PRIVATE ESCAPE 7 DAYS / 6 NIGHTS
In between the Prosecco vineyards and Venice
Veneto is not limited to Venice, far from it! The UNESCO World Heritage list hills of Prosecco are home to small villages, medieval castles, terraced vineyards (the ciglioni). It is where frizzante and spumante are produced. With their delicate bubbles, they’re the stars of many Michelin-starred tables.
As La Serenissima draws near, the Palladian palaces and Treviso take centre stage. A discovery both cultural and gastronomic, for the pleasure of the epicurean.
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Then Venice and its islands… Chiara Pavan’s universe. Explore Venice off the beaten tracks and through the secret pathways of the Michelin-starred Chef, to explore the City of Canals in light of its small artisans and sustainable producers.
“Venice is like eating an entire box of chocolate liqueurs in one go.” - Truman Capote
L’Hedonist takes you further than Piazza san Marco, to Mazzorbo, Torcello, Burano; islands where inhabitants revive millennial Venetian traditions. Like at Venissa, Chef Pavan’s territory, located in the centuries-old vineyard of Dorona di Venezia, which was almost in ruins before being renovated by the owner. Or with the fishermen of Burano, eager to show the laguna in something other than a gondola. Or, better yet, the market gardeners of Sant’ Erasmo who preserved from extinction rare vegetables like the purple artichoke.
An escape in the Veneto region imagined by an eco-conscious Chef, committed to preserve the frail City of Canals through her creative and sustainable cooking.
Chiara Pavan’s
Veneto
The Michelin-starred Chef invites you to journey in “her” Veneto. Because she is committed to saving the laguna and its islands and because she knows every artisan and producer, she exclusively shares her favourite restaurants and secret spots, the places that endlessly inspire her sustainable cooking. L’Hedonist invites you on a delicious stroll through the Prosecco hills, listed in the UNESCO World Heritage, Treviso – “the little Venice”and then, Venice, of course!
Italian-style bubbles
Not far from Conegliano and Valdobbiadene, the heart and soul of the Prosecco region, you are invited to visit two wine cellars and taste some frizzante and spumante, including the legendary Cartizze vintage. These tasting will hopefully convince you that, beyond Aperol spritz, the fruity, yet sharp, flavours of prosecco are quite something.
Cheese tasting
Organic goat cheese, delicious cow-milk cheese matured in wine, truffle buffalo, soft rind cheese… Taste all the varieties in the oldest House in the region, making cheese since 1898.
A picnic in all honesty
Among the grapevines, stands L’Osteria Senz’ Oste, which translates literally to “the host-free tavern”. In this self-service restaurant of charcuterie, cheese, bread and prosecco, help yourself and “pay in honour”. No waiter, or crystal glasses – a good-natured atmosphere. The tables, on the side of the hills, offer a breath-taking view of the Prosecco vineyards. A must-see!
Cooking workshop
in a farm
The brainchild of an Italian Chef and a London fashionista, this farm and cooking school in the middle of the forest is simply charming. The couple share their passion for Venetian cooking using ingredients straight from their vegetable patch. A timeless experience.
Canova’s Plaster Sculptures
L’Hedonist has prepared a stunning visit in the small village of Possagno: the collection of Antonio Canova, considered the last great Italian sculptor. The modern art wing of the museum, built by architectural virtuoso Carlo Scarpa, is home to terra cotta draft pieces and plaster mouldings of rare elegance.
United Colours of Treviso
Facing the Treviso cathedral, the former city prison has been transformed into an exhibition space, hosting the modern art collection of Luciano Benetton (the headquarters of the Benetton company is in fact located in Treviso). The heavy gates and fences, remains of the original building, give this visit a unique twist.
Through the eyes of Carlo Scarpa
The incredible 1960s architect and designer from Venice left his mark on the city through his blending of ancient and modern, smooth and rugged, stone and steel. The Fondazione Querini Stampalia and the Negozio Olivetti are a testament to the multi-faceted, lesser-known side of Venice.
The last squerarioli
In the 16th century, over ten thousand gondolas sailed on the laguna. Though there are only 500 today, they are still built by the squerarioli. Only four of them still remain in Venice and, in their secret workshops, continue to built custom-made gondolas. Roberto will guide you through all the steps and the 400 hours of handiwork necessary to build such boats.
Bacari, cicchetti and spritz
A bar crawl of the bacari (traditional bars) is a Venetian tradition. A glass of spritz in one hand and a small plate in the other, you can sit on a small bridge or on a porch to savour cicchetti (small appetizers) like tuna crostini, marinated artichoke, meatballs, grilled calamari. La felicità!
A moving opera
The Fenice is one thing, but L’Hedonist has picked a more unique experience for opera lovers, one where the public is truly immersed into the best, most beautiful operas of the Italian repertoire. All of that in a 17th century palace!
The art of the Giudecca
The former industrial quarters of La Giudecca are a less touristic part of the city. The launch of the Giudecca Art District project has brought the seventh neighbourhood of Venice into the limelight. Art galleries, artists workshops as well as magnificent Palladian churches and the famous Casa dei Tre Oci. La Giudecca is definitely the place to be!
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Murano’s new wave
Roberto Beltrami is the youngest master glassmaker of Murano; however he wasn’t born in Venice nor comes from a long line of glass artisans. In his workshop, Wave Murano Glass, he revolutionizes age-old techniques like “battuto” or engraving on cold glass, to create pieces loved by Chiara Pavan.
Heart of gold
​In this secret workshop, 24 carat gold is the centrepiece. For a hundred years, the tradition has endured to transform gold into leaves as thin as a single hair, to adorn artworks, but also bottles of Venissa! The soft, muted atmosphere makes this a charming visit.
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A library of colours
Exclusive interlude at the 130-year-old workshop of Venice’s last master glassmaker, specialist of cobalt blue glass and gold-leafed mosaic. Everything is handmade using the world’s oldest artisanal mosaic oven. Over 3500 shades of colour are stored in their library, at least forty just for skin tones.
Venissa,
a different Venice
Stay in Venissa for a more authentic, natural, wild even, vision of the laguna. Away from the hustle and bustle of La Serenissima. This peaceful haven, 30 min from Piazza San Marco, is the audacious product of the Bisol family’s imagination. After completely refurbishing the Dorona wine domain, they fulfilled their vision of a Venissa art de vivre, collaborating with small producers and creating eco-friendly and gastronomic experiences. Mazzorbo became the refuge of Chiara Pavan, pouring all her love for the environment into her cooking.
In vino Venissa
An astounding visit of the domain to better understand the wine-making traditions of the Venetian laguna and the recent rebirth of viticulture in Venissa. The Michelin-starred restaurant’s sommelier will guide you through an exclusive tasting of six different white and red wines, including two of the Venissa Vintage cuvée.
Fishermen of the laguna
A more offbeat experience of the laguna by those who know it best: fishermen. Through their stories and secret spots, you’ll get a grasp of the special connection between Venetians and “their” laguna’s natural resources.
DAY 1 : VENICE - PROSECCO HILLS
. Journey to the Prosecco region and visit of San Salvatore castle
. For lunch, stop in L’Osteria Senz’ Oste, a unique experience in the region (to be paid locally)
. Private tasting in the wine domain of Valdobbiadene, a Chiara Pavan’s pick
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DAY 2 : CONEGLIANO
. Private tour of Veneto’s most renowned cheese farm, followed by an exclusive tasting
. At Conegliano, private tasting of Prosecco in a small biodynamic vineyard.
. Enjoy a casual cooking workshop and learn to cook Venetian specialties, before tasting them for dinner
DAY 3 : TREVISO
. Meet with your private expert guide in the village of Possagno to visit the Canova sculpture gallery, then continue on to Villa di Masera
. Still with your guide, discover Treviso – “the little Venice”
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DAY 4 : VENICE
. Visit of Venice with your private guide, following the footsteps of architect Carlo Scarpa
. Your stroll ends on the panoramic terrace of Fondaco Dei Tedeschi
. The afternoon is all yours! L’Hedonist can also happily organize for you more traditional visits (with extra charge)
. In the evening, we suggest an “opera in movement” in a 17th century palace (optional, extra cost, requires booking in advance)
DAY 5 : LA GIUDECCA
. With your private guide, meet one of the last squerarioli (gondola builder) of Venice in his workshop.
. Take a stroll in the brand-new Giudecca Art District (GAD), followed by a tour of the Palladian-style Redentore Church
. Free afternoon. L’Hedonist can also happily organize for you more traditional visits (with extra charge)
For dinner, we have prepared a roadmap for you, with a selection of our favourite bacari (to be paid locally)
DAY 6 : BURANO - MAZZORBO
. Accompanied by your expert guide, discover the workshops of the artisans that give renown to Venice
. Visit the workshop of Murano’s youngest master glassmaker
. The Venissa’s sommelier will accompany you on a stroll in the Dorona vineyard, then guide you through a tasting of Mazzorbo wines.
. Gastronomic dinner at Venissa, the restaurant of Michelin-starred Chef Chiara Pavan (drinks to be paid locally)
DAY 7 : TORCELLO - VENICE
. Morning cruise on the laguna with one of the 20 (crab fishermen) still left in Burano
. Visit of Torcello island with your private guide
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Clients are advised to drink responsibly