Archive for 'Venice'

Venice is known globally as one of the most romantic cities in the world and is hugely popular as a honeymoon destination. The absence of road traffic, the characteristic gondola rides, pretty squares, beautiful polychromatic stone buildings, soft light, historic atmosphere, good food and wine all make for a rather romantic and special experience that one cannot find replicated anywhere else in the world. When people fall in love with the city, it is for good.

Romance pervades the entire city and gives it a distinctive atmosphere but one particular activity that heightens this has to the galleon dinner cruises that take place on the Venetian lagoon. It is the perfect way to see a little of the city while enjoying good food and soaking up the romantic atmosphere, all at the same time. Just find a vacation rental in Venice and you can spend a magical evening going back in time, dining and taking in the spectacular surroundings.

In the previous post, we discussed the fascinating character that was Peggy Guggenheim and mentioned how her career and collection began. Her collection went from a great support to contemporary artists of the 20th century, and a driving force to pushing forward the artistic scene of the time, and private thing of immense beauty and prestige to a leading museum in Venice. In her own lifetime, Guggenheim opened the collection to the public during summer months and, in her final years, donated it to the art foundation established by her uncle and backer of the Guggenheim in New York. It was then converted into a museum and is now open year-round to anyone visiting the beautiful city of Venice. Just find a vacation rental in Venice and you can explore this little artistic gem and all that is held within.

Peggy Guggenheim's life and career are key to the history of 20th century art and she dedicated half of her life to protecting the art of her time. Today, one of Venice's best museums bears her name. It is based on the collection she established and, eventually, began to open to the public seasonally. She was ahead of her time in her attitudes towards collecting art, and to life and left behind an extraordinary tale and a fantastic museum for Venice. The museum is, of course, a must for art-lovers visiting the city once they have found a holiday rental in Venice. However, it will also be of interest to those taken in by fascinating characters from history as Peggy was exactly that; fascinating.

The Rossini is a cocktail which comes from Venice and is a highly popular variation on the Bellini. Although it is one of many variations, this one is particularly rich and sweet and is a brilliant, lovely red colour.

Veneto is known for her capacity for inventing delicious alcoholic beverages like Aperol Spritz and Campari Spritz. The region is also known, however, for its Prosecco di Valdobbiadene and the Venetians invented a lot of Prosecco-based drinks, in particular, as a result. Both the Bellini and its cousin, the Rossini were born in the area in and around Venice and use Prosecco as a base. The Bellini was invented in Harry's Bar which remains open as an iconic Venetian haunt and the perfect place to grab a cocktail once you've found a vacation rental in Venice. The waiters still dress sharply in dinner jackets, the simple décor retains early twentieth century charm and, above all, the food and drink is legendary. The bar's founder, Giuseppe Cipriani, invented the Bellini sometime between 1934 and 1948 and named it thusly due to its unique pink colour which reminded him of the toga worn by a saint in a painting by 15th-century Venetian artist Giovanni Belllini. While the Bellini is made with Prosecco and peach purée, the Rossini is a variation made with strawberry purée in place of the peach and is named after Gioachino Rossini a famous Italian composer.

If you're planning a brunch, having a cocktail party or just fancy a treat this evening, here's how you make this delicious cocktail.

For whatever reason, it seems as if almost all the world's favourite cocktails come from Venice. Perhaps, it is because the city has always seemed to magnetically draw artists and writers to it and, as we all know, many a creative type has been known to be fond of a drink. Or, maybe, it is because the city has ever been one of the most glamourous destinations in the world where the rich and famous go to enjoy the surroundings and the good life; particularly, the fine dining and the drinks that inevitably are paired along with the food. Either way, it seems that the clientèle of bars in Venice have always been a discerning lot and, due to this, it has kept the city's bartenders on their toes. Certainly, it just adds to the long list of reasons to visit the city so why not find a holiday rental in Venice and try out one of their legendary bars such as Harry's Bar? If it was good enough for Hemingway then you'll surely enjoy it!

This environment seems to have encouraged great creativity and Venice, in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries, was the birthplace of many drinks which went on to become standards in bars around the globe. One cocktail from the city that you are likely to be unfamiliar with, however, is the Sgroppino which is basically a boozy smoothie – sounds good, right? Made with lemon and smooth and icy cold, it's often seen as the perfect Summer cocktail. However, it is also a brilliant palate cleanser which can be used to help enhance a delicious meal. Its origins are uncertain but it is said to have once been used as a digestif by Venetian nobility – intrigued? Here's how to make it for yourself.