Discover the authentic culinary culture of Venice

For more than 1300 years, plants and seeds from all over the world passed through Venice, the premier trading hub in the Mediterranean. At the same time, surprisingly exotic gardens were created in the Lagoon, where essenze (spices, herbs and blossoms) were growing: Ingredients for the most fragrant and colorful cuisine in Europe.

Come and discover this fragrant heritage and unknown side of Venice: We share spice secrets, recipes, but also useful tips to discover the little known Lagoon!


Essenze di Venezia by La Venessiana Atelier  was featured on:


Using spices in the kitchen is an art: In our membership Laguna in Cucina - A Food Memoir of the Lagoon, we explore how Venice created the most fragrant and healthy recipes in Europe from spices.

Venetian cuisine developed from local garden herbs, Lagoon vegetables, fish and waterfowl, and on the other hand, from the sophisticated spices the Venetian merchants brought back from their sea voyages. For 1100 years, Venetians not only re-sold these spices but created their own elaborate spice mixes called sacchetti veneziani. These recipes have survived especially in private libraries waiting to be rediscovered - which we're doing every week in this membership!

Every Tuesday, a new episode is online, packed with lush recipes, anecdotes, virtual visits to the markets and into the secret Lagoon. We also talk about personal memories of people and places, Nonna Lina's gourmet cuisine, and stories about life and foraging in the largest Lagoon of the Mediterranean sea.


Autumn collection 2021

A collection of seasonal courses that will inspire and connect you to Venice

There is so much you tell us that I had never known. The story of Venice is fascinating and so much more complex than I had once thought. It's like looking at someone with new eyes. - Chris Bean

We will be adding more online classes in 2021: Breakfast in Venice, Cooking Venetian for Beginners, Venetian Pastry Classes, and more!

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Thank You

For me, La Venessiana has always stood out from other websites because of its very personal insights and real beauty – it is so beautiful! - reflecting the personality of your incomparable city. It is filled with information I never knew, and is a joy for me. - Janet Rant.