Posted on 02/04/2025
The Art of Venice: Luxury, Culture, and Cuisine with Uniworld
In many ways, Italy is synonymous with quality, with luxury, with the enjoyment of life’s most beautiful qualities. It’s why we look to its artists for inspiration, its countryside farms for great food, or its ateliers for fine clothing. As the epicenter of the Renaissance, Italy, and Venice in particular, has a great history of creativity and fine craftsmanship.
On tour here, you will have the opportunity to meet a number of local artisans at work creating products with deep cultural significance. Listen to a gondola maker talk about the symbolism behind different elements of Venice’s characteristic boats, enter a lacemaking workshop in Burano, watch Murano glassblowers create their extraordinary pieces, and learn what it takes to make the famous Venetian masks.
When to Go
A spring or summer trip between April and September trip offers sunny skies and less rain. While a March or October trip offers more temperate weather and quieter streets.
What to Pack
We suggest comfortable, sporty, smart-casual daywear both onshore and onboard. Depending on your travel season, the weather can range from cool to quite hot. Check the weather before you go and pack accordingly. Layering clothing items is always your best bet, allowing you to adjust to most temperatures. Pack a lightweight waterproof jacket (preferably hooded) in case of rain. You will participate in a significant amount of walking during your time ashore, so please bring comfortable walking shoes with good ankle support. Sturdy sandals are another good option.
Local Bites
Here are just a few local Venetian bites we think are worth a try during your time in the Venice, Italy.
Seafood: The sparkling turquoise waters of the Venetian lagoon are a plentiful source of some truly outstanding seafood. As a result, the cuisine of Venice and its surrounding islands are rich in shrimp, fish, squid, and other such delights. Some regional dishes include sarde in saor, risotto al nero di seppia, baccalà mantecato, and moleche – all featuring the local fish and shellfish.
Cured meats and cheeses: Italy is dedicated to the craft of great food, and the many farms of the Veneto countryside are a testament to this. You’ll taste some of their excellent homemade products—think cured meats and cheeses—on included excursions.
Cicchetti: It is essentially the local version of tapas. Cicchetti are most commonly small pieces of toast with various toppings, ordered alongside a drink at a bar.
Pasticcini: Small fine pastries found in any Italian Pasticceria or bakery. These pastries can be eaten any time of day next to a cup of coffee or tea and as a dessert!
Enjoy Regional Wines
We all know and love prosecco—and trust us when we say you can enjoy plenty on our Venetian cruise—but the Veneto also offers a wide variety of unique regional wines. Take Amarone, for example, a deliciously robust red made using a rare air-drying process in Valpolicella. The estate we visit here for our private wine-paired lunch is run by the descendants of one of Italy’s most famous poets, Dante Alighieri of the Divine Comedy. Another experience for both the wine and the history lovers is our visit to Dominio di Bagnoli, one of the oldest wine-producing properties in Europe. During our private tasting, we’ll enjoy a variety of wines produced here, with the most popular being made from an indigenous grape variety.
Why a Uniworld Boutique River Cruise
A river cruise through the Venetian Lagoon is the perfect way to dive into Italian and Venetian history, culture, and cuisine. With several itineraries traveling through the lagoon, including Venice & the Jewels of Veneto and Grande Italia itineraries, you’ll see the full spectrum of Italian life, landscapes, and customs on visits to the historic canals and charming islands.
For such a small island, Venice certainly has more than its fair share of major world landmarks, and it can often be difficult for tourists to get a good look at them without dealing with long lines or crowds. With Uniworld, you’ll enjoy prime docking locations that bring you close to St. Mark’s Basilica and the Doge’s Palace.Explore the Veneto region and wander through a Venetian neighborhood and experience daily life in an authentic Venetian residential quarter. And stroll through the agricultural island of Mazzorbo and the rainbow-hued island of Burano.
Veneto, a wonderfully multifaceted region with Venice at its heart. There is so much to love here. Winding alleyways, grand architecture, rich history, and a sparkling lagoon dotted with charming islands. Uniworld’s S.S. La Venezia is one of the very few cruise ships small enough to dock in town, and the only boutique hotel in Venice that floats, making it the perfect home for your Venetian vacation. The design of the S.S. La Venezia draws influence from the fine Fortuny fabrics displayed prominently onboard. Murano glass, gilded accents, and artistic etched elements pay homage to popular Venetian aesthetics of the early 20th century, creating an onboard atmosphere that is at once elegant and nostalgic. And our all-inclusive ethos means you can enjoy an exceptional degree of luxury for a much better value than a comparable do-ityourself vacation.
