OVERVIEW
Beyond the bustle of touristy central Venice is a series of small islands dotting the Venetian lagoon. This is where Venice’s wine is made, vegetables are grown, fish is caught and bread is baked.
These islands–Vignole, Sant’Erasmo, Lido, Pellestrina, Mazzorbo and more—make up the Venice that most people never experience, but you can. On this exclusive-to-Milk Street 8-day trip, you’ll visit seven different islands, meet the artisans who safeguard Venice’s culinary traditions, and cook with local vegetables, fish, seafood, fruits and wines.
Based on the Lido, Friend of Milk Street Marika Contaldo Seguso will be your cooking teacher, while sommelier Sara Cossiga will be your guide. These two women know everyone making everything on the islands. Together they have crafted this very special culinary journey for us through the history, culture and modern-day splendors of Venice. And for this first departure only, you’ll also be joined by Milk Street’s Director of Education Rosemary Gill.
HIGHLIGHTS
Private boat tours of seven Venetian islands
Experience the lagoon and islands of Venice like a local with a renowned Venetian tour guide, Sara Cossiga, and Marika Contaldo Seguso, Friend of Milk Street and founder of Acquolina Cooking School.
Hands-on cooking classes
Get in the kitchen with Marika to cook with vegetables, fish, grains and spirits that are produced only on the islands of the Venetian lagoon.
Small-scale producers & artisans
See Venetian farming, wine making, crabbing and baking up close. Visit Venice’s last velvet atelier and a 34th-generation glassmaker.
Great meals
Expect to eat pumpkin, leek and porcini risotto, spaghettini alla marinara, vegetables fried alla Veneziana and a dazzling array of cicchetti, Venetian tapas, like goat cheese with hazelnut and honey; mortadella with pistachio and stracciatella; and beef tartare with truffle oil and Dijon mustard. Sweet treats include Venetian butter cookies, lemon sorbet made with prosecco and Marika’s signature tiramisu. Wash it all down with local wines.
ITINERARY
ABOUT US
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
- Pricing and Accommodation
- The total cost of this trip is $6,000 per person in a shared accommodation. For travelers wishing to have single accommodations during the trip, an additional $1,500 will be due at the time of the final payment. A $500 non-refundable deposit per traveler is required to secure space on the trip. The balance is due 90 days prior to the start of the trip.
- Activity Level
- Travelers should be reasonably fit and feel comfortable walking 1 to 3 miles each day and remaining on their feet for long periods of time. Travelers should feel comfortable on boats, as it will be our only mode of transportation throughout the trip.
- Arrival and Departure
- For flights in and out of Venice International airport, we suggest you arrive by 3 p.m. on Day 1 and depart any time on Day 8. We are happy to book you extra nights at the group’s hotel; just email us to arrange that after booking your spot on the trip. We’ll also provide suggestions for things to do and see in the area on your own if you choose to extend your visit.
- Inclusions
- • All accommodation throughout the trip in Villa Ines, a wonderful boutique hotel on Lido
• Professional guides throughout the entire experience.
• All meals and drinks included in the above activities.
• Admission to all proposed activities, locations, and events.
• Private boats for all transportation
• Airport pickups in private boats
• A hungry group of Culinary Backstreets and Milk Street travelers, excited to explore all that Venice has to offer! - Exclusions
- • Airfare and transportation to/from the start and end destination
• Meals beyond those specified in the itinerary above
• Alcoholic beverages other than those served at the table
• Accommodations outside those noted, including pre- or post-trip hotel nights
• Activities, tours & entry fees not included above
• Personal purchases and incidentals at hotels
• Travel insurance
• Trip Leader tips - Dietary Restrictions
- We encourage an adventurous palate! We try our best to accommodate dietary restrictions, though ingredients cannot always be substituted or omitted from particular dishes. This trip can feature plentiful pescatarian options. If you have other food allergies or intolerances, please contact us to find out if this is the right trip for you.
- Notes on Itinerary
- Itineraries and daily schedules are subject to change. We expect to do everything listed in the itinerary, though the order may be rearranged based on weather or other local conditions.
- Our Commitment to Safety and Sustainability
- At Culinary Backstreets, we have reinforced our commitment to sustainability and safety with new guidelines to assure maximum safety of our guests on our trips while maintaining the quality of the experience. All of our experiences are designed to have minimal impact on the community and environment. For more details on our precautions, read here. Our cancellation policy is extremely flexible to deal with changes in travel plans.