A magical place where you feel at home at any time of the day, just perfect to seat in front of the fireplace and enjoy a good glass of wine or a delicious dish belonging to the best Venetian culinary tradition.

This might be the reason why the Osteria was one of the favorite places of Ernest Hemingway when in 1918, at the age of 18, he came to Italy as a volunteer ambulance driver. Today, it is a second home to the many international designers and artists who frequent these areas thanks to the proximity of super fashion brands such as Diesel.

Here I cook for my guests as if I were doing it for my children at home. (Annamaria Mianzan Guerra, cook)

Originally a stable, as in the 1600s the main square of Marostica hosted the shops that served the Castle of Marostica, it was purchased in 1904 by Giuseppe Polita, known as Bepi, for his beloved wife. Today the trattoria is run by Annamaria, together with her husband Franco and their 3 children, who welcomed her beloved guests in a convivial environment decorated with furniture handed down for generations. The interiors are, in fact, made of beautiful antiques, many of which were restored by Annamaria’s brother-in-law Antonio, a passionate restorer, like the pendulum clock, the wooden table created from the trunk of a tree, or the vintage bar counter, now used as a desk.

The Osteria’s walls are a compendium of its remarkable history, covered with old photographs, handmade wine ceramic cups from the nearby town of Nove, satirical jokes, and newspaper clippings left by customers. The symbol of the place is a sweet image of the Madonna del Dito to which Mimma, Annamaria’s sister-in-law, was inspired to paint the beautiful outdoor sign of the tavern. The name seems, in fact, to derive from a statue of the Virgin Mary that was placed at the beginning of the street where the restaurant is located.

You will be welcome at any time: you enter and what is ready in the kitchen will be served to you. (Barbara Guerra, owner)

The cuisine is that of our grandmas used to cook, enriched by an attentive search for ingredients, coming from the Guerra’s vegetable garden, cultivated by Franco, or from local producers. The recipes belong to tradition, while embracing a modern sustainable philosophy. Proudly awarded among the Slow Food Osterias, the Madonnetta is an exemplary interpreter of tradition, a place devoted to conviviality and genuine food.

Bigoli, pasta and bean soup, creamy cod or Venetian-style liver are just some of the typical Venetian dishes on the menu, to be enjoyed with an excellent selection of local Breganze labels, including the famous Torcolato, obtained from the pressing of dried grapes, or the wines of the Diesel Farm, the winery born from the dream of Renzo Rosso.

At the end of the meal, the must-try is one of the rustic Venetian desserts such as Maccafame (whose translation means “to overcome hunger”), made with stale bread, apples and dried fruit and a glass of the Ciliegino digestive. Produced according to an ancient “secret” family recipe, it is certainly of the secret behind the smile with which you will leave the tavern.

The Secret

The Osteria’s summer courtyard hides a wooden bench, an artisanal masterpiece signed by Toni Guerra, which perfectly reproduces the historic walls that embrace the city and a chessboard, in honor of the famous historical re-enactment of the Chess Game with living characters, played on the square of Marostica. Manufactured from the trunk of a large tree, then knocked down by lightning, it is yet another proof of the strong relationship between the Guerra family and their beloved city.

Useful Info

Osteria Madonnetta
Via Vajenti 21
36063 Marostica, Vicenza
Tel. +39 0424 75859

Starters and first courses: 5 — 12 euro
Second courses: 8 — 14 euro
Desserts: 2,50 — 5 euro