OMBRE & CICCHETTI

After a long journey and the hassle of unpacking, what better way to begin your stay than with a welcome toast and a friendly tête-à-tête with a local? Your guide will meet you in your hotel lobby and spend two hours with you, introducing you to the Venetian way of life and the local tradition of ombre and cicchetti, Venice’s answer to Milan’s aperitivo and Spain’s tapas.

You will make your way through the labyrinth of canals and bridges to the heart of the city’s evening movida. Here stop at a few selected bacari (the name probably derives from the God of wine, Bacchus), cosy taverns where locals come to socialize, relax and indulge in pre-dinner drinks and snacks. Along your pub crawl enjoy a glass of wine traditionally called ombra, meaning shadow or shade. According to a popular belief, the term comes from the Venetian construction workers’ custom of retreating from the heat of the sun to rest in the shade of wine shops. To “take an ombra” became a way of inviting someone to take a break from work and drink a glass of wine in the shade. Tasty cicchetti – from the Latin word ciccus, meaning a small quantity – might consist of fried snacks, beans, crostini bread slices with different toppings and an array of fish dishes such as anchovies, cuttlefish, octopus, sardines and the local source of pride, baccalà mantecato – creamed dried cod.

Significantly different from other cuisines of Northern Italy, due to the absence of farmable land and, up to the 19th century, of vehicular bridges and railways, Venice’s gastronomic heritage and culinary style owes its distinctive character to the city’s glorious past as a powerful maritime republic and thriving port. As you stroll from one pub to the next, your guide will fill you in on local traditions and point out popular eating and drinking locations. You will be provided with a list of local hangouts, including the best restaurants, pizzerias, cafes, ice cream parlours, wineries, pastry shops and other delectable destinations you might have missed. You will also receive practical information on your immediate surroundings, like nearby drugstores, ATM machines, pharmacies and ferry stops.

This orientation aperitivo will give you a head start and a chance to answer all your queries, ensuring a comfortable, stress-free stay. Well then, Benvenuti a Venezia and enjoy your holiday!