SAVE 20% UNTIL 31 DECEMBER 2022: Winter Solstice and January in Venice

Deep winter, storiesand precious spice menus. Coming home to Venice for the holidays.

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Winter Solstice, Christmas, and January in Venice

Stories and legends of the Lagoon, and their flavors

If the Lagoon could tell a story, it would be about winter! When everyone is spending more time at home, by the fireside. Enjoying ancient flavors and exploring family cookbooks. And then, walking out of the dark, towards the glittering lights in Piazza San Marco. 

Join us during this magical time in Venice, and discover Christmas stories, Santa Lucia Day, and lots of recipes, like vanilla-saffron cake, pine liquor and eucalyptus-pomegranate honey.



There are stories coming to life only between mid-December and February 2 (Candelora): A secretive period we call deep winter in Venice. The December and January festivities in Venice are fundamentally different because this is pure Byzantine territory. 

If you'd like to taste authentic flavors and your favorite dishes during winter in Venice, this online experience is for you: A mixture of online culinary episodes, virtual walks and winter stories, taking you straight to Venice when it's time to make winter lasagna, pomegranate cake and pevarini cookies. And of course, incredibly delicious historical recipes, each using just a few ingredients.

Dark but very cozy ..

Venice, when the sun rises at 8:45 am and sets just after 4 pm: Deep winter and its special moon phases bring back ancient Byzantine recipes. We've created this online experience for you to show a hidden side of Venice: The dark city and its traditional winter stories and recipes of winter solstice. 

Venice, for centuries an enclave of the East on "western" territory, recalls the colorful winter fairs of the past, when colorful spicy food is cooked, and stories of Christmases long past are shared! Our Byzantine heritage is also reflected in the traditional menus on Christmas Eve and New Year's Eve. And then, deep winter continues into January, lasting until Candelora celebrated on 2 February, when the first rays of the spring sun illuminate the foggy city and Lagoon.

THIS ONLINE EXPERIENCE IS SO BEAUTIFULLY DONE, I COULD PRACTICALLY SMELL THE SCENTS AND SPICES FROM THE RIALTO MARKET! I LOVED THE VIDEOS, THE STORIES AND THE HISTORICAL CONTEXT OF THE FOOD, INCLUDING THE STORIES ABOUT THE ARTISANS. TO BE ABLE TO READ ALL ABOUT THE HOLIDAYS AND THEIR SPECIAL FOOD WAS SO LOVELY. - JoAnn Locktov, Dream of Venice

What's inside: Festive and simple menus + stories and legends + wintry e-book

Part One: Winter Solstice in Venice

We start with the stories of Santa Lucia, Blue Moon and Blue Christmas in Venice, tasting Santa Lucia's saffron-vanilla sweet bread, the two types of pinsa - our Venetian winter solstice and Christmas cakes. You'll also discover a seasonal gourmet basket with winter specialties from the Rialto Market. 

We'll go for a virtual walk discovering the most ancient part of Venice around Campo Santa Maria Formosa from the culinary side, while enjoying the green winter decorations like Stella Natale - poinsettia. You'll also taste black winter solstice recipes such as home-made Anima Nera liqueur and the real Venetian chocolate cake - Nonna's favorite birthday treat!

Part Two: The Ancient Venetian Christmas, its stories and flavors

In Part 2, you'll be part of a special Venetian winter birthday, visit the Golden Basilica on New Year's Eve and go for a walk along Riva degli Schiavoni on Christmas Eve. And you'll receive everything you need to know about celebrating the ancient Venetian Christmas with Nonna Lina's recipes.

You'll see the opulent Christmas lights, but also the sleeping city while life is going on inside, in the kitchens and secret gardens behind the house. Like we're baking pevarini, the oldest cookie recipe in Europe!

Finally, you'll be virtually treated to a winter gourmet menu by restaurant Antico Pignolo, discover the golden champagne macarons of Caffé Florian, a buffet menu to welcome the New Year, and the authentic cake for Epifania and Befana, the ancient Venetian Christmas celebrated on 5 and 6 January.



Part Three: Deep winter and January secrets

January is the coldest month, and you'll discover the stories connected to the giornate della merla (blackbird days - includes a virtual visit to Caffé Quadri).

Enjoy Venetian winter lasagna, discover the Venetian bacaro (tapas) guide and the authentic winter culture of the Lagoon: Comfort soups and the deep winter menu by Ristorante Al Giardinetto, and the surprisingly green and delicious Venetian winter risotti! 

Enjoy a cup of Venetian-style caffé bicerin and finally step out of winter on 2 February, Candelora day, with rose meringues.

IN VENICE, THE CHRISTMAS LIGHTS HAVE BEEN TURNED ON IN PIAZZA SAN MARCO. AND NOW IT'S TIME TO ENJOY THE TYPICAL RECIPES FOR DECEMBER: CAKES, BISCUITS, PINSA, AND ROSE DESSERTS. SOME DATING BACK TO THE 13TH CENTURY. IRIS AND LINA KNOW WHAT THEY'RE TALKING ABOUT, AND SHARE MOUTHWATERING RECIPES AND IMAGES. - Malena Fernandez - Read&Fly

Winter Solstice and January in Venice

The Treasure Trove amongst our online experiences: Coming home to Venice for the holidays.

  • €28,80

    Recipes + Lagoon stories + winter sweets + festive menus + e-book.

    Purchase now