The Summer In Italy Newsletter

Cheers - To Spritz!

It's the most loved and consumed aperitivo in Italy -the fun and fizzy Spritz is a popular drink, especially at an outdoor table in summer before dinner. It is cool and refreshing and is also said to "open the stomach" to stimulate the appetite. 

The classic orange cocktail is made with prosecco and Aperol. Or is it? Like most things in Italy, there is some debate about the real way to make a Spritz. But first, a bit of history.

The origins of the term go back to the late 1700s and early 1800s and the Austrian presence in northern Italy. The soldiers and dignitaries were not used to the stronger Italian wine and requested it be cut with sparkling water. So, they requested a spritzen in German, and some mineral water was added to the wine. It later came to be referred to as vin sprizato in Italian. Because it was light and served with nibbles, it gradually became a habit to have a pre-lunch or pre-dinner drink at the bar of still wine, usually white, with a "spritz" of sparkling water added around the Veneto and Lombardy regions.

Then, the waters get clouded - either orange or red, depending on where you are. Because with the advent of orange "bitter" liqueur Aperol in Padova and a similar but rosy-hued Venetian version called Select, the Spitz took on a new tone. And, around the same time, some bartenders starting using sparkling wine, namely prosecco, instead of the still white. And that's where the debate started: is a true Spritz with Aperol or Select? With still white wine or prosecco? There are some purists who say the only real Venetian Spritz is still made (pun intended) with still white wine and Select and a bit (one might say "a spritz" ;) of selzer water. Others will concede to the sparkling wine but insist on Select. Whereas in other parts of Veneto region (hello, Padova) and Lombardy, it's the Aperol that makes a "real" Spritz. (There is also the Campari Spritz, but nobody is claiming that is The Original.)

Ice? Again, a purist will say absolutely not, but *may* concede one cube, and would be horrified by the quantity seen in many bars now. But honestly, most people expect a few ice cubes to make it the refreshing summer drink it has become.

So, what's the proper Spritz? However the barman is making it at the place you choose! Enjoy sampling the variations around Venice, Padova and the regions, and then you decide!

Come to think of it, we have properties in both Venice and Padova, so maybe Spritz Tourism could become a thing?

The Venerable Caffe' Florian

Every vacation needs one splurge - that pricey place that is all about the experience rather than the cost. In Venice, it's Caffè Florian.

Why? For starters, it is right on Piazza San Marco, giving you a magical ambiance overlooking the incredible cathedral and the daily drama that is played out in the square. Then there's the atmosphere - this caffe' is elegant as all get-out; one glance and you know that it's a really special place. And then there's the history: Florian is the oldest caffe' in Italy and one of the oldest continually operating cafes in Europe. It has seen the centuries pass by its doors and the events of history play out in the piazza. It has witnessed the splendor and the fall of the Venetian Republic, the passing of power, the opulent parades and decadent Carnevale celebrations of Venice. It has survived epidemics, upheavals and kept on serving throughout wars. So you see why it's as much a must-do in Venice as a gondola ride.

Established in 1720 as the pretentious-sounding Caffe alla Venezia Trionfante (Caffe of Venice Triumphant), it quickly became known to locals simply as Florian for its owner, Floriano Francesconi. It attracted the noble and noteworthy, and allowed women to partake of its coffee and drinks, a rarity in that day. Venice imported coffee from the orient and the beverage became all the rage in the 1700s; there were more than 200 coffeehouses in the city plying the stuff, but refined Caffe' Florian became the place to see and be seen. It is beautiful - each room is richly decorated with antiques, mirrors, gilding and paintings. It makes every occasion feel celebratory and special.

Yes, it's expensive. Remember, we're paying for the ambiance and the experience. Look at it as an admission price to an historical site. There is a permanent orchestra to serenade you while you enjoy a coffee or a Spritz, Venice's favored aperitif. You can enjoy a table on the piazza to watch the world go by, or sit down at one of the writing desks (like Dickens did) to scribble out your postcards. Or enjoy the antiques and warmth of one of the grand salons inside. Either way, you'll get to drink in history with your beverage.