The first stop is in Venice, where you can visit the modern shopping areas, heirs to the ancient Fondaci of merchants passing through the city, now transformed into shop windows for the world’s most fashionable brands.

The second stop is at Badoere in the province of Treviso, on the edge of the famous Rotonda, to visit the La Colombina weaving mill, an ancient silk factory, where you can experiment with hand and treadle weaving on ancient hand looms.

In Follina, on the other hand, for the story and experience of the art that sees the transformation of the best wools in the world into fabrics for the most famous and great griffes.

Day 1 – Venice – Badoere (TV)

Departing from Venice, where in an unusual route, off the usual routes through the city, you will visit the ancient places of trade, the fondaci, from where merchants from all over the world bought and sold their goods. From here we move on to Badoere, where, in a happy union between the lagoon and the river, we can have lunch at the Trattoria Al Sile, with a typical menu featuring the area’s excellent dop products, white asparagus and radicchio.

The route continues towards Badoere, a village famous for the presence of the so-called Rotonda, a 17th-century structure attached to the Badoer estates and home to the area’s historic market. Close to the Rotonda there has been a spinning mill since the end of the nineteenth century, which now houses the production of the Tessitura La Colombina. Having converted production to wool processing, the weaving mill houses an important collection of antique hand looms.

After an account of the history of the site and the production technologies, it will be possible to try out the weaving technique on a traditional loom accompanied by the company’s workers. The experience ends with a visit to the company shop.

Overnight stays are possible at the ancient Venetian villa of Ca’ Marcello or a transfer to Follina to enjoy the hospitality of the guest quarters of the ancient and famous Cistercian Abbey of Santa Maria, in existence since 1127.

Day 2 – Follina (TV) – Venice

Travelling from the south to the north of the Marca Trevigiana we move on to one of the symbolic places of the textile production tradition of the North East, Follina. The name itself recalls the ancient mallet used to work the cloth and make it worthy of its reputation as the leading product of the Serenissima. The Lanificio Paoletti has been operating in Follina since 1795. Its products, manufactured according to the best traditions, both with recovered autochthonous wools and with wools and fibres from all over the world, are sold under the brands of the most famous high fashion brands. It will be possible to visit the old factory, admire its architecture and the modern technology installed in it, all seasoned with the passion of the owners who will guide the visitor to the company shop.

The visit will end with a tasting of prosecco, a typical product that has been the constant backdrop to the environment in which the wool mill has operated for centuries.

After a break for refreshments – there are numerous possibilities in the area and it is difficult to choose between trattorias and wine cellars where you can taste the typical local crop, prosecco – we move on to the end of the tour, back to Venice for a visit to the city’s icons, Rialto and St Mark’s, and for shopping in the modern shops selling the most fashionable brands.