The best gelateria in Florence - without a doubt - is Badiani (and not Vivoli). How about the best in Venice?

That's what you say.

Fantasy Gelato near San Marco.

Michelangelo's, near Rialto Bridge.

(Also found best gelato in Florence, from a local, but I forgot its name. Not mentioned above, though.)

I'd second Michelangelo's, although if it's the one I recall, it's in Santa Croce near (more or less behind) the Frari Church.

I could certainly be wrong about the location! Or maybe there are two Michelangelo's now? I think Rick Steves mentioned it in his book.

I read about Alaska in a tour book. It was good - but not the best I've had.

In the Campo Santa Margherita, I had wonderful gelato at Il Doge.

The other place was at Nico's, in Dorsoduro very close to the Zattare vaporetto stop.

Monica

Does "best gelato in Venice" equate with "good gelato"?

Gelato is not native to the Veneto. It's a Sicilian and Roman treat. To me, the question is like an Italian coming to New York and asking: "Where's the best barbecue?" As it happens, the best barbecue in New York isn't very good. It's just better than all the other bad barbecue in the city.

Is anyone else put-off by the notion that for many traveling Americans, Italy is now being viewed as a kind of well-decorated ice cream parlor?

monica: I hate to respond to these posts about junk food -- but I wonder if I too frequented that same gelateria, which was economical and had a fine selection of flavours:

Is it on the "broad" end of C. Sta Margherita near that funny little tower?

One night in March,2006, while eating our gelati, the strains of Cosi Fan Tutte washed over us (a concert version of the opera was being performed inside a nearby palazzo that evening)

Oh nessundorma, get over yourself! Are you saying that when one goes to Venice that one can't experience a good gelato? I hope not. When I go again this fall I hope that is one of the many experiences I enjoy.

Get over yourself, Weezie!

I have no idea if there is good gelato in Venice. I didn't have any there and I've never heard anyboy say it was any good there -- which is not very surprising, any more than it is surprising people don't talk about what great pizza you can get in Indiana.

If you are going to Venice hoping to eat good gelato, do you have some specific place in mind where you expect to find it? That's seems to be the qustion.

I will say, however, that I don't think Venice is any less enjoyable for people who don't eat any gelato there.

I agree with jgg - Fantasy Gelato on Calle dei Fabbri which runs between Piazza San Marco and Rialto.

I have some friends going to Italy for the first time and their experience of Italian ice cream is from the Carpigiani machine. I mentioned Badiani in Florence as anyone who knows it will understand the level I am looking for - e.g. Buontalenti, Bongo Bongo etc.
Good ice cream can be found throughout Italy in those where production is truly "artigianale" i.e. at the back of the ice cream parlour but I do acknowledge that tastes vary from region to region. As far as Nessundorma's comments are concerned I would say that Sicily's contribution is the granita especially one made before your eyes by scraping on a large block of ice.

tedgale, yes, you are correct. If facing in a northly direction, it's on the lower left side.

Monica

Oops, make that the lower right (sw) corner of the campo.

Monica

cimabue,

In Italy, gelato was first made in places where it snows, specificially Sicily and the Dolomites. Sicilians historically specialize in what they call "sorbetto," which is made without eggs or butterfat, although they have also have some internationally famous gelato makes (who use milk and eggs). Granita in Sicily is more like a drink, and made by creating ice crystals, not by shaving ice.

I would dispute that you can find top quality gelato all over Italy, any more than you can find top-quality pizza all over Italy. There may be a top quality gelateria in Venice, but the best gelateria in Venice may not be one.

I had a cassata ice cream on Strada Nova in Cannaregio. I don't remember the name of the place but the ice cream was out of this world.

I second Nico along the Giudecca.

That is, along the Zattere.