Meet Fabio – and the Family behind "La Terrazza" Restaurant

For Fabio and his family, hospitality isn't just a job – it's a way of life. With over 20 years of experience running restaurants in campsites, they’re now in their third season at Marina di Venezia, where they manage “La Terrazza,” the charming restaurant right on our main promenade, the Listón. 

Fabio practically grew up in the camping village world. Both his parents ran restaurants, so you could say he was born into the business. But funny enough, he didn’t always plan to follow in their footsteps. It all started with simple tasks – carrying trays, washing glasses – and slowly grew into a passion. Step by step, he developed a real interest in the bar scene, eventually managing a family-run bar and club in a seaside village. He deepened his skills by attending professional courses, and that’s when his true love for hospitality took hold. 

Even though he trained as a surveyor and tried working in an office and in a factory, Fabio quickly realized that wasn’t his world. He missed the people, the energy, the feeling you get in a campsite – what he calls “something extra.” So, he returned to where he belonged. When the family arrived at Marina di Venezia in 2023, it was a big challenge, even for such an experienced team. The scale, the pace – everything was new. But they embraced it. What at first seemed overwhelming soon revealed itself as something far richer: a dynamic, vibrant environment that makes this place truly special. 

Today, Fabio coordinates both the “La Terrazza” restaurant and the neighboring bar “Il Tiramisù.” He’s the supervisor, but don’t be surprised if you see him lending a hand in the kitchen or doing the dishes. He’s not the main chef (hough now and then he whips up a dessert himself), but he oversees every detail. Just in the “La Terrazza” kitchen, around ten people are at work – and another four in the bar’s kitchen. 

“Il Tiramisù” is open from 7:30 am to 11:00 pm, offering everything from breakfast to dinner. Alongside the full bar, there’s a small kitchen that serves pizza – even in maxi size. Savory breakfasts and continental options are becoming increasingly popular, not just with international guests but also with Italians. 

As for “La Terrazza,” the most popular dishes include the ever-loved carbonara, classic spaghetti with meat sauce, and of course, lasagna. When it comes to pizza, the top picks are the Margherita, spicy salami, and seafood. The menu also features weekly specials that change with the seasons. 

But Fabio is not running the show alone. By his side are his partner Elisa, his sister Elisa with her husband, and his parents Luciano and Ornella. Elisa began her hospitality journey in a small-town bar near where Fabio lived. After a year together, she joined the family business – and nearly ten years later, she’s become one of its cornerstones. Always ready to jump in wherever needed, she’s a key presence in the team. 

Fabio’s mother, Ornella, brings decades of experience to the table – but in winter, she devotes herself to teaching painting at a community art school open to all ages. Her artwork has been exhibited across the region, including in Cavallino-Treporti – and some of her paintings hang proudly in the restaurant itself. 

His sister Elisa started out helping during summer seasons but later moved to Milan for her studies. After finishing university and spending a few years in a different field, she chose to return to seasonal hospitality. Like her mother, she has an artistic streak – in the off-season, she handcrafts candles and also assists with the painting school. 

It seems nearly everyone in the family tried doing something else at some point – but the call of hospitality won in the end. After three summers at Marina di Venezia, they’ve become familiar faces to many guests, who’ve grown fond of this warm and hard-working family. 

And now that you’ve gotten to know Fabio and his crew, we’ll leave you with something special – his personal pizza recipe, straight from “La Terrazza” to your kitchen! 

Click here and discover Fabio's recipe!