Each spring, for just a brief two-week stretch, a rare variety of violet artichoke is hand-harvested on the northern islands of Venice — and locals go to great lengths to preserve its authenticity. As sunlight dances across the shimmering waters, Venetian farmer Guia da Camerino guides her small boat around the briccole — wooden posts that subtly demarcate the lagoon’s watery paths. Just beyond the bustling maze of Venice’s city centre, the tranquil islands of Sant’Erasmo and Le Vignole offer