The Oriental room
My experience as official photographer of the Caffé Florian.
The Chinese room inside the Caffé Florian
...Its first name was “Alla Venezia Trionfante”, which means “Triumphant Venice”but unfortunately, not so many years its foundation, exactely in 1797, the glory of Venice came to an end, and the name of this Café turned into “Florian, from the name of its founder, Floriano Francesconi.
Since 1720 Venetians say: “Andemo da Florian!” (let’s go to Florian’s!). In fact, since 300 years Caffè Florian is the meeting point for Venice’s lovers, and this place preserved its identity, in spite of the epoch-making changes, economic and social upheavals of the Venetian society, depopulation. Its first name was “Alla Venezia Trionfante”, which means “Triumphant Venice”but unfortunately, not so many years its foundation, exactely in 1797, the glory of Venice came to an end, and the name of this Café turned into “Florian, from the name of its founder, Floriano Francesconi.
Why am I so found of this Caffé? Not only because it’s a piece of history in one of the most beautiful squares in the world, and not only because every time I hold a Photo Tour in Venice, if we cross San Marco’s square I like to have a look inside, but most of all because from 2007 until I have been the official photographer of Caffè Florian! What does it mean to be the official photographer of such a famous place? It means that you can enter this place early in the morning, with no customers inside, and look carefully to note new perspectives, reflections in the mirrors you never saw before. You can see and photograph ancient furnitures and be there during the temporary exhibitions when Venice’s Biennale Art starts.
It’s good to remember that the idea of starting the first Biennale Art took place exactly inside Caffè Florian at the end of 1800. My first photographic book on Venice, “Venice on the edge of light” was presented to the press on 3rd May 2007 inside the Caffè Florian, with a special cover.
Exhibition of modern art inside the Caffé Florian
Carnival inside the Caffé Florian
Caffè Florian bags