| I came across this story in a recent issue of Conde Nast Traveler magazine. Back in the 1996, the city’s famed opera house burned to the ground in a story of arson, bad timing (the fireboats could not get to the scene because the canals had been drained and were being dredged to allow fireboats!) and resilience. Had the winds been blowing that night, they speculate the entire city of Venice (made primarily of wood) would have gone up in flames. This is a lengthy article, but if you appreciate a good jobsite challenge—one that involves 18,000+ “gondola” loads of building materials, interior restoration based on a 10-minute scene from an old Italian movie, lots and lots of water, low bridges, historic restrictions, and infamous Italian drama mixed in for good measure—this story is for you. (Maybe one day you'll even find yourself in Venice, explaining to your fellow travelers the monumental task that took place) Take 20 minutes off and read it if you have time: www.concierge.com/ | 
