Convento dei Carmelitani Scalzi in Venice: a 'divine' discovery in the garden
There is a tiny treasure chest near Santa Lucia
Station in Venice. It is the fascinating Convent of the Barefoot Carmelite
Fathers of Venice. The order arrived in the lagoon city from Milan in 1630,
the year in which the construction of the monastery began. At the time, it also
stretched as far as a part of what is now the train station. Among its other
beauties, the Convent hides a mystical garden within its walls, consisting of
seven different zones and surrounded by natural arcades that support a vine
trained to form a "Venetian pergola", one of the oldest in Venice
dating back to 1649.
As a result of this special feature, this year
the garden hosted the seventh edition (6 and 7 July 2024) of the oenological
event Feel Venice, organised by the consortium, Consorzio Vini
Venezia.
The event has always proved
popular with experts and aficionados and is dedicated to the Venetian
oenological heritage and to its traditional wines belonging to the Consortium's
five appellations: DOC Piave, DOC Lison-Pramaggiore, DOC Venezia, DOCG
Malanotte del Piave and DOCG Lison.
The wine and mystical garden of the Barefoot Carmelite Fathers in Venice
Taking centre stage at the Convent not only
during Feel Venice is the old garden that has remained mostly unchanged. Each zone
has a symbolic meaning linked to the faith and path taken to achieve spiritual
salvation by Saint Teresa d'Avila. Not by chance, the first zone along
this path is a wild forest. However, let's turn to the link with "the
world of wine": the fourth zone contains a wonderful vineyard with 17
rows, in which 17 varieties have been planted, almost all of which are linked
to the local wine production of the lagoon.
In 2010, the Consorzio Vini Venezia created a pioneering space for an
experimental vine, with two main objectives: to return to the Fathers' wine-making
tradition (as regards planting and self-support) and to recover a part of the
area's lost biodiversity. In fact, wine growing was one of the most prosperous
trades of the Serenissima Republic of Venice from the time it was founded.
Among the main varieties in the garden you can find Malvasia, Dorona and Raboso Piave, a very popular
wine during the period of the Serenissima Republic as it was able to resist
long sea voyages.
The "mystic" wine of the
Giardino degli Scalzi in Venice is truly wonderful for wine enthusiasts and
others to discover. The wines and all the other products of the Convent can be
purchased at the shop
next to the Convent.
We look forward to seeing you in Venice!
Locanda Ca’ Lucrezia is a stone’s throw from Santa Lucia train station. We will be happy to welcome you to our tiny hotel. Your tourist tax will exempt you from the day-tripper access fee.
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