Francesco's Venice : Complete BBC Series (DVD)

The spirit of Venice is woven into Francesco's soul! The best reviews are always those whose author is well versed in the subject ~ seemingly an obvious point but something that is all too often ignored ~ and if the reviewer also loves his or her subject matter with a passion, so much the better. It would be hard to find a more poetic, seductive reviewer than this super sexy man, who is clearly first a Venetian and second an Italian! Francesco draws the viewer in like an angler teasing a fish until you are well and truly hooked! I had visited Venice briefly, many years ago but at the wrong time of year ~ high summer (definitely not recommended) without undertaking any pre-visit research (definitely another big mistake ~ it is preferable to research any country but essential in order to really 'get' Venice) and for far too short a time to really form an intelligent opinion on this unique city. This year, I had the opportunity to return with a group of girlfriends to watch our daughters' choir perform over 4 days. Apart from the concerts/masses in which they were performing, our time was our own. Despite it being mid-May, the weather was atrocious ~ horizontal rain on one day, with only one hot sunny day which, fortunately, was the day we visited the Island of Murano. Despite all this, having watched Francesco's Venice, I felt, so prepared, so well versed in the city's foundations, history and character, that the weather became (almost!) unimportant. I would not hesitate to recommend, no insist, as I did with my accompanying girlfriends, that this DVD is a pre-requisite for any visitor to this amazing city. It would certainly be no penance for any woman to watch Francesco da Mosto for 4 hours but I would defy anyone, male or female, young or old, not to be drawn in by his amazing story-telling ability. Here is Venice during its times of triumph and disaster, health and sickness, all enthralling and captivating to the viewer with Francesco as an attentive and informative guide. Because of his transparent love for his home city, the viewer too, gets drawn into this love affair that is still ongoing. The mixture of fact and inserts of historical drama, add to the intrigue and, in the best way possible, we begin to understand Francesco's great love of his place of birth. Only one word of warning, it is rated a 15 for a reason! Pre-vet before showing to any young children as it is pretty sexually explicit in parts! Enjoy! Dx

Compliments, Endorsements, and an Important Correction. Superb series in every way.The personable tour-guide-of the-air-waves, Francesco Da Mosto, uses his photogenic charm, romantic, carressing, voice and personality, to increase the attractiveness of an already alluring city still further, humanizing historical names, Vivaldi, and Casanova, for example, by telling details of their sometimes very personal lives, both their great achievements and often disreputable behaviour, so that they seem alive, momentarilly, once more. He doesn't overlook that Venice's yesterdays are used as a backdrop for street markets to sell the pretty but trashy trumpery of our to-days; he shows the graffitti, and laments the continuing exodus of Venitians from their own city; natives, in London, Rome, or anywhere else, are thought of by governments as just as much of a demographic inconvenience, it seems, to the monetry flow of tourists, here, as much as anywhere, which is all very well, but, could I ask, when the last of the two remaining Venitian boatyards closes, just whom shall you go to, then, when next the keel falls off your Gondola? Honda? Treasures removed by Napoleon allow us to exercise our imagination by visualizing them; and, contrary to a previous Reviewer's assertion, the Elgin marbles were bought by Lord Elgin, and subsequent Greecian regret has developed into a very unattractive, deliberately misrepresentative bitterness on their part. For lovers of gentle, wistful stories, or just for lovers, I can highly recommend Katherine Hepburn's 1955 film, Summertime, set entirely in Venice, which is usually for sale on Amazon. To live in a country's selective past glories is a great way to enjoy life; so, if you're not a contemporary Venitian in search of employment, and don't have to leave the city to live, you can stroll around it with this companionable, knowledgeable man, enjoying his friendliness and naughty smile, learning, feasting, and admiring whilst promising yourself to go one day. If only it could be with Francesco. (Please could I refer any reader of this article to the 'Comments'' link, below, for further interest, and any that they may care to add.Thanks.)

cracking preparation for those going to Venice This was the perfect way to get ready for 3 nights in Venice. Well presented and with a good pace to it, the 4 hours flew by and we came out of this much the wiser about our short break destination. As a result, we got much, much more out of our holiday. In these enlightened days of non-smoking the only thing that distracts is the presenter's penchant for holding a cigarette for much of the programme and even - horror of horrors - taking the occasional drag on it. When was the last time any of us saw a presenter with the chutzpah to smoke on screen?

Excellent storyteller If you are going to visit Venice, spending 4 hours watching this DVD will save you a lot of time (and money) since he puts the city in context and shows some of the highlights to head for. He is a master storyteller, and delights in telling you how Venetians have struggled from one disaster to another, making some magnificent buildings in the process. The Venice on the DVD is without the hordes of tourists, overpriced tourist restaurants, and cheesy tourist shops which cram into Venice today - you will see that for yourself when you get there.

Enthralling A stunning introduction to this marvelous city or an amazing wealth of knowledge for regular visitors, this four part series presented by a knowledgeable Venitian is wonderfully shot and scored. It perfectly gives a snapshot of the history of Venice and the Lagoon around it, some might balk at the final episode which points a finger at the tourists that have turned the city into a giant museum, but this is the quandary the city finds itself in as it tries to survive with no way of growth or any real industry. Well worth investing in.