The Venice Lido - a new book by Robin Saikia

A social and literary history of Venice's glamorous beach resort by one of Britain's leading travel writers. The Venice Lido by Robin Saikia, published by Blue Guides in May 2011, is a sparkling and elegant account, featuring a host of characters including Coco Chanel, Lord Byron, Serge Diaghilev, Isadora Duncan, Winston Churchill, Thomas Mann, the Duke of Windsor, Benito Mussolini and Adolf Hitler. Favourite venues and landmarks mentioned in the book include the Grand Hotel Excelsior, the Hotel des Bains, the Aeroporto Nicelli, the Circolo Golf di Venezia at Alberoni, Blue Moon, San Nicolo al Lido, the Palazzo del Cinema, the Venice Biennale and the Venice Film Festival. For further details of launches, readings and other events, visit www.robinsaikia.com.

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  Travel & Events

[Diana Trimble]

I adore thy recitation.

[Anna Burlescaya]

rare, thank you!

[flossy100]

Coco Chanel was a generous woman. She paid for Diaghilev's funeral!

[SuperCarlotta88]

Very good. Exactly sums up what we Venetians love about the Lido and what many visitors have yet to discover. The pine forests at Alberoni (southern tip of Lido) are amazing. An oasis of trees, bird life, sea, sand only minutes from the bustle of San Marco. A very romantic and magical place.

[flapperina67]

Cocoa Chanel was a greedy woman.

[FlorentinaDonato]

Author has exactly captured magic spirit of Lido. So close to Serenissima but such a different type of enchantment! Music is Reynaldo Hahn.

[flossy100]

Beautiful voice - great mixture of joy and pleasing melancholy. Music superb. What is it?