THE VENICE BIEANNALE

Here’s how this week’s arts and culture column begins:

Several months ago, I received a text from an Angelus reader who loves Venice and thought I might, too. The Biennale, the once-every-two-years art extravaganza, was in session. She offered to underwrite the entire trip.

So of course I went.

The Biennale’s two main sites are the Giardini (Garden) — a giant garden built by Napoleon at the beginning of the 19th century —and the Arsenale, a huge complex of construction sites dating back to 1104 that symbolize Venice’s economic, political, and military power.

In addition, myriad exhibits were scattered around the city in churches, galleries, and performance spaces.

READ THE WHOLE PIECE HERE.