The LEGO Group is launching a set inspired by the Italian city of Venice, with 11388 Venetian Neighbourhood launching in plenty of time for Christmas.
One of the world’s most unique, beautiful and romantic cities is being depicted in a new LEGO Icons set. 11388 Venetian Neighbourhood channels the spirit of Venice in a minifigure-scale model that will launch on November 1.
It’s an enormous new set, made up of 5,682 pieces and priced at £449.99 / $549.99 / €499.99. Fans who buy the set before November 8 (while stocks last) will get 40898 Venetian Water Taxi for free.
The release of the set coincides with another huge tourist icon – 21065 Sagrada Família, a 12,060-piece set inspired by Gaudi’s iconic masterpiece in Barcelona, Spain.
11388 Venetian Neighbourhood captures the bustling nature of the city that has inspired some of the world’s greatest authors. There is a luxury villa, glassblowing workshop and astronomical clock tower either side of a canal. An arched bridge crosses the canal, representing the hundreds of bridges that connect the islands of Venice. It wouldn’t capture the magic of the real life location without a gondola, so one is included along with a stepped area so minifigures can embark or disembark.
Like many adult Icons models, the buildings are fully enclosed but the roofs and floors can be removed to access the interiors. It’s quite reminiscent of Ideas 21359 Italian Riviera.
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The set includes an additive manufactured element, typically known as ‘3D printed’ – a street piano. By using this method of manufacturing, which is very different to the LEGO Group’s typical moulding methods, the piece can be functional right out of the box, no building required. Turning the flower vase on top of it plays the notes.
A more traditional function is built into the clock tower – rotating a knob moves the astronomical calendar.
In total, 17 minifigures populate the set, with gondoliers and musicians to provide a sense of Venetian life, tourists to fill the space and carnival-goers to pay homage to traditional festive dress. There are special mask accessories that will be familiar to anyone who has admired them in Venice’s shop windows. For added realism, the model comes with two pigeons.
Although 11388 Venetian Neighbourhood is the first time that the LEGO Group has based a minifigure scale set depicting a city on a real-life location, it seems similar in concept to the 2022 fan-designed 910023 Venetian Houses. The two models will certainly complement each other on display.
40898 Venetian Water Taxi, a 322-piece set, is free when you buy the big one before November 8, unless stock runs out before then. For some, water taxi is the only way to arrive in the picture-perfect city, so the model builds a boat for the captain to pilot and the tourist to relax in.
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