All SHOP in Venice

The Merchant of Venice is a brand of perfumes which expresses the uniqueness of Venice, created by the Vidal Family, a family involved in the arts of perfumery for more than a century. The Merchant of Venice is a brand that has its conceptual origins in the ancient Art of Perfumery originated in Venice, and in its centuries old trade with the Orient. The line is inspired by the Mude, the maritime trade routes that covered a very large area from Asia to Africa. The Mude started from Venice and reached many different harbours, which were the exchange centers for raw materials and finished products. Through master craftsmen such as the Muschieri (perfumers) and the Saoneri (soap makers), new techniques of production were invented that made the Venetian perfumes and cosmetics highly sought after in all Europe. The prestige of the brand expresses itself by precious fragrances carried out by perfurmers who reinterprete the ancient recipes. The sophisticated creations are boxed in precious perfume bottles inspired by the millenary art of Venetian glass.   HOW TO GET THERE The Merchant of Venice flagship store is located in the sestiere San Marco, in Campo San Fantin. The closest waterbus station is Read more [...]

La Bauta Atelier is one of the few workshops in Venice, where papier-mâché masks are produced every day, following the ancient tradition that dates back to the beginning of the 12th century. All their creations are rigorously made and painted entirely by hand, making their masks unique and special, both for wearing on a particular occasion, or to adorn the walls of your homes. In the 15 years of work, the atelier has created more than 500 models, starting from traditional carnival masks, passing through those of the art comedy and even the most modern ones. All their masks come to life from strips of moistened paper, simply processed with flour and water, applied in layers in handmade plaster molds. After drying, the masks are finished with abrasive paper to obtain smooth surfaces, ready for decoration. From here, begins the most beautiful phase, that of decoration, using ancient traditional techniques such as stucco, gold and silver leaf, acrylic colors, decoupage and aged shading with bitumen, finishing with macramé and pearls.   HOW TO GET THERE The nearest vaporetto station is San Toma, where the waterbuses of ACTV Line 1 and 2 are stopping. From there, you can walk about 150 Read more [...]

VizioVirtù started its adventure in 2005, when they opened their first chocolate factory, a chocolate shop able to cater for even the most demanding palates and to make Venice an even sweeter town. VizioVirtù is right in the heart of the Laguna, between Rialto and San Marco square. Why they have chosen this corner in Venice is soon explained. Right where Marco Polo lived, spices, coffee and cocoa powder were traded. Yes, cocoa powder, their preferred ingredient, the one which is never missing from their chocolate shop. VizioVirtù offers chocolate workshops and guide tastings. You can take part in their workshop to cook truffles and mousses with them. They will show you how to temper chocolate and, of course, how to make the most loved drink in the winter: drinking chocolate. Has your mouth started watering? To book your lesson, and ask for information, write on e-mail . The courses, by reservation, are held every day from 7.30 pm to 9.30 pm. Every day, from 10 am to 7.30 pm, you can taste delicacies made in their store and travel through the history of chocolate. Would you like another good reason for dropping by? You must know that you can Read more [...]

Ca’ Macana is one of the oldest and finest mask making workshops in Venice. They are known for one main reason: respect for tradition. However, they have been able to interpret tradition in innovative ways, creating new and unique decorative styles and shapes. They craft authentic handmade masks in the same way Venetian artisans would do 800 years ago. On the other hand, they never repeat a decoration, so each mask is unique. Their masks were featured in important film productions like Eyes Wide Shut by Stanley Kubrick and theatres like the Vienna Opera Haus. Thanks to the experience gained, today they also held conferences and courses on the history of Venetian masks and traditional mask-­making techniques.   SHORT HISTORY Ca’ Macana began making masks in 1984, when the Venice Carnival was making a comeback after two centuries of decline. They created their first models for fun, but also as a way to make some money, selling their models on the streets of Venice in the evening, when there were fewer policemen around. Bringing an ancient craft back to life and turning a game into a real work was, and still is today, the most wonderful job in the world! Read more [...]