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Casinos of Venice

If you want to gamble in Venice, you have two excellent options. The Ca’ Vendramin Calergi is Venice’s most longstanding casino. It is a formidable Renaissance palace that overlooks the Grand Canal. Some believe it is unquestionably one of the city’s most exquisite structures. Ca’ Noghera is Italy’s first American-style casino. It debuted in 1999 and is located near Marco Polo airport. It is the Mecca for Texas Hold’em Poker fans. Players who can’t make it to the actual casino venues can play online. For more information please visit www.casinosjungle.com

Ca’ Vendrami Calergi

Ca’ Vendramin Calergi, Venice’s old casino, is located in the sestiere of Cannaregio. A magnificent palace erected between the 15th and 16th centuries that overlooks the Grand Canal. Famous for being the location where composer Richard Wagner died the palace now houses the Venice Casino as well as the Wagner Museum. Whilst it was once the Doges’ house, it rapidly established itself as a sophisticated theater of the most traditional games and the throbbing center of the city’s gambling culture. Roulette games, classic card games, and magnificent slot machines make this a great destination. Maybe combine it with an exciting night in Venice and a shopping tour of the Cannaregio district.

Ca’ Vendramin’s restaurant, inspired by the famous composer who used to reside here, serves Italian gourmet delicatessen and fish specialties. Wagner Restaurant, with 150 seats, delivers the exceptional experience of elegant dining in chambers. Admire the interior magnificently adorned by Palma il Giovane and Gian Battista Crosato paintings. On the second level, a new Grill Bar has opened in the Lounge Bar area

French Roulette, Fair Roulette, Chemin de Fer, Caribbean Poker, and Slot Machines are among the games available.

Ca’ Noghera

Ca’ Noghera is a contemporary casino that complements the old and lovely Ca’ Vendramin. It was opened in 1999 and is located near Marco Polo Airport. Access it by a free shuttle service running from Mestre to Ca’ Noghera. Over 5,000 square meters of entertainment, including a brand new poker area for Texas Hold’em events. Ca’ Noghera has around 600 of the most recent generation slot machines. Alongside those there is an Entertainment Arena hosting concerts, fashion events, and theatrical productions. It offers three restaurants, one of which is a tribute to the Venetian adventurer, Il Milione di Marco Polo. It serves innovative cuisine with Venetian and Mediterranean cuisines, and a Pizzeria bakes excellent wood-fired pizzas.

Fair Roulette, French Roulette, Black Jack, Caribbean Poker, Texas Hold’em Poker, Chemin de Fer, Punto Banco, and Slot Machines are among the games provided.

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The best restaurants in Venice

It takes some forethought to eat healthy here. Many eateries in Venice are content to serve mediocre food to the passing tourists. For foodies looking for restaurants where serious chefs use high-quality local products, we have pulled together our top 10 restaurants off the tourist track.

As you would expect from city surrounded by water, there is a strong emphasis on seafood. However meat eaters will be satisfied as well. Prices are greater in Venice than elsewhere in Italy, but that’s to be expected. 

Many Venetians rarely eat in restaurants, preferring to graze at traditional pubs (bacari) with cicheti (tapas snacks) piled high on counters. With a glass of wine and a platter of these, you may have a far cheaper meal. This will leave you with more money for those few great, unforgettable nights.

All’Arco

All’Arco is the archetypal Venetian bacaro, more of a crazy-bustling hole-in-the-wall with mouth-watering cicchetti (bar snacks) (traditional wine bar). There are sandwiches and crostini piled high with creamed cod; anchovies and onions, salami, and veggies, to name a few. You’ll be talked through everything at breakneck speed before being sent on your way with enough food to either tide you over or fill you up.

GLAM

Chef Enrico Bartolini holds six Michelin stars among his five restaurants as of 2019, with one at GLAM; his Venice outlet (and currently the hottest dining ticket in the city). Donato Ascani, the resident chef, is carrying on Bartolini’s contemporary culinary concept. The à la carte menu changes seasonally, but the tasting meals (starting at €120) are more intriguing. The dishes are beautifully balanced, with content rather than just a spectacular display.

Il Ridotto

Il Ridotto is located just east of St Mark’s on a bustling tourist square. The restaurant’s tiny, brick-clad grounds exude a serene elegance. Tasting menus (of five, seven, or nine dishes) are the way to go here; with chef and owner Gianni Bonaccorsi’s seafood and meaty concoctions. The delicately prepared dishes fluctuate with the seasons, but can include risotto with yellow tomatoes and burrata. Try the pig cheek and belly with chamomile-flavored creamed potato and green apple.

Osteria Alle Testiere

The Daily menu relies on availability of fresh fish in the market, according to Alle Testerie’s website. Don’t expect to eat the same delicious item you had the last time you went to this stylish, small seafood restaurant nestled away on a Castello backstreet. But go with the expectation that everything will be freshly fished. The daily seafood meals from chef and co-founder Bruno Gavagnin are deceptively basic but always superb. There’s a lot of Venetian heritage here, but you can also expect some unusual spices or other surprises. The sweets are wonderful.

La Zucca

Vegetarians travel to La Zucca, a well-loved, something-for-everyone kind of local favorite, to get away from Venice’s glut of fish, but the restaurant offers much more. The food is straightforward: terrific, honest cooking and a daily-changing menu, indicating that everything served was purchased that day. The savory pumpkin flan is renowned, the pasta meals are delicious (try the tagliatelle with artichokes and pecorino if it’s available), and the sweets are all unforgettable.

Local

The amount of open space at the contemporary, pared-back Local is surprising in a sea of intimate (read: tiny) restaurants. The Head Chef Matteo Tagliapietra left Burano for several years to go and work in gastronomic temples such as Nobu and Noma,. Though his feet are firmly rooted in the lagoon city, he brought home Far Eastern characteristics that are unique in Venice. Each of his ever-changing dishes is a visual delight. This is a restaurant for sophisticated foodies.

Locanda Cipriani

The Locanda Cipriani is a charming slice of Merchant Ivory-tinted Venice, with a leafy old-fashioned garden on the lovely little lagoon island of Torcello, old-fashioned service, and old-fashioned food that borders on hotel fare. You’ve come for the setting and the Grand Tour atmosphere, after all. Many major names have walked through the Cipriani’s country-inn-style doors, from Ernest Hemingway and generations of British royals to mid-century A-list stars and presidents.

Osteria Alla Frasca

La Frasca, based close to Fondamenta Nuova has been serving traditional Venetian cuisine since 1903. Traditional it may be, but it’s all about the fresh seafood presented in style. The baccalà mantecato is a must have dish – creamed cod dish served with crispy polenta and cuttlefish cooked in its own ink.

Osteria La Perla ai Bisatei

La Perla ai Bisatei, an old-style spit-and-sawdust eatery in Murano’s backstreets, is a nice surprise in a city where restaurants can easily fall into one of two categories: modern pretentious or tourist trap. It’s noisy—locals’ voices battle with waiters screaming the unwritten daily menu—and the food (available exclusively for lunch) is substantial rather than polished. Outsiders, on the other hand, are greeted with the same gruff-but-friendly welcome as locals. The fava bean and onion salad, as well as the mussels and clams pasta, are worth trying.

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Tourist Sites in Venice

Venice is a city of great beauty and historical significance and unlike any other in Italy. The main city of Northern Italy’s Veneto Region, is actually made up of 117 small islands connected by a number of bridges and separated by a system of canals. With a population of roughly 250,000 people, is not one of Veneto’s largest cities, but it is one of the country’s most popular tourist destinations.

The city was an extraordinarily powerful bastion during the Middle Ages and the Italian Renaissance. During both periods it served as a significant financial and military center. Furthermore, it was a site of significant cultural and artistic development.
Today, Venice is one of the most famous tourist destinations in the world attracting millions of people each year.

A Vaporetto through the Grand Canal

The Vaporetto is the principal mode of transportation in Venice. Sure, you may take a train into the main station and walk through the streets, but to properly experience Venice, you must do it by water! The Vaporetto system is one of the quickest methods to travel to the various islands.

You can buy passes that allow for numerous usag. This eliminates the need to purchase a ticket each time you use one. Try to use the Vaporetto whenever possible to best experience the magic of the city.

Basilica di Santa Maria della Salute

The Basilica of Santa Maria della Salute is on the opposite side of the Grand Canal from St. Marks and is very different to the surrounding architecture. This church, designed in the Baroque style, was finished in 1687 and is classified as a lesser basilica of the Roman Catholic Church.

The outside is adorned with four statues of the apostles, and the main dome rises over the skyline, taking center stage on the Grand Canal. The interior offers the sense of a lot of space, and the hexagonal design lets in a lot of light. Although not as ornately ornamented as other cathedrals in Italy, this basilica has a lot of symmetry and beauty.

Bridge of Sighs

Although it is a modest bridge in the grand scheme of Venice, the Bridge of Sighs is one of the city’s most visited monuments and an important historic landmark. The bridge joins the Prigioni Nuove to the Doge’s Palace by crossing the Rio di Palazzo.

According to legend, as prisoners were led from the Palace across the bridge, they would take one last look at Venice and sigh, contemplating their impending punishment and imprisonment. It is an absolute must to see this magnificent bridge while visiting St. Mark’s Square.

Canale Grande

Venice has many canals that connect the city’s different islands, the biggest being the Canale Grande. This massive canal runs from one side of Venice to the other and snakes through the centre. It has served as an essential waterway in the city for centuries.

Only four bridges cross the Grand Canal since most citizens and tourists travel along it rather than over it. Consider walking along sections of the canal, observing the architecture that line it, and watching the busy Venice boat traffic.

Doges Palace

Doges Palace is another of the most famous buildings in Venice. It is located on St. Mark’s Square but overlooks the Grand Canal.
This magnificent mansion is stunning. It features a beautiful arched design constructed of white stone on the front facade and diamond patterns on the walls.
Inside, the palace is just as spectacular, with a number of lavishly designed chambers filled with original decorations, furniture, and artwork.
Tours of the palace are available, and it is recommended that you spend some time examining both the exterior and inside in detail in order to properly catch a piece of Venice’s history.

Gallerie dell’Accademia

This museum houses a wonderful collection of pre-19th century art. The gallery is set in a former convent that was turned to a museum in the mid to late 1700s. This exhibition is essential for anyone who enjoys Renaissance art.

The Vitruvian Man by Leonardo da Vinci, which depicts the perfect proportions of a man, is possibly its most well-known work. Other significant works include Titian’s Virgin, Tintoretto’s Resurrection, and Child, and Veronese’s Battle of Lepanto.

Ponte di Rialto

The Ponte di Rialto is probably the most famous of the bridges that span the Grand Canal.
The bridge connects Venice’s San Marco and San Polo neighborhoods, is an busy pedestrian thoroughfare. It was once a wooden bridge, that stood for hundreds of years until it disintegrated in 1524. Following this tragedy, an elaborate stone bridge was built, which is what you see today.

The bridge’s detail and design are just stunning, and its symmetry wonderfully frames the great canal. There are also a number of stores on the bridge that sell everything from souvenirs to jewelry.

St. Mark’s Basilica

St. Mark’s Basilica is undeniably the most recognizable and famous landmark in Venice and a majestic piece of architecture. It has endured the test of time since its construction in 1092 and remains one of the most prominent religious monuments in Northern Italy.

From the elaborate detail, sculptures, and art on the front exterior to the brilliantly painted frescos and Byzantine artworks on the inside of the domed ceiling, this cathedral has it all.
This basilica, located in Piazza San Marco and easy to access from the Grand Canal, is one of the most famous surviving specimens of Italian Byzantine architecture.

St. Mark’s Square

Although St. Mark’s Basilica is the most well-known landmark in Venice, St. Mark’s Square is the most well-known piazza. This piazza is extremely important in Venice and a truly lovely spot to visit.

The square is home to several landmarks including St. Mark’s Campanile, the Doge’s Palace, St. Mark’s Basilica and the Torre dell’Orologio. This piazza is the ideal place to begin your tour of Venice and see some of its most magnificent sights.

Venice Lido

The Lido is the place to go if you want to relax and get away from the crowds.
This isolated island boasts a long stretch of gorgeous beach.

The Lido also features a number of residential zones, restaurants, stores, and hotels.
With a much quieter, laid-back, and more relaxed vibe than central Venice, Lido offers a wonderful getaway from the crowded streets and waterways that surround the Grand Canal.

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The best hotels in Venice

When renting a room in this dense labyrinth of a city, it definitely pays to be specific about what you want. The classic hotels of Venice are concentrated around St. Mark’s Square, along the Grand Canal to the west, and the Riva degli Schiavoni to the east. Other accommodation options within the city range from backpacker hostels to B&Bs to luxurious four-stars and owner-rentals. A ‘canal view’ will cost you extra and could entail anything from a stunning Grand Canal panorama to an ugly view down into a mosquito-infested quagmire. An internal room can be significantly calmer than one facing out into a bustling street. As long as ‘internal’ means over a courtyard or garden, rather than out onto a busy thoroughfare.

Belmond Hotel Cipriani

The intimacy of neighboring nearby hotels is offset by the grandeur of Belmond Hotel Cipriani. Every big room offers a view of the garden or the water. Those looking for a somewhere to sleep that is at least four centuries old might choose its annex. This is housed inside a 15th-century palace on Giudecca Island. It emanates a dolce vita–style splendor from its prominent location on the island’s eastern point. Whether you arrive directly at the private dock or take the hotel launch from Piazza San Marco, the super-attentive service, landscaped foliage, and aura of elegance combine to form a pampered world all its own.

Ca’ Pisani Boutique Design Hotel

Ca’ Pisani, an Art Deco homage with some beautiful period pieces, is a stylish departure from the traditional Venetian look. In 2000, the 29-room hotel defied convention by becoming the city’s first design hotel. Ca’ Pisani is elegantly designed and managed, with dark polished wood, many mirrors, and some exquisite genuine Art Deco artifacts. The size of the rooms varies greatly; there are also family suites and a junior suite.

Corte di Gabriela

With trademark design items, industrial-chic materials, and bursts of magnificent color, Corte di Gabriela, a boutique hotel, infuses contemporary flair into a 19th-century palazzo. However, this is style without the accompanying attitude: The atmosphere is friendly, mature, and welcoming. And the breakfast is just outstanding; in fact, it is a major draw for many of the hotel’s returning visitors. The personnel will quickly make you feel at ease, directing you to restaurants, water taxis, and tours. With its Paola Navone designed furnishings, ancient marble wellhead, and shade from a very large and old wisteria plant, the courtyard is an ideal spot for quiet reflection.

Hotel Londra Palace

Big windows in several of the 52 rooms at the opulent Londra Palace on the Riva degli Schiavoni look out over the Venetian lagoon. Since 1853, the hotel has been welcoming guests under many names. Tchaikovsky stayed in 1877 and composed his fourth symphony while he gazed over the sea at San Giorgio Maggiore. The hotel, which was once part of a tiny Italian hospitality organization, is now a member of the Relais & Chateaux group. If you’re looking for a Venetian classic, the Londra Palace is ideal. It’s also less expensive than many of the city’s other top-tier hotels.

Oltre il Giardino

You’ll be amazed by what lies beyond the door of this six-room boutique hotel near the Frari basilica. The windows and doors leading into the magnificent patch of exuberant greenery make a great contrast with the surroundings. Oltre il Giardino looks more like a country mansion than a city hostelry. The main house has six room types: doubles, junior suites, and suites. The colors in these sleek, understated spaces are mostly neutral, with a touch of something unexpected here and there. In the 1920s, Alma Mahler, the widow of the composer Gustav Mahler, lived in the property that now houses the hotel.

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Shopping in Venice

Shopping in Venice is more than just souvenir shops. If you scratch the surface you can uncover some of the most elegant and perfect keepsakes and gifts.

Atelier Marega

Located in the heart of Venice, Atelier Marega specialises in opulent, handcrafted masks in modern designs, inspired by centuries-old Venetian customs. They also have a range of over 200 hand-sewn costumes and fashion replicas of 18th and 19th-century attire for men and women. Also on offer are a range of workshops in mask-making and painting and events.

Atelier Segalin di Daniela Ghezzo

It’s been reported that when Daniel Day Lewis wanted to learn how to make shoes he did it under the tuition of this Venetian expert. When you go in, you’ll find yourself in an old-fashioned cobbler’s store stocked with amazing footwear. These are high-end custom-made shoes, but they’ll make you feel like you’re wearing works of art. A pair of Ghezzo’s shoes can cost anything between €650 and €1,800.

Drogheria Mascari

This popular spice store has an atmosphere that transports you to another century. All prices are handwritten while jars of candy line the shelves. Aside from the array of spices, they also pretty packs of cookies, nuts, dried fruits and artisanal local alcohol; that all make ideal gifts.

Emilia Burano

Emilia Burano is a delightfully old-school linen and lace boutique based in Burano, Venice’s lace-making heartland. There are three levels . Expect to mingle with affluent locals and visitors trying to refill their linen closets downstairs. Their embroidered napkins and Egyptian cotton sheets are excellent keepsakes. There is also a tiny museum showcasing historic artifacts from the brand’s archives may be found upstairs.

Galleria Barcella

Menswear label Marco Nils and womenswear shop Nanà are among the ‘Made in Italy’ brands carried by Galleria Barcella. The Al Duca d’Aosta shop carries a variety of designer labels, including Burberry and Balenciaga, among others. On the website, you may get information about future activities such as art evenings and late-night shopping.

L’Angolo Del Passato di Naccari Giordana

L’Angolo Del Passato is a breath of fresh air in a city packed with vendors selling tourist tat expensive “glass art” to starry-eyed visitors. The owner has designed a pleasant paradise filled with antique glassware and work by modern local artists. You’ll most likely be browsing alongside stylish residents and guests searching for a unique hostess gift, wedding present, or too-cute-to-put-away addition to the bar cart.

Libreria Acqua Alta

This wonderful vintage bookshop is called after the flood tides that occasionally submerge Venice. The books on sale here are shielded from these high waters by displaying them in baths and gondolas. Without a doubt, it is a tourist trap, but also a true oddity in the neighborhood. The treasures here are guarded by two adorable cats. Local city guides and contemporary Italian literature is stacked beside vintage art monographs, magnets, trinkets and postcards are also on sale.

Martinuzzi

This homeware store is all about classic luxury Venice furnishings. Some of the treats on offer include the exquisite Murano goblets, Egyptian cotton sheets, lace-trimmed tablecloths, gilded masks, beautiful lamps and glass figurines.

Pied à Terre

Furlane, the stylish gondolier slippers can be found in this bijou boutique tucked under a market stand near the Rialto bridge. The shoes are available in a rainbow of colors, a variety of fabrics, and a few subtly varied styles, and the shelves are densely packed from floor to ceiling. The Salome is a classic, while the Rimbaud is more casual, with mismatched fabric linings and white-trimmed soles.

Rialto Market

This historic open-air market, which has been operating on the same site since 1097 A.D., is divided into two sections: the seafood market and the fruit/veg market. The old market structure was destroyed by fire in the early 16th century and was replaced in the 17th century by a neo-Gothic pavilion that still stands today. Tuesday through Saturday, from roughly 7:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., the entire market is open; Mondays, only the produce market is open. Arrive early to observe the fishermen arrive on their boats to sell fish, eel, octopus, and other seafood to the market vendors.

Venini Glassmakers

On Murano, Dale Chihuly learnt to blow glass at Venini Glassmakers. That alone should entice you to explore Venini on the island (a 45-minute waterbus ride from San Marco). Although the factory has been producing glass since the 1920s, Murano has been producing glass since the 13th century. Keep in mind that the actual deal isn’t inexpensive. And the inexpensive stuff (the glass you see in shops surrounding San Marco) isn’t likely to be genuine Murano.

Vintageria Venezia

This Vintage stores stocks apparel and accessories for men and women from the 70s to 90s. Expect to find a mix of Italian designer labels including Armani, Fendi, Gucci and Prada, and foreign luxury names like Burberry and Chanel as well as mid-priced labels.

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Where to drink in Venice

Where can a thirsty visitor get a drink in Venice? Continue reading to learn about our local recommendations for the top five bars. With our expert guide to the Venice bar scene, you can avoid the crowds and explore the most fashionable spots for aperitifs, wine, cocktails, and nibbles.

Bar L’incontro

This chic bar is a fantastic spot for an evening aperitif. The superb service is in keeping with its position within the 5* Ca’Sagredo Hotel. The unique décor ensures that Bar L’incontro stands out as a hotspot in its own right. The furnishings are bright and open, with plenty of character; drinks are prepared on a small brass cart, and the seating is charmingly mismatched. However, it remains very polished; the gold leaf, white marble, and elegant piano music give enough glitz to keep things from becoming too bohemian.Order a gin martini: a classic drink served flawlessly.

Harry’s Bar

Harry’s Bar, a national treasure that is now legally designated as a national landmark, is the place to go for a drink with a feeling of occasion. This magnificent institution on St Mark’s waterfront, known as the home of the bellini, was created by Giuseppe Cipriani in 1931 and has ruled supreme over the city’s cocktail culture ever since. As one of the grand old ladies of Venice nightlife, it’s no wonder that the pub has drawn many a lyrical soul. It was Ernest Hemingway’s favorite hangout for a while, yet it welcomes everyone
The famous peach-and-prosecco cocktails are a must-try.

Enoteca Al Volto

Evening drinks don’t have to be cocktails, and that’s where this great wine bar shines. Enoteca Al Volto, another pub with a long history, has been hosting oenophiles since 1936. The simple and pleasant settings of Calle Cavalli, only a few steps from the Rialto Bridge, are the ideal antidote to the throng and tourist traps of downtown Venice. Al Volto’s extensive wine cellar beckons you to enjoy it in a space festooned with vintage wine labels, a testament to the restaurant’s many years of supplying fine vintages. The continual arrival of interesting findings, along with the proprietors’ enthusiasm for their topic, ensures a memorable tipple.

Best advice: To truly feel like a local bar-hopper, take a seat at the bar and order some cicchetti.

Bar Canale @ Bauers L’hotel

Venice does opulent grandeur better than almost anyplace else. This bar amid the luxurious environs of the Bauers L’Hotel exemplifies the city’s wholehearted embrace of refined splendor. Bar Canale borders the Grand Canal, Venice’s renowned major canal, and is an exquisite refuge from the city. The enormous outdoor terrace is its greatest beauty. It’s an enticing sanctuary for well-heeled sightseers to enjoy breathtaking views of the Grand Canal and the Chiesa della Salute.

Top tip: At sunset, the terrace is a particularly lovely spot to gaze over Venice’s ancient roofs. Watch gondoliers glide by in the company of your amato.

La Bottega Ai Promessi Sposi

If you’ve always wanted to wander the streets of Venice and stumble across a wonderful pub hidden away in a maze of passageways, this is your opportunity to not miss out. La Bottega ai Promessi Sposi appears to be a hole-in-the-wall tavern at first look. However, the nightly crowds of residents that flow out the door and stand on the street drinking wine and eating cicchetti, Venice’s answer to tapas, give it away. It’s the type of place you’ll tell your friends about when you tell them about the “Real Venice” you discovered; tucked away and hidden from the tourist crowd.

Top tip: Try the delectable polpette — you won’t be disappointed!

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10 Venetian dishes you must try in Venice

Pasta and pizza are household names in Italy, and they are the foods we identify with the country’s cuisine. However, the reality is that Italy has a wide range of cuisines. Many people go to touristy cafés providing food that fits their expectations. It’s easy to eat the usual pasta and pizza dishes rather than eat like the locals. Genuine Venetian cuisine consists of some extremely delicious and refined meals. They often rely primarily on fish and vegetables; thanks to its unique lagoon position and proximity to the island gardens of Sant’Erasmo.

Baccala Mantecato

Another delectable fish-based antipasto is a close second. Baccala mantecato is made by soaking, poaching, and blending dried cod into a creamy mousse. It’s then seasoned with olive oil, salt, and pepper. Parsley and garlic may also appear in some variants. It’s then smeared on fresh bread slices or grilled white polenta, a Veneto staple.

Baicoli

Sailors required sustenance that would last them through their frequently lengthy and perilous voyages when the Republic of Venice was a great naval force. Dry, oval-shaped, and most crucially, long-lasting baicoli or ship biscuits were among their most vital rations. They have a deceptively simple appearance, but preparing them takes a long time because they require two rises and double baking. Many aristocrats in Venetian society enjoyed dipping baicoli in creams and dessert wines. These days, they’re typically served with coffee and zabaglione.

Bigoli in Salsa

Another popular appetizer in Venice is bigoli in salsa. Bigoli, or bigoi as they were known in the local vernacular, are long, thick strands of whole-wheat pasta that resemble spaghetti. The spaghetti is then served with a salsa or sauce made of onions and salt-cured fish (sardines or anchovies). This simple but tasty dish is now offered all year in Venice. It was formerly served on giorni di magro or lean days such as Good Friday and Christmas Eve.

Fegato alla Veneziana

This main course, cooked with calf liver and stewed onions, is a must have dish. The sweet,
caramelized onions nicely complement the earthiness of the liver. This popular meal has been known to convert many visitors who swear they don’t like liver due to its unique flavor combination. It’s frequently served on a bed of creamy polenta.

Mołéche

The Venetian lagoon is home to a diverse range of crustaceans, making Venice an ideal destination for seafood enthusiasts. Moleche are little green crabs that are eaten when they shed their shells and are a seasonal springtime delicacy. When the crabs are harvested, speed is necessary. This is because they grow new shells in a matter of hours and harden following contact with water. These crabs are deliciously soft and sensitive, and they go great in fried meals and salads.

Risi e Bisi

Another rice-based appetizer, risi e bisi or Venetian-style rice and peas, would not be complete without including in our gourmet guide to Venice. This primo was historically presented as an gift to the Doge of Venice from the peasantry of the lagoon islands on St. Mark’s Day. Risi e bisi is a risotto-style dish composed with vialone nano rice, pancetta, onion, butter, parsley, and, shockingly, pea-shell broth! When you see fresh peas on the stalls at the Rialto markets (usually in the middle to late spring), you know it’s time to try this dish at a local trattoria.

Risotto al nero di seppia

The Veneto region’s other major crop is rice, and few meals are more Venetian than this seafood-based risotto. The squid ink in this primo, or starter, may give the rice an unsettling and unappealing jet-black appearance. The peculiar briny flavor of the squid, wine, onion, tomato, and ink braise, on the other hand, wins over even the most skeptic visitors.

Sarde in Saor


A favorite sweet-sour dish also known as ‘agrodolce’ is delightful. Saor was invented by Venetian sailors and fishermen in the Middle Ages as a way of preserving fried sardine fillets marinated in vinegar, onions, raisins, and pine nuts. This method of preserving fish (and other foods) is no longer essential thanks to modern refrigeration. The sweet and acidic qualities of this preservation process, on the other hand, were certainly pleasing to the Venetians’ taste buds. As a result, the dish has survived as a modern-day antipasto or appetizer.

Wine

The Veneto region boasts a highly diversified environment and a range of microclimates, making it ideal for cultivating both red and white wines of high quality. Prosecco, a sparkling white wine, and other concoctions made with it, such as the Bellini and Spritz, have recently become popular as a pre-dinner drink. If we had to choose a white wine to go with all of the fish you’ll be eating here, a bottle of Soave comes highly recommended. You might want to try reds like Valpolicella or Amarone to go with heartier foods. White wines such as Orto di Venezia and Venissa are also available for a taste of something truly regional.

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A guide to the lesser seen sites of Venice

Venice’s historic cultural history and aquatic beauty have long drawn tourists from all over the world, yet the city can get congested during the summer months. But there are still some hidden gems and off-the-beaten-path routes in the city.

Ca’ Zappa

A beautiful Dutch house stands alone in this lagoon. It’s tough to get to, and you’d need to own or rent a boat to get there. The white façade was built in 1925 by a Dutch immigrant and has red dormer-style windows and gables that top a colonnaded portico. It lends a magical, even fairytale, feel to this section of the lagoon.

Chioggia

If you find yourself in Venice and in need of some relief, the adjacent village of Chioggia will give you a peaceful break. The fishing village considers itself to be a rougher, less touristic counterpart of its well-known neighbor. It does, in areas, resemble it, with arched bridges and tiny canals. It does, however, have considerably less art and may be an illustration of how Venice would have looked if it had not discovered the riches of trade. If you’re looking for local life and a slower pace, it may make a great day trip with some excellent seafood eateries.

Do Mori Cantina

The Grand Canal is bordered by a diverse mix of pricey, tourist-oriented restaurants. Catina Do Mori, on the other hand, is ideal for catching a peek of local life. This classic Venetian hangout is so small that there are no tables. The long wooden bar serves both food and refreshments. Locals believe that the flamboyant Lothario Casanova used to frequent the pub with his companions years ago. They provide light cuisine, or cicchetti, such as tramezzini, which are crustless sandwiches packed with cured meats and cheeses, and gently fried artichoke hearts. These should be washed down with the native sweet, effervescent red wine.

Libreria Acqua Alta

This bookshop is located on the waterfront and has experienced flooding during the wet seasons. This unusual Venetian business, run by eccentric Venetian Luigi Frizzo, houses hundreds of new and old books. If you’re lucky you may also spot his pet cat. The texts are piled haphazardly in ancient gondolas, bathtubs, boats, and barrels. You can spend many pleasant hours reading through the collection of Italian and foreign reads on sale. But you should also take some time to walk out into the garden and observe the plants. These are located next to a stunning stairway built from old, multicolored books.

Malefatte Boutique

Malefatte (or ‘Misdeeds’) Boutique is a non-profit project sponsored by Rio Tera dei Pensieri, a cooperative that sells items produced by male and female convicts from Venice’s prisons. T-shirts, stitched leather notebooks, and canvas purses are among the handcrafted items. The pricing is reasonable, especially when compared to other Venetian shops, and the website says that all things are fashioned from tortured pasts and optimistic futures.

Osteria Al Bacco

Bacco is a restaurant that is concealed so far down the peaceful Canal delle Capuzine that you are unlikely to come upon it by chance. There are a few tables outside in the vine-covered courtyard. Or you may find a cozy space in the wood-paneled dining room in the winter. It is one of the town’s oldest osterias and serves superb seafood. Choose from from pasta with black squid ink to mussels and grilled sea bass. If the proprietor is in good spirits, he may yank you out of your chair and spin you around the restaurant while playing lively tango music.

San Francesco del Deserto

San Francesco is another island usually overlooked by travelers. It is hidden away between Burano and Sant’Erasmo and is home to a peaceful monastery. The beautiful monastery grounds, with 4,000 cypress trees, are worth a long stroll, as are the ancient cloisters. The monk who guides tourists through the gardens recounts St Francis’ landing on the island in 1220. According to tradition, he placed his stick in the ground, which grew into a pine tree. The birds then came to sing to him

San Francesco della Vigna

Because of its setting at the eastern end of the city, beyond the ancient dockyards, this church is frequently deserted, even during peak season. The exterior was begun in 1534 by Italian artist and architect Sansovino at the request of Doge Andrea Gritti. It was finally completed in 1572 by Palladio. The Renaissance interior is spacious and light, with beautiful frescoes such as Antonio la Negroponte’s Madonna and Child Enthroned. A royal, delicate-faced Mary poses in a rose bower bordered by orange trees. Her gaze fixed on the infant Jesus, who she delicately supports on her knee.

Sant’Andrea Island

Tourists visit Murano to view the glass stores, Burano to see the colorful homes, and Torcello to visit the natural reserve. As a result, the lovely Sant’Andrea is frequently neglected. The rest of the island is overgrown and untidy. All except for a destroyed 17th-century fort built to defend the city from its attackers. The top of the Island’s ragged ruins is an ideal picnic location with unparalleled views of the lagoon and city.

The Venice Ghost Walking Tour

Come out at night to experience Venice’s historical ghosts. Arrive at the Rialto Bridge to be led into secret Venice, over silent canals, and through deserted piazzas. The guide will tell you six enthralling ghost stories as well as some interesting facts about the city. You’ll be led through a maze of quiet backstreet passages and to locations where horrific murders have occurred.