Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
HOW MANY MOSAIC TILES IN BASILICA DI SAN MARCO?
Good question: mathematicians' estimates range wildly, from a few million into the hundreds of millions. The ba-
silica dazzles with 8500 square metres of
tesserae
(tiles), individually hand cut to fingernail-size and closely set
in mortar. Designs that call for fine detail - saints' eyes, for example - may require
tesserae
mere millimetres
square. You do the maths…or join the crowd, and observe in awe.
CAVATAPPI €€
MAP
OSTERIA, CICHETI BAR
GOOGLE MAP
( 041 296 02 52; Campo della Guerra 525/526; cicheti €2-4, meals €25-40; 10am-9pm Tue-Thu & Sun, to
11pm Fri & Sat; ; San Marco)
A casual charmer offering
cicheti
and artisanal cheeses and
DOC bubbly by the glass. Get the risotto of the day and an ultrafresh salad with toasted
hazlenuts - and if your dinner date is exceptionally worthy, share the warm sheep's cheese
that's drizzled with Dolomite wildflower honey.
SANGAL €€
MAP
ITALIAN
GOOGLE MAP
( 041 319 27 47;
http://www.sangalvenicerestaurant.com/
;
Campo San Gallo 1089; mains €25-45; 10am-mid-
night Wed-Mon; ; Vallaresso)
Like a jazz chanteuse singing standards, Sangal covers
popular favourites with unexpected grace notes. Dinner standouts include handmade
bigoli
(Venetian wheat pasta) and rosemary-crusted Tuscan chianina steak. Lunch is a less
inspired greatest-hits collection of pastas, from Genovese pesto to Rome's bacon-studded
ammatriciana
. Go for chipper service, excellent wines and a breezy roof terrace right be-
hind Piazza San Marco.
ANONIMO VENEZIANO €€
MAP
ITALIAN
GOOGLE MAP
( 041 528 97 30; Calle del Fruttariol 1847; meals €25-35; noon-3pm & 5.30-9pm Mon-Wed & Fri & Sat,
5.30-9pm Sun; Santa Maria del Giglio)
A casual charmer with classic fare at eminently reason-
able prices - under €10 for pasta and €4 for a small carafe of house Friulano white - and
impeccable social graces. Dapper bow-tied servers may not allow you to leave until
you've enjoyed a grappa-filled chocolate, and graciously help ladies don their coats only
after return visits are promised.
DA MARIO €€
MAP
VENETIAN
GOOGLE MAP
