VENICE — For centuries most of the eastern spices on European tables were traded by Venetians via the markets of Egypt. Along with them came exotic textiles, dyes, glass, metalwork and other fine Islamic goods.But Egypt itself — Alexandria in particular — was also of enormous religious and mythical significance for the Venetians. For it was from Alexandria that the remains of St. Mark had been hijacked by two Venetian merchants in 828, an event that, in the Venetian mind, came to be seen as the beginning of Venice’s rise to power, empire and immense wealth.The story of this remarkably enduring east-west relationship is related in “Venice and Egypt,” illustrated by more than 300 paintings, sculptures, artifacts, manuscripts, books and prints at the Doges’ Palace...Read More

It’s going to be a hot and crowded holiday at the box office. After shuffling schedules, finishing final edits and kicking tires on the festival circuit, Hollywood is preparing for a holiday film season that will end with a spectacular collision of high-profile pictures.There were four major studio releases on or around Christmas Day last year, and three the year before. But in the five days ending on Dec. 25 — a Sunday, not the usual day for film debuts — five of the major studios are to release six movies with a total production and marketing cost approaching $1 billion, from directors who have 25 past Oscar nominations among them... Read More