Roses and Spices
Inspiring stories and gourmet food from the secret gardens of Venice
Could this be the Venice you've been looking for
WCenturies-old, secret gardens, tucked away behind towering red brick walls. Did you know that more than half of Venice consists of green spaces? Our city counted more than 500 botanical gardens in the year 1500. Gardens in which Venetians experimented with exotic herbs, fruit, and spices, developing a fusion cuisine which one would never expect in a Lagoon in the Mediterranean Sea.
For 12 centuries, Venice had been the premier hub for fragrant spices in the Mediterranean Sea: Essenze di Venezia (The Essences of Venice), created by La Venessiana - Venice Food and Garden Blog, offers you exclusive access to learn about and taste these culinary treasures: Both virtual resources like e-guides, a culinary community (for free!), and exclusive culinary experiences in Venice. Keep scrolling to see more!
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Venice is overrated, they say.
A city devoured by mass tourism and at the same time, besieged by the sea. So what can be done to save the city from too many tourists who do not always value her?
It's also the attitude, grandmother used to say. In 1968, she purchased the guesthouse of the former monastery San Zaccaria, running it and her three restaurants in a very different manner. In the ancient hostaria style. It's a very personal way of sharing the untold secrets with her guests, and dishes they had never known. Dishes that didn't even taste Italian but smelling of fragrant blossoms and spices.
So is there a way to share grandmother's treasures and stories of Venice with our guests today? For this purpose, we must take you a virtual trip back in the 1960s. While of course, we'll stay firmly rooted in the present.
Be our guest in the virtual hostaria
We will revive the ancient Venice,secret gardens and forgotten stories that will make a difference. They are as colorful and lush as you can see in these images :-) Since 1945, grandmother had been cooking in her restaurants in Venice, but also did a lot of research on historical Venetian dishes.
Essenze di Venezia (The Essences of Venice), created by La Venessiana - Venice Food and Garden Blog, offers you exclusive access to learn about and taste these culinary treasures: Both virtual resources like e-guides, a culinary community (for free!), and exclusive culinary experiences in Venice. Keep scrolling to see more!
Pre-Spring Collection 2024
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Laguna in Cucina: 12 Months in Venice
CourseFOOD MEMOIR OF VENICE AND THE LAGOON: Stories, ancedotes, recipes, glimpses of daily life and portraits of people and places: A home base for you to return regularly and enjoy the seasons in Venice and the Lagoon.
€7,40 / month
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Venetia: Venetian Heritage and Culture
CourseGETTING STARTED: Introducing an unexpected Venice, her gardens and exotic culinary culture: Expore the story of Venice virtually, interactive with videos, city guides, historical recipes and more! Travel back in time to learn for the future.
€52
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Pre-order available now!
Spring Awakening in the Lagoon: Green Cuisine and Healing Herbs
CourseBACK ONLINE ON 24 SEPTEMBER 2021! Online class set on the island Torcello and at the San Zaccaria monastery (Venice): Ancient know-how on foraging, delicious + clean recipes, beauty elixirs and natural remedies.
The story of Venice is fascinating and so much more omplex than I had once thought: It's like looking at someone with new eyes. - Chris Bean
For me, La Venessiana has always stood out because of its very personal insights and real beauty. Reflecting the personality of your incomparable city. It's filled with information I never knew, and is a joy for me. - Janet Rant
WONDERING WHERE TO START?
Start by subscribing to our newsletters - we're now on Substack! To learn more about Venetian cuisine and receive tips and access to a private community (hosted here on the website), we'd be very happy if you would take a look at the membership called LAGUNA IN CUCINA
From the Membership, 20 per cent of the annual revenue go to Venetian associations like DINGO - taking care of homeless cats in Venice and the Lagoon.
Inside the oldest garden in Venice
"50,000 Venetians live in the historic center. Their numbers are down from 150,000 two centuries ago but this core of residents holds a deep love for their home: Iris and her grandmother are passionate to show people that there's much, much more to Venice than just St Mark's, beautiful though it is.
So they write about the hidden, private side of Venice. From courtyard gardens to secret orchards, medicinal botany to vegetable patches. Most lie behind anonymus, vertiginous, red brick walls, totally unknown to passers-by or their guidebooks, and astonishingly gardens cover almost half the surface area of the city. Often the only clue you'll have to being near a secret sanctuary is a waft of heavy vanilla, jasmine or lemon balm as you pass by.
What to explore in 2024
Our tips for you to enjoy Venetian cuisine, both at home and in Venice
Marco Polo Dinner Experience
Discover the food eaten in Venice during Marco Polo's time, in the early 14th century.
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A short heading goes here
A short multi-line sentence can go here. Try to keep all of the items the same length so thet line up.
Inside the oldest garden in Venice
"50,000 Venetians live in the historic center. Their numbers are down from 150,000 two centuries ago but this core of residents holds a deep love for their home: Iris and her grandmother are passionate to show people that there's much, much more to Venice than just St Mark's, beautiful though it is.
So they write about the hidden, private side of Venice. From courtyard gardens to secret orchards, medicinal botany to vegetable patches. Most lie behind anonymus, vertiginous, red brick walls, totally unknown to passers-by or their guidebooks, and astonishingly gardens cover almost half the surface area of the city. Often the only clue you'll have to being near a secret sanctuary is a waft of heavy vanilla, jasmine or lemon balm as you pass by.