An English-language crime event in Venice? Yes, please.
Venice noir
Both familiar and foreign, thanks to its winding canals, labyrinthine streets and beautiful architecture, Venice has captured the hearts of the British for over four centuries. While in more recent times, it has captivated our imaginations as the setting for many nefarious crimes in literature and on film.
From Brunetti to Zen by way of Clover, Pisani and Sutherland, there is something about this mysterious city that inherently lends itself to the page and screen. Just picture a narrow calle enveloped by fog, only the faintest streaks of moonlight shimmering off the still water and illuminating a floating corpse. Perfect.
So what better place could there be for a new literary event that celebrates Italian-based crime-fiction, alongside the country’s fascinating cultural and historical background?
Taking place at the Sant’Appollonia Conference Centre in Castello, Venice on Thursday 17 October 2024, the inaugural Venice Noir literary festival is an English-language event that will delve into the dark side of la dolce vita and let readers discover the ideas, history and literary devices used in creating the stories we love so much.
From a personal perspective, as someone who likes italocrime, calcio, Italian food and more, this is basically a dream come true and I hope the start of something that can grow and expose readers and writers to new names, ways of writing and ultimately, a new way of experiencing the country we have come to love.
What is the event programme?
The first session, ‘Anatomy of Venetian murder’ begins at 3pm local time. In it the acclaimed historian Catherine Fletcher, biographer of Alessandro De’Medici, and Stefano Dall’Aglio, whose research turned round centuries of accepted history about Lorenzino De’Medici’s murder, discuss this fascinating real-life crime with author David Hewson who placed it at the centre of his contemporary mystery, The Medici Murders.
The second session starts at 4.30pm and looks at Italy in historical fiction. During the session you will hear from Anna Mazzola, author of The Book of Secrets and The House of Whispers, and Matteo Strukul, author of The Medici Chronicles and a series of crime stories with the painter Canaletto as protagonist (I wasn’t aware of this series but am very intrigued), as they discuss, together with Gregory Dowling, the different ways they bring history to life in their fiction, whether it be the Italian Renaissance, Fascist Italy, or the Venetian 18th century.
The event will finish with a last session titled ‘The dark side of la dolce vita’, in which the speakers will discuss everything from the gialli of the 1970s to the modern-day adventures of Brunetti and Montalbano. Discover their thoughts on what is it about Italian crime fiction that proves so irresistible to the crime reader. And what might be its attraction to the crime writer?
During this time, Tom Benjamin (author of the wonderful Bologna set Daniel Leicester mysteries), Gregory Dowling and Philip Gwynne Jones (author of the Venice set Nathan Sutherland books), who are all British writers resident in Italy, will discuss their thoughts and influences with Crimetime’s Paul Burke. I have a lot of time for Paul Burke who is like an encyclopedia of crime fiction, and his podcast is mandatory listening for any genre fans.
With the event still being a fair few months away, I believe there is a possibility for a few interesting extras to be announced, so make sure you register on their website at venicenoir.com to ensure you receive the latest announcements.
For fans of Italo-crime and Italian-based crime, this event is long overdue and thanks to the bookstore Studium and author David Hewson for taking the gamble and getting things off the ground, it has become a reality.
While not all of us will be able to attend this first event, as fans of crime fiction set in the peninsula, it really is in all our interests for it to be a success, regardless of whether we can make this first event, as the opportunity to meet fellow fans and hear from our favourites authors in a city as majestic as Venice, really is a wonderful opportunity and one I’m sure we would all like to take at some point.
Key information:
Where is it taking place? Sant’Appollonia Conference Centre in Castello, Venice.
When is it taking place? Thursday 17 October 2024.
Are the sessions in English or Italian? English language.
Where can I find out more about Venice Noir?
Visit venicenoir.com for the latest programme, updates and ticket information. I recommend that you register for updates to ensure that you never miss a thing and to let the organisers get a better understanding of the demand for the event. From personal experience it really does make a difference to event organisers.
Looking to fly to Venice?
Venice is served by two nearby airports.
The first is the Marco Polo airport (VCE), which is the primary international gateway to Venice. Strategically located just 13 kilometers north of the city, it is an ideal entry point for travelers. This bustling hub offers extensive connectivity with many European and global destinations, and is serviced by a variety of airlines.
Ground transportation from Marco Polo Airport to Venice is highly accessible, with options including water taxis, Alilaguna water buses, ACTV buses, and private shuttles. These convenient links make it easy for visitors to reach Venice’s iconic canals and historic attractions swiftly and comfortably.
Traveling from Marco Polo Airport (VCE) to Venice typically takes between 20 to 30 minutes, depending on your mode of transport. Here are the approximate travel times for different options:
Water Taxi: Around 20-30 minutes directly to your destination in Venice.
Alilaguna Water Bus: Approximately 40-70 minutes, depending on the specific line and your destination stop.
ACTV Bus: About 20-25 minutes to Piazzale Roma, the main bus terminal in Venice.
Private Shuttle or Taxi: Typically 20-30 minutes to Piazzale Roma, then a short walk or vaporetto ride to your final destination in Venice.
For other travellers, you may wish to fly to the beautiful city of Treviso, which is also where Ryanair passes off as flying to Venice.
Treviso Airport (TSF), also known as Treviso-Sant’Angelo Airport, is located approximately 40 kilometers from Venice.
Getting from Treviso Airport to Venice is straightforward, with multiple transportation options available such as ATVO and Barzi bus services, which connect directly to Venice’s Piazzale Roma in about an hour. For a more personalized journey, taxis and private transfers are also readily accessible.
If you fly to Treviso, I heartily recommend you spend a bit of time looking around the city, as it really is quite beautiful and deserves more recognition than it gets.
Venice-based crime books to get you in the mood:
While I recommend you check out all the authors attending the event, this list will focus only on books set in La Serenissmia. In no particular order, here are some Venetian crime fiction books to check out.
“Death at La Fenice" by Donna Leon - It would be impossible to not include Donna Leon. In this, the first in the Commissario Guido Brunetti series, a murder occurs at Venice’s famed opera house, La Fenice, and Brunetti is tasked with working out what happened and why. Leon’s vivid depiction of Venetian life and complex characters will draw you in, but I have to say, while enjoyable, this has not been a series that I have stuck with.
“Venice Noir” edited by Maxim Jakubowski - This anthology, part of the Akashic Books Noir Series, features a collection of dark, gritty stories set in Venice. With contributions from various authors, it offers a diverse and captivating exploration of the city’s sinister side but as with all anthologies not everything hits the mark. You can find a review of it further down in the ‘Ramblings’ section of my website.
“The Cemetery of Secrets” by David Hewson - This atmospheric thriller intertwines the story of a British archaeologist who discovers an ancient Venetian manuscript with dark secrets. Hewson’s intricate plot and vivid descriptions of Venice create a captivating and suspenseful read.
“The Venetian Game” by Philip Gwynne Jones - This modern crime thriller follows the English translator and Honorary Consul Nathan Sutherland, who becomes embroiled in a dangerous conspiracy. Gwynne Jones’ atmospheric writing, use of art, culture and intricate plot twists capture the essence of Venice beautifully. While his British humour raises a smile without disturbing the tone. An easy read and one I heartily recommend.
Please note that I am not affiliated with Venice Noir. I wrote this article as a fan of Italian-based crime fiction and because I am excited about this event, and wish to see it grow as it speaks to my influences and passion of italocrime.
