Cicchetti & Wine Tour of Venice

Local Impact: How you taking this tour will benefit the local community:  All the stores and foodie spots we visit are 100% owned and run by locals, ensuring that the local population benefit from tourism to their city. So any inclusions on the tour and additional purchases you make will directly benefit the local community. We will take you off the main tourist trail to some of the many hidden gem neighbourhoods beyond St Mark's Square, helping to ease tourist congestion,  You will pick up some responsible travel tips that will help you to be a greener traveller while you’re in the city 
 This tour is the perfect introduction to Venice, giving you an overview of the city’s unrivalled history and a taster of its world-famous cuisine. Your adventure begins in the Cannaregio neighbourhood, one of the few remaining residential areas of Venice, known for being a popular after-work meeting spot for thirsty locals. We will take a gentle stroll around and chat about its 1,000-year history and your local guide will offer suggestions on other things to see and do during your stay. A ride in a traditional, stand-up traghetto gondola is next as we cross the Grand Canal the way the locals do. Once in Rialto, the food tasting can begin! We will try some fresh fish at a small eatery, owned by a group of young locals with a passion for experimenting with traditional recipes, giving them a modern twist. Expect dishes such as black ink calamari, fried mix fish, polenta with seafood, tuna balls with tomatoes or seasonal vegetables (served in elaborate dishes). All the fresh fish served is coming from the Rialto market, a large fruit and vegetable market in the centre of Venice. After mouth-watering tastings, we will head to the few local spots that will help you better understand the culture of Cicchetti bars in Venice and how to enjoy food and wine experience. We will introduce you a new bar, owned by two Venetian brother with passion for locally sourced food and wine, and at this stop you will taste a local sandwich called `tramezzino` and very local `Venetian Spritz`. Moving forward you will try dishes such as Creamy Dried Codfish Baccalà or stockfish (dried cod), arrived in Venice in the 15th century thanks to Captain Querini. Here we will have a chance to try this traditional local recipe. Expect cod cooked in two different ways. Let us know, which one you prefer most? A few secrets and hidden spots near the Rialto are up next, which will demonstrate the importance of moving just one street away from the tourist hordes, to get a little slice of Venice to yourself. Expect meet and cheese Cicchetti in one of the spots and Lasagna or Risotto or Pasta in the other. Finish with well-deserved desert – Tiramisu. The tour will end at Campo San Bortolomio, which is surrounded by great restaurants and shops. Your guide will be happy to help you with recommendations for continuing the fun or with directions to help you back to your accommodation. There may be a change of itinerary according to opening times of bars and restaurants along the way depending on how crowded they are. However, all the bars you are taken to are of the same standard, so you will not be missing out if the itinerary does change. Food inclusions are subject to change, dependent on availability on the day. In case of bad weather, we will not be able to cross the canal in the traghetto gondola due to safety reasons. However, we provide an additional tasting. Please note that this tour covers 2 km (1.2 mile) of walking.