Every year at the approaching of the Christmas Holidays, the great Russian writer and poet Josif Brodskji used to leave his town and come to Venice. For him it was the only ideal period of the year to live the Lagoon city. The mist, subdued colours, the babbling of the water, were not disturbed by the swarm of tourists. This greyish and toned-down climate allowed him to forget about himself in a city stopping for a just a while to show-off. Today Venice is not about to run this risk: cultural and musical events fill and liven-up every day the ancient City of the Doges. Plus this year the 'Venetian Winter' has been enriched more than ever with events; many are the happenings planned, especially on the terra firma. Having foregone for some time now the role and nickname of sleeping city, Mestre in fact, is getting ready to set-up and launch a season laden with events and appointments. A long winter posed to be a rich and captivating one.