Caffè Florian in Venice

Caffè Florian was born in Venice in 1720 and in 2020 it turned 300 years old, it is the oldest place in the world.

Among the best known clubs in the world, beloved by the international jet-set, Caffè Florian in Piazza San Marco is a true institution, one of the few places where you can relive the sophisticated and dreamy atmospheres of turn-of-the-century cafes.

Used as a film set for many cult films, including "Summertime" with Katherine Hepburn and "The talent of Mr Ripley" with Gwyneth Paltrow, the oldest café in Italy, it was inaugurated under the arcades of the Procuratie Nuove on 29 December 1720 with the name "Alla Venezia Trionfante". In a short time it was unanimously renamed "Florian" from the name of the owner of the time, Floriano Francesconi, who was inspired by Goldoni for the character of Ridolfo, protagonist of the opera "The coffee shop".

The things I love about San Marco are the ancient cafes that hide under the sixteenth-century arcades that surround the square.

Coffee culture has always been big business in Venice, ever since coffee was discovered in Turkey in the 16th century. Imported by traders, the new drink began to be sold commercially in the early 17th century. Cafes, the first in Europe, began to spring up all over the city.

From the outside you would never have suspected that the flaky, peeling facade houses one of the most elegant interiors in the city. And while the exterior boasts a classical orchestra, wood and leather furniture, and stunning views of the Cathedral, it's the cozy rooms inside that beckon.

Although today the place is obviously frequented mainly by tourists, it has played a huge role in the cultural life of Venice. Founded in 1720, it became the place to stop for a coffee. People like Carlo Goldoni, Casanova and Goethe talk about coming here.

It later became a literary haunt with Marcel Proust, Lord Byron and Charles Dickens sipping while reading the newspaper.

In the rooms of the Florian it seems to relive the past and it is not difficult to fantasize about the speeches of the illustrious visitors who preceded us, a fascinating atmosphere to which the beautiful rooms also contribute, where lights, mirrors, precious woods and decorations, a sort of museum where history lives on.