72 hours for Venice's secrets, aiutiamo noi per favore

October 11, 2009 2:04 PM

I'm going with my family down to Italy from around Oct 18-30th, including a week at a farm house in Ancona (looking forward to that, for sure!). We'll also be in Venice for around three whole days in the beginning and end of the trip (we fly in/out from Venice).

So, considering our short stay, what are some hidden, secret, word-of-askmetafilter stuff that we should seek out, apart from the touristy gondolas and San Marco, etc, etc?

I for one often find that I discover a new city best by just spending hours walking around (flaneur, n'est-ce pas?), and that's what I plan to do. Just give me a first goalpost and I'll do the rest.

No links to any fancy NYT Travel articles, please... :)

posted by avocade to Travel & Transportation (5 answers total)

I've been there for work a handful of times (very jealous of your farmhouse & leisure time in Venice!), and the last time our host brought us to a small and excellent restaurant called La Mascara. I've misplaced their card and can't find them online... so I'm not sure if this suggestion is helpful at all, but it felt like a hidden gem to me. As I recall, seafood was their specialty and the service was top-notch (as was the food & wine).
posted by pammeke at 2:19 PM on October 11, 2009

Best answer: I'm biased because I was a glassblower in my past life, but if you could track down Lino Tagliapietra's glass studio in Murano, it is a treat and treasure. With all the schlocky glass everywhere in Venice, seeing the work and studio of an internationally acclaimed artist whose pieces are at the best best galleries is such a treat. I wandered around Murano asking if someone could tell me where Lino lived and I was pleasantly rewarded.

And down the street and around the corner from Lino's was his best friend Gino's restaurant and it was the best food I had in Italy; a hole in the wall with exceptional seafood pasta.

Have FUN!
posted by cachondeo45 at 2:43 PM on October 11, 2009 [3 favorites]

seconding the glass artisans -- a pleasure to watch.
posted by 3mendo at 3:27 PM on October 11, 2009

Not a secret, but riding around on one of the ferrys in the middle of the night was pretty awesome. Don't miss it. I think it beats a gondola.
posted by sully75 at 3:37 PM on October 11, 2009 [1 favorite]

kind of a cop out but i have always had good luck with the trip advisor forums (heres the one for venice) its pretty indepth and seems to be quite active...
posted by knockoutking at 3:49 PM on October 11, 2009