What's on 2026

“What remains of a real city when its image has eroded its very substance?” At The Home of The Human Safety Net, film historian and critic Giuseppe Ghigi takes us on a journey exploring the myth of Venice through cinema and the stereotypes that have shaped its image, presenting his book “Venice and Cinema. The Roots of Myth.”

For decades, cinema has shaped Venice’s image as a place steeped in magic and romance, turning images of a gondola, a bridge, or a mooring post painted in black and white stripes into timeless symbols of a city that serves as the backdrop to our everyday lives. In Venice, we arrive by train with Katharine Hepburn and Johnny Depp, take a gondola ride with Humphrey Bogart and Alberto Sordi, feed the pigeons in St. Mark’s Square with Luchino Visconti and Fantozzi, and pursue the legendary figures of Othello and Casanova alongside Orson Welles and Federico Fellini.

Through the analysis of films and scenes from different eras, and supported by a rich collection of visual material, Ghigi explores the role of cinema in shaping the Venetian myth. He reveals how cinema has been the greatest force behind the mythical narrative of Venice, continuing to fuel the city’s fascination around the world.

Registration link: reservation link