“There are, in Venice, three hidden magic places: one in Friends’ Love Alley; another one near the Wonders’ Bridge; a third one in the Villains’ Alley at St. Jeremiah in the Ghetto. When Venetians (and sometimes also the Maltese…) are tired of the establish-ed authorities, they stroll to these three secret places and, by opening the doors that are in the back of those courtyards, they are for ever off to beautiful places and other stories.”