It may surprise you to discover that some vineyards still exist in Venice, such as the pergola at the Corte Sconta tavern (which literally translates as “hidden courtyard”), just as few steps away from the Arsenal, or the Discalced Carmelites’ garden, a mystical place close to the Santa Lucia train station. The history of wine Venice, the queen of trade for a long time, imported Malvasia from Peloponnese during the fifteenth century, and it was a wine that contributed to the financial riches of Venetian merchants and innkeepers. It quickly became one of the most requested varieties throughout Europe. “La Serenissima” was successful in transforming wine into an object of worship, a trend, a medicine for the body and the soul; all this in a Europe that was afflicted by the plague. Malvasia’s success laid the foundation for creating wine culture. Wines were no longer distinguished only by their colour or their variety, but most importantly by where they were cultivated. It was a true marketing operation that allowed for high prices. Sweet wines such as Malvasia or Vin Santo thus became luxury goods. At the same time, the city of Doges was able to make Marzamino well known, a wine that testifies the trend of producing robust and high-alcohol-content wines, which were more favourable for transportation and storage. The success among Venetian aristocracy is proven by Mozart who, in Don Giovanni, cites it as a much appreciated and sought-after wine. The mystic garden A stone’s throw from the Santa Lucia train station stands the Saint Mary of Nazareth Church with the adjoining Discalced Carmelites’ Convent. The Scalzi’s Garden of Wonders overlooks the Grand Canal and houses a vegetable garden, an orchard, and an area where medicinal herbs are cultivated along with about twenty different varieties of grapevines recovered from the lagoon area to protect the biodiversity of Venice. The garden is divided into seven flowerbeds, each representing one of the seven mansions of the Interior Castel of Saint Teresa of 18 TRADITION
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