ACTIVITIES AT PALAZZO MOCENIGO 2014-15 FOR NON-ITALIAN SPEAKING VISITORS
Active tours
An invite to the Palace
What was life like in a Venetian Palace? What were the mannerisms of the rich Venetian society in the 700’s? How were the nobles dressed? And the children? The answers to these and many other questions will be found through a game-type journey that will cover the rooms of the Palace, once inhibited by the distinguished Mocenigo family, and today enriched by an extraordinary collection of male and female clothes from the 1700’s, accompanied by a vast selection of accessories (shoes, gloves, hats, fans). The tour will end with a stop in the new section dedicated to perfume, to discover the secrets and origin of the art of perfume, that had a wide circulation in Venice.
Who is it for: Primary School (Grades 3-5) , Lower and Upper Secondary School
Duration: 2 hours
When: Everyday except Monday
Time: From 10 on
Language: Italian, English, French and Russian
Venice and fashion
Historically, Venice was one of the most important production centres of fabrics: Rediscovering the city in this light is the objective of the first part of the programme and will use the lively emblems of the ancient arts and crafts guilds, positioning them on the map of Venice, to visualize the places that, with the curious names of alleyways, squares and buildings, still evoke the intense activities associated with the production, dying, and sale of fabrics. But how did they dress in the past? Did they change often? Did they use underwear? These questions will be answered in the second part of the workshop when attention moves to fashion, in particular that of the eighteenth century, and a vast selection of which is on display in the museum rooms with splendid men’s and women’s garments, including children’s clothes and a wide range of accessories that are testimony to the customs and everyday life of that period.
Who is it for: Primary School (Grades 3-5), Lower and Upper Secondary School
Duration: 2 hours
When: From 4 November 2014 – Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays
Time: from 10.00 on
Languages: Italian, English
Workshops
The world on a piece of fabric
A workshop in which the different kinds of fibres used for fabrics, whether natural, manmade or synthetic, can be seen and touched, getting to know where they come from and how they are transformed into our clothes, analyzing the stages that start with the raw material and end with the spun. This is followed by actual weaving with the concrete creation of a braid, first on paper and then on a small manual loom, with a live demonstration of weaving on a shaft loom at the end.
Who is it for: Primary School (Grades 3-5), Lower and Upper Secondary School
Duration: 2 hours
When: from 4 November 2014 – Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays
Time: from 10.00 on
Languages: Italian, English
It’s only a question of…. Nose
What are perfumes made of? How are scents created? Starting from princess Teodora’s adventures, who brought, from Byzantium to Venice, perfumes and phenomenal ointments, the young visitors will be introduced to world of perfume and its secrets. The proposed experience will take place in a laboratory that will have the whole class participating, with smelling games that will put everyone’s nose to the test. The kids will be asked to recognize the origin of the different substances that make up/ compose the perfumes, some of everyday-use, and others more puzzling, but with a strong evocative power. The kids, like real perfumers, will bring home very special recipes to test miraculous potions from the 16th century.
Who is it for: Primary School
Duration: 2 hours
When: Everyday except Mondays
Time: From 10:00 on
Language: Italian, English
The Palace’s Artisans
By listening to myths and legends, the children will learn the incredible origin of the antique arts of lace and glass. Learning through game-type activities and the production of some artefacts inspired by the arts will allow each child to experience the secrets of the crafts, transforming them, for the day, into a mini-craftsman. A short visit to the Museum of Mocenigo’s Palace will enhance the manual experience thanks to observations of the precious and ample collection of glass and lace in exhibition.
Who is it for: Primary School
Duration: 2 hours
When: Everyday except Monday
Time: From 10 on
Languages: Italian, English, Spanish
Dyed and printed
Game – a lesson to get to know the different phases of dying and experiment creatively and actively with printing on fabrics.
The young elementary school participants will be invited to write their own name together with a figure, using letter stencils and images.
Each participant is asked to bring a 100% white cotton T-shirt that they will decorate during the activity.
Who is it for: Primary School (Grades 3-5), Lower and Upper Secondary School
Duration: 2 hours
When: from 4 November 2014 – Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays
Time: from 10.00 on
Languages: Italian, English
On History’s String
The presentation of a short story told by images will introduce students to the evolution of the design of lace that can be seen in the original pieces that come from the abundant archives of the Mocenigo Palace Museum. The students will play a game in which they will actively participate in creating a big lace made by the whole class, in this activity they will learn the tricks and secrets of the making of lace. A short visit to the Museum, focused on the role of lace in the lifestyle of the 1700’s, will conclude the workshop.
Who is it for: Lower Secondary School
Duration: 2 hours
When: From 21st October 2014 – everyday except Monday
Time: From 10 on
Languages: Italian, English Spanish
The focal point of the question
The evolution of lace and her designs: from the 15th century to modern catwalks. This interesting story will be illustrated through images and the examination of original pieces from the abundant collections of the Mocenigo Palace. The analysis will be even more stimulating thanks to the use of a digital microscope that is able to reveal the wonders of the details in lace. This way the students will be able to understand the major differences between needle, bobbin and machine lace. To conclude this activity the students will be accompanied through the Museum rooms, to see the lace in exhibition.
Who is it for: Upper Secondary School
Duration: an hour and a half
When: From the 21st October 2014-everyday except Monday
Time: From 10 on
Languages: Italian, English, Spanish