Brunetti's Venice: A Culinary Journey Through Leon's Mysteries
Description
Explore Venice through the mysteries and flavors of Donna Leon's Commissario Brunetti series. This unique food tour takes you to hidden gems of the city, offering authentic Venetian cuisine while uncovering iconic locations from the books. Visit traditional Venetian eateries and savor dishes like cicchetti, fresh seafood, and local pastries. As you walk through winding streets and canals, discover key locations from the novels, such as bustling markets, hidden squares, and cozy trattorias. Your guide, an expert in both Venetian food and literature, will share fascinating stories about the series and the real-life inspirations behind the settings. Perfect for fans of the books and food lovers alike, this tour offers a new way to experience Venice through the eyes of Commissario Brunetti. Immerse yourself in the flavors, history, and mysteries of the city on this unforgettable culinary adventure.
Tour Options
Itinerary
Sant'Angelo Vaporetto Stop: A View of Brunetti's Terrace Our journey begins at the Sant'Angelo vaporetto stop, where we’ll enjoy a magnificent view of the famous Brunetti family terrace. This is the very spot where the family often enjoys large dinners and aperitifs, all with a spectacular view of the Grand Canal.
A Rosticceria Every Venetian Knows Next, we’ll stop at a historic Venetian rosticceria that has been serving the workers of San Marco since the 1930s. Here, we’ll taste some delicious fried Mozzarella in Carrozza or a tramezzino, paired with a glass of red wine. Brunetti himself would often stop here for a quick bite, enjoying the authentic flavors of Venice.
Rialto Market: Venice's Authentic Food Heart We’ll cross the famous Rialto Bridge and explore the vibrant Rialto Market, where the fishmongers’ stalls overflow with fresh seafood. Here, we’ll try some fried fish paired with a glass of Prosecco, just as the locals—like Sergeant Vianello and Officer Alvise—would do during their breaks from work.
A Stop in a Traditional Bacaro for Cicchetti Time for some cichetti, the quintessential Venetian snacks, served in traditional bàcari (cicchetti bars). We’ll enjoy small plates of seafood, meat, and vegetables atop slices of bread or polenta, accompanied by a glass of wine. Just like Brunetti, who would often grab a quick meal of cichetti when Paola wasn’t cooking for him, we’ll enjoy a taste of everyday Venetian life.
Dulcis in Fundo: A Historic Venetian Pasticceria To continue in sweetness, we’ll visit a historic pasticceria, where we’ll enjoy a coffee and taste freshly made pastries, just as the sweet-toothed Sergeant Vianello would. The air is filled with the scent of fresh dough, and we’ll indulge in Venetian treats like bussolai and fritole—a perfect way to treat ourselves in true Venetian style.
A Final Amaro: A Historic Trattoria in Dorsoduro To conclude our culinary journey, we’ll enjoy a local amaro in a historic trattoria in the Dorsoduro district, a place frequented by Commissario Brunetti himself. As we sip the bitter-sweet herbal liqueur, we’ll take in the view of the famous terrace of the Questura, where Brunetti, Elettra, and Vice-Questore Patta have often paused to reflect on their cases. This is a perfect way to wrap up our tour, savoring the essence of Venice, its flavors, and its mysteries, just as the characters of Donna Leon’s stories might do after a long day of investigation.
Tour Variations: Customizable Experience: Please note that the stops on the tour can vary. The shared small group tour is based on the German TV adaptation of Donna Leon’s novels, while the private German tour may include different stops depending on your preferences. The private English tour, on the other hand, is based on the novels and therefore includes different locations.
Highlights
What's included
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Not recommended for pregnant travelers
- Service animals allowed
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- On certain dates, most travelers staying outside of Venice who are planning to visit for the day will be required to pay a €5 access fee. For further details (including exemptions) and to learn what days this fee is applicable, please visit: https://cda.ve.it
Reviews(72)
Valerio had wonderful energy he took us through the windy streets of Venice sampling food my kids enjoyed. We experienced areas where locals relax and popped back into the hustle and bustle. This was a fun and informative tour.i would recommend Valerio .
This was a great tour! Our tour guide was Valerio and he was amazing. He texted me in the morning with clear directions of where to meet. He was on time and truly made the most of our three hours. He was informative snd super funny. He made sure to ask us what we liked to eat and even tried to accommodate the picky people. I posted a picture of what my adult kids ate, squid and sardines… yuk, but they loved it. We got to try so many different foods and drinks in far out places in Venice we would have never known about. Definitely take this small intimate tour! You will love it.
Thanks! I am glad you appreciated the quality of the food stops and the fact my food tours are private or in very small groups! That makes a great difference from the average cheap tours in town!
I got more than I expected. Valerio was an amazing guide. I chose this tour to see the city and maybe have a snack or two. I left stuffed with food and full of drinks. It was an amazing experience, Valerio was funny and full of great information and we sampled so many good “off the beaten path” snacks!
Thanks! Very happy to read you enjoyed the off the beaten path food tour I offer! I do my best to mark the difference from standard food tours around Venice!
Valerio is a very sympathetic and attentive Venetian who told us a lot about Venice and led us on small secret routes to wonderful Baccaro and selected delicious little things on our food tour...not to forget the prosecco and wine! Fully recommended for Valerio and happy to come back anytime we are in Venice!
Stimmt, das war eine leckere Tour!
Genny provided such a wonderful experience. She was super knowledgable about the restaurants/bars and shared some delicious Venetian treats with us. She took us off the main streets and introduced us to a quieter and truely magical side of Venice sharing history of the city and landmarks. And better yet, she was so much fun to be with, it was like meeting a friend in Venice for a tour.
Thanks for recommending!
Genny had such an amazing, kind, and laid back energy. We really enjoyed our ten tastings food tour through Venice. Venice is so beautiful and it was great to learn about the history behind some of the landmarks and things you’d never notice on your own just walking through the city. The tour was the perfect blend between delicious food, drinks, and historical landmarks/information. My husband and I both thought the walking to food ratio was great. Everything was timed well, so we didn’t feel heavy and stuffed at the end. Genny was able to answer our questions and give a great tour. She also helped us find some other nice activities later in our trip. You can tell she is very passionate about her city and she loves sharing the culture through both food and history. We would gladly take another tour with Genny and recommend her to anyone who wants to experience the beauty Venice has to offer! xx Thank you Genny!
Thanks for sharing your experience!
This was the best way to start our time in Venice. Our tour guide Volario was amazing from pre-trip communication straight to the end of our tour. Everywhere we went was unique and we loved them all. Great way to eat, drink and explore this wonderful city.
Thanks John for sharing! See you soon back in Venice!
We had a wonderful time with Valerio! He was a great tour guide and such a delight to talk to. He really knows Venice and all the best stops. We always felt safe and well cared for. I’m not big on wine or spritz so he got me a beer at every stop.
Thanks for the review! I must say that in Venice you should drink wine! But i do my best to make everyone happy!
I can't recommend Genny enough. She took my husband and me on a private food tour and it was our favourite activity on our stay in Venice, without a doubt. She not only showed us fantastic food at all the locals' spots but gave us so much interesting history on the route and helped us with a gondola booking the next day. She is warm and a joy to share company with - everyone seems to know her and comes out to say hi :) Her tour is a true Venetian experience not to be missed!
Thanks for sharing!
Lovely unhurried ‘food tour’ with lots of extra history lessons on the way. Lovely way to spend an afternoon 🙂
Great to read it was a lovely afternoon! See you next time in Venice!
