The Rialto fish market in Venice - Italy

To learn more about the cuisine of a land, the best place to go, is straight to the source. With its close proximity to the Adriatic Sea, much of the cuisine of Venice revolves around seafood. So this fine morning, we wake up at the crack of dawn, and, half asleep, walk dreamily through the narrow streets, arriving finally at The Pescheria, the fish market. The dream like aura of Venice city is only accentuated by this early morning haze, by the divine light of dawn, (and by our current semi-conscious states of sleepiness).

The Rialto Fish market, a short walk from the Rialto bridge, has been selling seafood for over 600 years! We arrive just as the fishermen are setting up, getting ready for a morning of lucrative fish sales. The vendors brisk energy and boisterous chat, yelling cheerily across the stalls to each other, wakes us up more suddenly than a double shot of coffee. Where on earth do they get this energy, so early in the morning?

We quite literally have the entire Mediterranean ocean spread out before us, compartmentalized into little stalls and sections. The fishermen are all smiles and chit chat, eager to explain the name of each fish.

A boat with products has arrived on the Rialto market early in the morning
A boat with products has arrived on the Rialto market early in the morning.
A man with a trolley walks on the Rialto market early in the morning
A man with a trolley walks on the Rialto market early in the morning.
A boat with vegetables and fruits has arrived early in the morning
A boat with vegetables and fruits has arrived early in the morning.
Rialto fish market: a man is washing tiny edible molluscs
Rialto fish market: a man is washing tiny edible molluscs.
Rialto fish market: fresh fish in boxes
Rialto fish market: fresh fish in boxes.
Rialto fish market: an abundance of shellfish
Rialto fish market: an abundance of shellfish.
Edible molluscs have a shape of sticks
Edible molluscs have a shape of sticks.
Rialto fish market: fresh squids
Rialto fish market: fresh squids.
Rialto fish market: seafood vendor is laying out the catch
Rialto fish market: seafood vendor is laying out the catch.
Different cuttlefish species are abundantly available on the counter
Different cuttlefish species are abundantly available on the counter.
Cuttlefish and shellfish are on sale on the Rialto seafood market
Cuttlefish and shellfish are on sale on the Rialto seafood market.
Radicchio “Italian chicory” is available on the Rialto market
Radicchio “Italian chicory” is available on the Rialto market.
Rialto fish market: huge fresh prawns
Rialto fish market: huge fresh prawns.
Rialto fish market: fresh mullet
Rialto fish market: fresh mullet.
Rialto fish market: fresh flatfish
Rialto fish market: fresh flatfish.
Rialto fish market: fresh scallops and giant tiger prawns
Rialto fish market: fresh scallops and giant tiger prawns.
Vendors are bringing more and more seafood on the fish market at 8 am
Vendors are bringing more and more seafood on the fish market at 8 am.
Rialto fish market: live crabs have grown to a tremendous size
Rialto fish market: live crabs have grown to a tremendous size.
Rialto fish market: live crabs and edible molluscs
Rialto fish market: live crabs and edible molluscs.
Rialto fish market: fresh eels
Rialto fish market: fresh eels.
Eels, edible molluscs, octopuses and prawns on the Rialto fish market
Eels, edible molluscs, octopuses and prawns on the Rialto fish market.
Black lobsters with white dots on the Rialto fish market
Black lobsters with white dots on the Rialto fish market.
Double wheel barrows are used for the transportation of seafood
Double wheel barrows are used for the transportation of seafood.
Rialto fish market: Solea vulgaris
Rialto fish market: Solea vulgaris.
Fish fillet of different species on sale
Fish fillet of different species on sale.
Eels and shellfish, octopuses and prawns, crabs and lobsters are for sale
Eels and shellfish, octopuses and prawns, crabs and lobsters are for sale.
Tiger prawns and scallops for sale
Tiger prawns and scallops for sale.
Monkfish tails and scallops for sale
Monkfish tails and scallops for sale.
Ricciola: Amberjack “Seriola dumerilii”
Ricciola: Amberjack “Seriola dumerilii”.
Prawns and lophius tails for sale
Prawns and lophius tails for sale.
Red fish fillet is placed on green leaves for better appearance
Red fish fillet is placed on green leaves for better appearance.
White fish fillet is placed on green leaves between pieces of ice
White fish fillet is placed on green leaves between pieces of ice.
Flatfish, prawns and scallops
Flatfish, prawns and scallops.
Langoustine “Nephrops norvegicus” is a slim, orange-pink lobster
Langoustine “Nephrops norvegicus” is a slim, orange-pink lobster.
Swordfish at the fish market
Swordfish at the fish market.
A hard-working vendor cuts a slice from a swordfish
A hard-working vendor cuts a slice from a swordfish.
The wonderful vendor shows a fresh slice from a swordfish
The wonderful vendor shows a fresh slice from a swordfish.
Gastropod snails are packed in plastic mesh bags
Gastropod snails are packed in plastic mesh bags.
Prawns and scallops, squids and European seabass, monkfish tails
Prawns and scallops, squids and European seabass, monkfish tails.
The price of flatfish is €16 per kg
The price of flatfish is €16 per kg.
The price of prawns is €14 per kg, the price of monkfish tails is €22 per kg
The price of prawns is €14 per kg, the price of monkfish tails is €22 per kg.
The price of small squids is €18 per kg
The price of small squids is €18 per kg.
Swordfish is on the counter
Swordfish is on the counter.
Different seafood species are on the counter
Different seafood species are on the counter.
Different kinds of fish fillet are on the counter
Different kinds of fish fillet are on the counter.
Seafood counter has a great variety of sea gifts
Seafood counter has a great variety of sea gifts.
Fish is decorated by green leaves on the seafood counter
Fish is decorated by green leaves on the seafood counter.
Shellfish inside the mesh bags have a shape of sticks
Shellfish inside the mesh bags have a shape of sticks.
Mediterranean scallops “Pecten jacobaeus” and huge crabs
Mediterranean scallops “Pecten jacobaeus” and huge crabs.
The langoustine “Norway lobster” is on sale
The langoustine “Norway lobster” is on sale.
We have bought mussels and prawns for our breakfast
We have bought mussels and prawns for our breakfast.
While we walked to the Rialto market we saw the dilapidated toy for sale
While we walked to the Rialto market we saw the dilapidated toy for sale.
Amazing arches on a narrow street near the market
Amazing arches on a narrow street near the market.
The price of Canoce is €14 per kg
The price of Canoce is €14 per kg.
The price of Ricciola fish is €20 per kg
The price of Ricciola fish is €20 per kg.
The price of shrimp is €16 per kg, the price of squid is €15 per kg, the price of mussel is €2.30 per kg
The price of shrimp is €16 per kg, the price of squid is €15 per kg, the price of mussel is €2.30 per kg.
The price of orata is €14, the price of branzino is €15, the price of sogliola is €24
The price of orata is €14, the price of branzino is €15, the price of sogliola is €24.
The price range of the fish fillet is from €10.80 to €22.50
The price range of the fish fillet is from €10.80 to €22.50.
Line of the fish counters on the Rialto market
Line of the fish counters on the Rialto market.
The price of sardines is €3 per kg
The price of sardines is €3 per kg.
The price of ricciola is €16 per kg, the price of small branzino is €12.80 and the price of larger branzino €14.80
The price of ricciola is €16 per kg, the price of small branzino is €12.80 and the price of larger branzino €14.80.
The price of triglia is €14
The price of triglia is €14.
The price of flatfish is €11 per kg, the price of octopus is €13 per kg
The price of flatfish is €11 per kg, the price of octopus is €13 per kg.
The price of prawns is €14 per kg, the price of monkfish is €22 per kg
The price of prawns is €14 per kg, the price of monkfish is €22 per kg.
The price of small sardines is €3.60 per kg
The price of small sardines is €3.60 per kg.
The price of black lobsters is €16 per kg
The price of black lobsters is €16 per kg.
The price of fire orange scorpion fish is €24.80 per kg
The price of fire orange scorpion fish is €24.80 per kg.
Impressive fish species look very tasty on the ice layer
Impressive fish species look very tasty on the ice layer.
The price of palombo fish is €16.80 per kg, the price of merluzzo is €14.80 per kg
The price of palombo fish is €16.80 per kg, the price of merluzzo is €14.80 per kg.
Fish and scallops, squids and shrimps are abundantly present on the Rialto market
Fish and scallops, squids and shrimps are abundantly present on the Rialto market.
Sale of vegetables on the Rialto market
Sale of vegetables on the Rialto market.
Different cuttlefish species are on sale
Different cuttlefish species are on sale.

This is the apartment where we stayed while we were in Venice

Our accommodation in Venice: big room with double bed and air conditioner
Our accommodation in Venice: big room with double bed and air conditioner.
We have just arrived in our accommodation in Venice
We have just arrived in our accommodation in Venice.
Our accommodation in Venice: the double bed
Our accommodation in Venice: the double bed.
Our accommodation in Venice: the kitchen is equipped with everything that we need
Our accommodation in Venice: the kitchen is equipped with everything that we need.
The kitchen is equipped with the electric stove and the sink, the washing machine and the water heater
The kitchen is equipped with the electric stove and the sink, the washing machine and the water heater.
The kitchen is equipped with the microwave
The kitchen is equipped with the microwave.
This is the vestibule in the apartment where we stayed in Venice
This is the vestibule in the apartment where we stayed in Venice.
This is the bathroom in the apartment where we stayed in Venice
This is the bathroom in the apartment where we stayed in Venice.
This is the toilet inside the bathroom of the apartment where we stayed in Venice
This is the toilet inside the bathroom of the apartment where we stayed in Venice.
This is the shower in the apartment where we stayed in Venice
This is the shower in the apartment where we stayed in Venice.
This is the second room in the apartment where we stayed in Venice
This is the second room in the apartment where we stayed in Venice.
The double bed is in the second room in the apartment where we stayed in Venice
The double bed is in the second room in the apartment where we stayed in Venice.
The cabinet and the mirror are in the second room in the apartment where we stayed in Venice
The cabinet and the mirror are in the second room in the apartment where we stayed in Venice.
Entrance to the bathroom is found close to the kitchen
Entrance to the bathroom is found close to the kitchen.
A thinly sliced sausage and salads from vegetables are the main components of the first lunch in this apartment
A thinly sliced sausage and salads from vegetables are the main components of the first lunch in this apartment.
One of the souvenir shops is on the St Mark's Square
One of the souvenir shops is on the St Mark's Square.
Balloons from Murano glass are in the souvenir shop on the St Mark's Square
Balloons from Murano glass are in the souvenir shop on the St Mark's Square.
Wine stoppers from Murano glass are in the souvenir shop on the St Mark's Square
Wine stoppers from Murano glass are in the souvenir shop on the St Mark's Square.
Waves with a jellyfish from Murano glass are in the souvenir shop on the St Mark's Square
Waves with a jellyfish from Murano glass are in the souvenir shop on the St Mark's Square.
A clown from Murano glass is in the souvenir shop on the St Mark's Square
A clown from Murano glass is in the souvenir shop on the St Mark's Square.