/
Pomellato: Tabou Ring http://www.pomellato.it/
Fairy silhouette: http://zanza00.deviantart.com
Venetian garden - http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/sponger42/1/1227734520/tpod.html

Carnival of Venice - The Magic Returns

2009-01-22T16:37:00.000+01:00

(Venice, Italy) A masked woman steps from her gondola and into the Venetian mist. Flickering candlelight illumines the silhouette of a man waiting at the palazzo door. They embrace, and journey up the red carpet, into a world of intrigue and romance...

A scene from Casanova's memoirs? No -- it's Carnival time in Venice! This year Carnevale runs from Friday, February 13th through February 24th, ending on Fat Tuesday, Mardi Gras, or Martedì Grasso.

Nicolas and Jean Benedict Arnita, the owners of Incentive Harmony, have been conjuring up Carnevale balls in Venice for more than a decade. Originally from Paris, they are wizards at keeping their love affair with La Serenissima vibrant and alive. This year they are offering eight elegant events at the 14th century Gothic Palazzo Pesaro Papafava, all with an historic theme.

I first met Nicolas and Jean Benedict back in 2001 when I featured their exclusive event-planning company in a story for the IHT-Italy Daily. Since that time, they have seen the likes of the Arvind Singh Mewar, the Maharana of Udaipur, and highest ranking member of the Rajput royal ancestry, cross their threshold -- apparently the Maharana has also fallen in love with Venice as it reminds him of Udaipur, and his palace on the lake:) Together, Nicolas and the Maharana presented the royal exhibition, the Treasure of the Maharaja, here in Italy with Santi Choudhary, a descendent of the original jeweler. Like the Arnitas, the Maharana is dedicated to promoting historic and responsible tourism, not only with his own properties, but across the globe. His Royal Highness couldn't attend the festivities last year, but the Arnitas have high hopes he'll be able to squeeze in a Ball or two this time around.

To kick things off, on Valentines Day, Saturday, February 14th, the theme of the Gran Ballo della Serenissima is "Love Duet," inspired by Romeo & Juliet, the renowned lovers from Verona, a town that was once part of the Venetian Republic. Throughout the evening, the most famous lyric operas will be performed, such as La Traviata, Il Barbiere di Siviglia and La Bohéme. The wine will flow as costumed guests enjoy a gala dinner, and then dance until dawn.

Woven throughout the twelve days of Carnival, the Arnitas will host seven additional events. On Sunday the 15th, Il Ballo della Colombina is inspired by one of the most beloved characters of the Commedia dell'arte, Colombina, that saucy servant with more brains than her masters.

On Thursday the 19th, La Dolce Vita e il Gran Ballo di Giustina Renier, l'utima gentildonna del '700 is dedicated to Giustina Renier Michiel, granddaughter of the last Doge of Venice. Born in 1755, she witnessed the fall of the Republic, and watched it pass between French and Austrian hands. Giustina wrote the six-volume work, Origins of Venetian Festivals, first published in 1817, and was noted for her illustrious salon, which gathered together some of the finest minds of the time, including Lord Byron and Canova.

An homage to Giovan Battista Pergolesi will highlight his operetta La Serva Padrona on Friday the 20th, featuring Serpina, the servant who plotted to marry her padrone. The Grand Ball of the Dogaressa on Saturday the 21st will celebrate with its own Three Tenors -- it was not the Doge who normally organized the great balls of the past, but the Doge's wife.

On Sunday, February 22nd, a Lyrical Chocolate Afternoon will start at 5PM, followed by the Grand Costume Ball of One Thousand and One Nights later that evening, where an award for the most elaborate costume celebrating a glorious moment in Venetian history will be presented. On February 24th, troubadours and minstrels wander throughout Palazzo Pesaro Papafava in celebration of Fat Tuesday,the last day of Carnival, during the Grand Ball of the Renaissance.

Each event is priced under €300, which includes a welcome cocktail, seated Gala Dinner with wine, and entertainment. The dress code is formal, tuxedo or smoking jacket for men. Masks required. The Arnitas' atelier is at your disposal for costumes, masks and accessories. To see the complete program of all eight events, please click:

http://www.incentiveharmony.com/carnivalballs/carnival2009.html

Or click below to download the complete Program of the Balls:
Detailed Program of Carnival Balls

Incentive Harmony of Nicolas Arnita would like to express its great appreciation for the fresh vision and collaboration between the major organizations of the Comune, the Province and the Region, and all its residents, Veneziani di Cuore.

Viva La Serenissima!

Incentiveharmony - Palazzo Valier

Campo San Silvestro - San Polo 1022

30125 Venice - Italy

Tel. +39 041 52 01 855

+39 041 77 93 002

Fax +39 041 52 85 914

ecgroup@incentiveharmony.com

http://www.incentiveharmony.com/

Click to go to main Venetian Cat-Venice Blog:

http://venetiancat.blogspot.com/

Incentive Harmony

Secret Venice - Venezia Segreta

Venezia Segreta

Venice Carnival 2010 - Incentive Harmony

Carnival of Venice - The Magic Returns