EAT. PLAY.
By Lauren Soto
DRINK. EUROPE.
SANTORINI,GREECE | PXFUEL
Eat, Play, Drink, Europe | Page 1
Written By: Sonia Cuesta De Andrés
Photo from Pedro S
Where to Go...
O
ne of Venice’s most famouarchitectural jewels, the Bridge of Sighs is in the heart of the city near Piazza San Marco. Its name derives from the fact that it was part of the Doge’s Palace prison complex, and convicts had to cross it to go from the Doge’s interrogation rooms to the New Prison once they received their sentence. It was the last thing they saw before their incarceration, so many sighs could be heard as they walked over the bridge, resigning themselves to their imminent fate. Today, the bridge has much happier connotations, with millions flocking each year to witness its beautiful design. our of Venice’s major sites are located in this square: the Basilica di San Marco (a Byzantine marvel), the Torre dell’Orologio, the Campanile and the Doge’s Palace – a Gothic palace that was also the seat of the government under the Venetian Republic. The piazza itself is majestic, and if you travel to Venice
Eat, Play, Drink, Europe | Page
in the autumn or winter months you might even see it flooded, with wooden platforms set up to enable people to move around, and with the locals wading through the high water (known as acqua alta) in thigh-high rain boots. There are numerous cafés and restaurants dotted around the edge, making it the perfect place to relax and take in the local culture. For a bird’s-eye view of Venice, you can ride the elevator to the top of the Cam-
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Night out on the town:
panile (bell tower). Completed in 912, it is the tallest building in all of Venice, and one of the oldest, too. In 1902, disaster struck, and it collapsed completely, but it was reconstructed while trying to stay as true as possible to the original, so today you can see pretty much the same tower that Venetians saw over 1,000 years ago. The Dolomites mountain range can even be seen in the distance on clear days.
Do as the Venetians and go for aperitivo in the evening. Locals head to bars to order a drink and eat some cicchetti (snacks), a quick and authentic Italian way of having dinner. The traditional aperitivo drinks are made with a bitter orange alcohol, such as Campari or Aperol, and there are three main options: negroni, spritz and americano. Try one of Venice’s rooftop bars, or go for a more informal setting at Osteria All’Arco, which is frequented by locals and known in Venice for its delicious bar snacks. Foodies will enjoy the Rialto markets, where the freshest food in all of Venice is sold each day, usually to the restaurants in the area. Since seafood is an essential part of traditional Venetian cuisine, the fishmongers are a must for those visiting Venice. The vegetable stands also offer excellent produce, much fresher and more varied than at any supermarket. Another must when in Venice is shopping for Italian classics such as leather goods (especially shoes and handbags) and cashmere, available at many different shops throughout the city.
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LETS TALK DRINKS... L
imoncello (Italian pronunciation: is an Italianlemon liqueur mainly produced in Southern Italy, especially in the region around the Sorrentine Peninsula and the coast of Amalfi. In northern Italy, the liqueur is often referred to instead as limoncino. It is the second most popular liqueur in Italy and is traditionally served chilled as an after-dinner digestivo. It is also a popular homemade liqueur, with various recipes available online and in print. Limoncello is made from the zest of lemons and usually has a slightly turbid appearance, which originates from the presence of small essential oil droplets suspended in the drink. -Wikipedia Photo courtesy of David Schram
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perol is an Italian bitters apéritif made of gentian, rhubarb, and cinchona, among other ingredients. It has a vibrant orange hue. Its name comes from the Italian slang word for aperitivo, which is apero. The Spritz, an aperitif cocktail, is often made using Aperol. The result is known as the Aperol Spritz. Another variant is the Aperol Sour. Aperol was originally produced by the Barbieri company, —less than half that of Campari is also much darker in color.
Photo Courtesy of D.M. Eat, Play, Drink, Europe | Page 4
The espresso martini is a cold, coffee-flavored cocktail made with vodka, espresso coffee, and coffee liqueur. It is not a true martini as it contains neither gin nor vermouth, but is one of many drinks that incorporate the term into their names. There are several claims for the origin of the espresso martini. One of the more common claims is that it was created by Bradsell in the late 1980s while at Freds Club in London for a young lady who asked for something that would, he has made this claim in a widely-circulated video. Bradsell has also been quoted about the circumstances of his invention of the drink,. much on my mind. - Wikipedia Photo Courtesy of Valentin David
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ed wine is a type of wine made from dark-colored grape varieties. The actual color of the wine can range from intense violet, typical of young wines, through to brick red for mature wines and brown for older red wines. Much of the red-wine production process therefore involves extraction of color and flavor components from the grape skin. Red wine is a delicacy around the world. -Wikipedia Photo Courtesy of Prosecco Eat, Play, Drink, Europe | Page 5