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Insider's Venice
Lido di Venezia
About the location:
The Lido is considered the Golden Island, a luxurious 12 kilometer strip packed with charming historical homes and of course gorgeous beaches on both the Adriatic Sea and the lagoon. The Lido’s beauty serves as inspiration for many poets, including Lord Byron, due to the amazing sunset over the lagoon as well as the lush greenery. The Lido di Venezia has long been considered a luxurious escape from the hubbub of the mainland; with just a short 10-minute trip across the lagoon, visit this beach resort island that is the perfect relaxing getaway. In addition to enjoying the beaches, the Lido is also known for its tennis courts as well as its beautiful golf club, an International Film Festival, and stunning Liberty architecture.
Your accommodations are at Villa Ines, an enchanting hotel with a rich historical garden full of Mediterranean herbs and old roses. Rooms at Villa Ines include elegant furnishings that pay tribute to the history of the island’s past while not forgoing modern amenities. Every room also has air-conditioning, WI-FI, a plasma television, and a Jacuzzi bath in the private bathroom.
About the cooking lessons:
In the kitchen of Villa Ines and led by Chef Marika, you will participate in the preparation of 2 typical Venetian menus, one based on fish and the other on fresh pasta and meat. The menu will be planned while choosing the fresh, seasonal products in the Rialto market, a short boat ride from Villa Ines. Each cooking class will finish with tasting the dishes with wine pairings suggested by the Villa Ines sommelier. Meals will be taken in the villa or, weather permitting, in a romantic gazebo covered in wisteria.
- Arrival and transfer from the airport or railway station to Villa Ines.
- Check in to your room and get settled. Time to relax.
- If you are not jet lagged, you might like to take a short vaporetto ride to San Marco to visit Palazzo Ducale, once a political and judicial hub, now a Gothic museum.
- Around 6pm, depart for Bacaro Tour in Venice for an aperitif in a typical Venetian wine bar with a tasting of bite-sized tapas.
- Dinner on your own; restaurant suggestions provided.
- Overnight.
- Breakfast.
- Participate in your first cooking class with Chef Marika Seguso. The lesson is held in Marika’s kitchen in Villa Ines, and you will learn to prepare different kinds of homemade pasta: ravioli, gnocchi, tagliatelle, and more with a typical Italian sauce.
- Tasting lunch to follow in the beautiful garden of Villa Ines (weather permitting); the meal will be paired with wine.
- After lunch, transfer to Murano to visit the Seguoso’s family glass factory in Murano. Marika’s husband and his brothers are the last generation of the Seguso family and have a long and prestigious history in the Murano glass business with more than 600 years of tradition. Enjoy the incredible experience of assisting in the creation of beautiful art masterpieces.
- Free time to shop or stroll around town.
- Dinner on your own, restaurant suggestions provided.
- After breakfast, meet with Chef Marika for a trip to Rialto Market, which is alongside the Venetian lagoon. Boat transfer included. While discovering one of the most ancient markets in the world, learn how to select fabulous meat and vegetables, as well as how to identify the freshest fish and seafood.
- Return via private boat to Villa Ines.
- After a light Italian aperitif with prosecco wine and a tempura of vegetables and fish selected in Rialto market, start your second cooking class with Marika. She will assist you through each step of the preparation of a typical Venetian meal. Lunch to follow.
- Time and dinner on your own; restaurant suggestions provided.
- Overnight.
- Breakfast and return transfer to Venice airport, Marco Polo.
