Venetian Cicchetti

Venice fish market

What are ‘cicchetti’? The word apparently originates from latin ‘ciccus’, a small something, a small bite, and defines those small plates which are a bit of a cult among Venetians. Our tour kicks off amidst the bustling market stalls in Rialto selling fish, fruit  and vegetables.

The Rialto market, once the old commercial centre of Venice, was founded in the 11th century and was the place where one could buy the most exotic goods coming from the East, such as silks and spices. The whole area is still very vibrant and bears witness to its old history. All the names within the area are reminiscent of past activities. The Venetian cuisine is based on fish, and the star here is no doubt the Pescheria, where fresh fish is sold every morning from Tuesdays to Saturdays. Colours, locals, voices…it’s a real feast!

After exploring the different stalls, we shall take you to some of the most traditional and iconic ‘bacari’ in the nearby maze of alleyways. The ‘bacari’ are small eateries or bars where you usually stand but can also seat at a table, right in front of a big counter, a showcase displaying all the local freshly prepared ‘cicchetti’. It’s look-and-point food.

Venetian chicchetti

You can chose among ‘polpette’ (fried meatballs) of small fried fish such as fried calamari, fried vegetables, anchovies, ‘baccalà’ (creamed codfish), cheeses and salami, to be accompanied with a nice glass of good wine or a ‘spritz’. We shall disclose this new world of specialities and traditions to you! A tour of the ‘bacari’ is a custom very much alive in Venetian life, a way to delight your palate, socialise and delve into the local culture. An experience not to be missed!

DURATION: 2 ore

GUIDE’S FEE: € 170.00

EXTRA COSTS: Food & Beverage

PLEASE NOTE:
The tour price is for a party of 1 to 8 people, and doesn’t include food & beverage.
Should your party have more than 8 participants, please contact us for a quote.