Secret gardens of Venice in the Dorsoduro district with Cichetti tasting

Step away from the tourist trail to discover two historical palaces and their gardens with our exclusive guided tour. Nani Bernardo Palace, one of the finest palaces in Venice overlooking the Grand Canal, was built in 1550 to designs by architect Alessandro Vittoria. The interiors have maintained the original period furnishings, recreating in the opulent rooms of the piano nobile the exclusive atmosphere reserved to the Venetian aristocracy. 

About two centuries ago, the garden of the palace was born as an Italian style garden and until today remains as one of the less known and yet most particular gardens in Venice. It adorned with longeval trees and wonderful flowers, some of which imported from the Far East. It was indeed Marco Polo who first brought to Venice a rarity: a Chinese wisteria.

The second stop will be at Palace Ca’ Zenobio, originally built in the gotic style, belongs to Zenobio family from Verona. The family acquired the palace in 1664 and did some renovations. The luxurious furnishings with frescos, magnificent stucco works, mirrors and portraits are some of the most representative of 18th century Venice grandeur. This palace became very famous thanks to the singer Madonna who chose it as location of her videoclip “Like a Virgin". The Zenobio Palace has an impressive garden created in a French style, a very rarity in Venice. Our guide will show you the hidden corners of the city walking along the elegant avenues of heaven of peace protected by their old walls.

At the end of the tour, you will taste the traditional Venetian appetizers, Cichetti. They are small snacks, similar in concept to Spanish tapas, to eat standing at the counter of the bar as locals do! Venetians typically eat cicchetti in the "bàcari" (cicchetti bars or osterie) in the late morning, for lunch, or as afternoon snacks. There is a great variety of cichetti, they can range from sandwich with salami to bite-sized bits of baccalà (cod puree). Don't lose the chance to live this special moment to have a real full immersion in the venetian life!