Venice Areas and Neighbourhoods
There is only one city like Venice in the world. Its narrow alley streets and water canals, adheres love and romance!
1) Piazza San Marco, St Mark’s Square: Piazza San Marco (St Mark’s Square) is the major square of Venice, Italy. It is one of the few lovely spots in Europe where you can hear yourself speak without being overpowered by the traffic noise. The district of San Marco it’s a kind of labyrinth of narrow alleyways and canals.The Piazza originated in the 9th century as a small area in front of the original St Mark’s Basilica. It was enlarged to its present form in 1177.
In the evening hours, the square takes on a different character as the cafe orchestras fill the night air with Jazz/Classical music. Pull up a chair, have a cocktail and absorb the great unique atmosphere that surrounds you. It’s also the focus for many of Venice’s festivals. A great popular place in Italy today.
The Piazza you see today was paved in the late 13th century with bricks laid in a herringbone pattern. It is believed the light-colored stones were probably used setting up market stalls and organizing frequent ceremonial processions.
2) Rialto Bridge, Grand Canal: The first bridge crossing the Grand Canal was a pontoon bridge. It was built by Nicol? Barattieri in 1181. It was once called the “Ponte della Moneta” and then got replaced three more times until today to its final form and name “Rialto Bridge”. The Rialto Bridge in Venice (made of limestone) was the first and only of its kind to cross the Canal, which lead to the birth of the Rialto market. Designed by Antonio da Ponte it was finally completed in 1591.
Rialto turned into one of the main centres for trade in the city. The bridge has beaten all odds and is nowadays one of the architectural masterpiece of Venice and an icon for this city. Each day at sunset people gather here to take in the sight of Venice as the sun falls down into the far distance. This is also a perfect spot for admiring the gondoliers as they make their way slowly down the Grand Canal. Rialto Bridge is largely considered one of the most beautiful sites in the world.
3) Castello Area, Biennial Gardens: The Castello area is the most easterly and largest of the six districts of Venice and one of the oldest areas of the city. The district grew up from the thirteenth century around a naval dockyard. It was later changed by Napoleon to what is now the Biennial Gardens, and still more recently the island of Sant’Elena has been created along with other parts of land drained at other areas of the quarter.
It’s full of fascinating things to see. One in particular is Venice’s Arsenal Naval History museum (Museo Storico Navale) and the former military shipyard of the Republic at Arsenal. In its glory days, was the core of the city’s prosperous shipping industry. Visit the Public Gardens, the largest of their kind in Venice.
4) Accademia Area, Museum Gallery: Located on the south bank of the Grand Canal, it gives its name to one of the 3 bridges crossing the canal, the “Accademia Bridge”. This area is best known for its museum gallery of pre-1800s art, famous architects, art paintings and sculptures in Venice, Italy.
Some of Venice’s most respected ancient artists studied here, and this is part of why other finest artists are attracted in Italy to study in this area. The Galleria dell’Accademia contains masterpieces of Venetian paintings and history.
5) Cannaregio Area, First Jewish Ghetto in Venice: This is the neighbourhood of Venice where local people still live in great numbers. It’s the north of Venice and it’s the second largest in population with about 20K people. Canneregio was the main entrance into the city until the a railway to the mainland was built.
Development began in the eleventh century as the area was drained and parallel canals were dredged. The Madonna dell’Orto church is here as well as the Palace of Ca’ d’Oro and some Tintoretto’s masterpieces. In the Ghetto’s Jewish Museum (Museo Ebraico)you will recognize the first Jewish ghetto in history. Many restaurants offer some of the best cuisine in Venice with a good value for money ratio.
6) Santa Croce Area, Piazzale Roma: Santa Croce is home to Venice’s central bus station and car parks, around which is the only area of the city in which cars can travel, called “Terra Firma”. The area was once part of the Luprio swamp, but slowly claiming land. It is the area most affected by the opening of the Lagoon Road 1933 due its steady grounds. It’s an extension of San Polo and lies on the opposite side of the Grand Canal towards the main railway station of Venice, Piazzale Roma.
A location where you can soak up the authentic Venetian neighbourhood atmosphere and still close to the city’s main attractions. It’s a very pleasant area to take an evening stroll! Campo San Giacomo dell’Orio is a lively square full of people and music where sometimes couples can dance.
7) Giudecca Island, Exclusive Residential area and Beautiful Gardens: The Island of Giudecca was originally called “Spinalunga” – Long Thorn – because of its shape. Giudecca was historically an area of large palaces with amazing gardens, gaining back its once most regarded reputation as luxury residential area. It is known for its long dock and its beautiful churches, including Il Redentore.
The Island offers some of the most stunning views of the mainland stretching across the 300 meters wide Giudecca Canal where the sun gorgeously sets. The celebration of “Festival of Redeemer” (the end of the plague in 1526), takes place every 3rd weekend of July every year, the Venetians gather a bridge of boats across the Giudecca canal with a display of fireworks. This spectacular sight can be seen from every corner in Venice.
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