Do you believe it's Venice?
After years of filming in this city, I thought I'd seen it all. The canals, the bridges, Piazza San Marco
at dawn, the hidden calli that tourists never find. But Venice never stops surprising those who look
closer.
One of my most memorable experiences was filming during the Venice Biennale, where Alpi Woods
created the Vatican Chapel at Fondazione Cini, a small island facing Piazza San Marco, on the
isle of San Giorgio Maggiore.
A Chapel Born from Vision
Thanks to the vision of two young architects, Francesco Magnani and Traudy Pelzel, this stunning
installation transformed a quiet corner of San Giorgio into something almost otherworldly. The
structure itself felt like it had emerged from a folktale, organic yet precise, timeless yet
contemporary.
Wood shingles wrapping around geometric forms. Light filtering through carefully placed openings.
A space that invited silence and reflection, even amidst the buzz of the Biennale.
The Magic of Discovery
What struck me most wasn't just the architecture, it was the location itself. Finding such a place
within Venice, a city already layered with centuries of history and beauty, reminded me why I do
this work.
Venice is a city that feels like a dream. But discovering hidden gems like this chapel? That's when
the dream becomes almost surreal.
Filming the Unforgettable
Capturing spaces like these is a privilege. The interplay of natural light, the textures of the wood,
the quiet majesty of the lagoon in the background, every frame told a story of beauty, craft, and
vision.
This is what makes certain projects stay with you long after the camera stops rolling. Not just
because of what you filmed, but because of where you were, what you witnessed, and the people
whose vision you helped bring to life.
Venice, Always
Working in Venice is always special. But discovering hidden places like this inside such an ancient
city? Pure magic.
And a reminder that even in the most familiar landscapes, there's always something new waiting to
be found, if you know where to look.
