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GIVE A DREAM…A HOLIDAY…

An anniversary, a birthday, or just a special occasion, and you don’t know what to give?

Trust us. CHOOSE A RENDEZ VOUS FANTASIA’S GIFT CARD!

How does it work?
Choose the value you want to give to the Gift Card, you can pay it comfortably from home by credit card (Visa/Mastercard) or bank transfer. As soon as this is credited to us, we will send you a gift card in an original package, with the possibility to customize your greeting message.

Give a cruise on board of a Rendez vous Fantasia’s Houseboat in Italy!

Then the beneficiary will contact us to decide the period, the duration of the holiday and the model of the boat. If the amount given doesn’t cover the price of the rental, the beneficiary can pay the difference.

Don’t miss the opportunity to let your loved ones discover the waterways of North East of Italy in complete autonomy!

The Gift Cards can be used throughout the 2021 season, from 19th March to 01st November.

Don’t forget, the Gift Card entitles you to a discount of 10% of the list price, for bookings of at least one week or of 5% of the list price, for shorter periods!

THE OLDEST CLOCK IN THE WORLD

The ancient tower of St Andrew’s, who is situated on Corso del Popolo, Chioggia’s main street, is the oldest surviving clock.Together with the Salisbury Clock, they are an incredible testimony to human talent and craftsmanship in the 14th century. Although history records earlier clocks, even a century earlier, the uniqueness of these two specimens lies in their longevity and perfect functioning. Both dated 1386, the Chioggia clock has a further uniqueness due to the completeness and extent of its documentation, which allow us to identify the clock that we still admire today as precisely the same one mentioned in the 14th-century papers.

The city of Chioggia had the Dondi family as distinguished citizens: some hypothesise that there may be a link between the presence of the two great sages, Jacopo and Giovanni, and the existence of this clock. Fascinating as the possibility may be, no positive proof has yet emerged. Chioggia’s clock is a source of pride for the city, a tangible symbol of its history and cultural heritage. The ancient clock face located on the tower of Sant’Andrea, today functions by means of an electric mechanism. The clock of medieval origin, on the other hand, is located inside the tower, on the fifth floor, restored and functioning. In the second half of the 18th century, the clock was modified – as was common practice – to improve its accuracy, with the addition of a pendulum.”

On the outside of the tower, reduced in height after the War of Chioggia, the mechanism of the clock offers a decorative element thanks to a sunburst pattern surround in Istrian stone showing 12 roman numerals. At the centre of the face there is a flaming sun from which extents a long ray, which in turn indicates the hour. The medieval clock can be seen at the 5th floor of St. Andrew’s tower.

The bell tower of St’Andrew, dating back to the XI-XII century, was built for defence and, over time, it became the main element of the town, housing the clock of the ancient municipal palace. Besides the bell tower there is the homonimous church. The current building is from 1743 and represents the rebuilding of a fifteenth century church, which in turn was built on the remains of an ancient church (c. VIII century) and conserves its original layout. It has a Baroque-style facade and the Baptistery is attributed to Sansovino. The most important work of art is in the sacristy and shows the Crucifixion. The canvas was initially attributed to Palma il Vecchio and then later to Marescalco (Giovanni Buonconsiglio).

(source: Curiosando, www.conchioggiasi.com, wikipedia and by kind contribution of Dr. Addomine Marisa)

SOTTOMARINA BEACH

Only ten minutes from our base and you can easily arrive to Sottomarina. A long time ago it was called “Marina Vecia”: an area of vegetable gardens and traditional dwellings, today it is a wonderful seaside locality. The beach of Sottomarina is about 10 km long and in some parts it can also be 300 metres deep. It is appreciated by the entire coastline for the quality of its fine sand, characterised by an abundant presence of augite, quartz, silicon and micaceous elements. These features, together with a regular and constant breeze, make it the ideal place for some therapeutic rest and an excellent tan. Its wide and welcoming shore is, without a doubt, the ideal place for long walks or for children to enjoy, or simply relaxing.
If you want to avoid the bustle and traffic and have a bike or you feel like taking a walk, the Lusenzo Lagoon, where our embarkation base is located, is ideal for you. Cycle paths and pedestrian routes allow you indeed to tour the lagoon, starting from Sottomarina and arriving in Chioggia or vice versa. The area is particularly pleasant: the landscape is fascinating, the benches are surrounded by greenery and the view across the lagoon is beautiful.
You can continue walking on foot or by bike to the Sottomarina dam to see the remains of the ancient “Murazzi” (embankments). They are essential for people to understand which point the sea level once reached.