San Marco, Venice: “The Drawing-room of Europe” Let’s face it, there can be few visitors to Piazza San Marco in Venice who have not experienced an almost magical feeling when, standing on the Piazetta with the Doges’ Palace on their left, the Campanile to their right, they first gaze out between the two slender pillars, […]
San Polo, Venice
San Polo and the Rialto, Venice Running to the east of the Rio di San Polo as far as the Rialto, San Polo is the smallest sestiere, and is the oldest and most mediaeval part of Venice, a maze of tiny streets all eventually leading to some part of the Grand Canal. The Liveliest Quarter […]
Dorsoduro, Venice
Dorsoduro, Venice’s “Hard Ridge”: Dorsoduro‘s (literally ‘hard ridge’) refers to the character of the land in this part of Venice, which is a bit higher and rockier – or at least, more solid – than the other less firm areas of land that emerged from the lagoon over the centuries. It’s a sprawling sestiere that […]
Castello, Venice
Castello, Venice: A Sestiere with a Split Personality Castello is Venice’s largest sestiere, extending from the Rialto to Sant’Elena at the eastern tip of the city. Its name is believed to derive from a fortress on the island of San Pietro, one of the earliest inhabited sites in the lagoon. It was one of the […]
Santa Croce, Venice
Santa Croce, Venice’s Least Touristy Sestiere Santa Croce is over towards the north-west of Venice and is where you hit the Piazzale Roma bus station to get to the mainland. Small and densely-packed, the sestiere is bordered by the Grand Canal to the north and San Polo and Dorsoduro to the south-east and south. As […]
Gay and Lesbian Venice
Gay and Lesbian Venice: In February, Carnevale is a meeting point for gay people, but apart from that, although it’s a marvellous city (and in spite of Truman Capote’s famous quote: “Venice is like eating an entire box of chocolate liqueurs in one go”), if you’re looking for gay-specific action: “Masks off, Venice has not that much […]
Restaurants on the Islands in the Venice Lagoon and elsewhere
Restaurants on the Islands in the Venice Lagoon and elsewhere Restaurants on the islands of the Venice lagoon are often not open in the evenings, so be sure to check on opening hours and rest days! Trattoria “Da Romano” Via San Martino Destro, Burano This restaurant has an impressive list of clients, including famous painters […]
Restaurants in Giudecca and the Lido, Venice
Restaurants in Giudecca and the Lido, Venice It’s important to check that the restaurant at which you’re interested in eating is open! Restaurants in Venice do not all close on a Monday, rest days vary, and not all open at night. Booking is highly advisable, especially when you want an outside table. And not all […]
Restaurants in San Polo, Venice
Restaurants in San Polo, Venice: It’s important to check that the restaurant at which you’re interested in eating is open! Restaurants in Venice do not all close on a Monday, rest days vary, and not all open at night. Booking is highly advisable, especially when you want an outside table. And not all restaurants (especially […]
Restaurants in San Marco, Venice
Restaurants in San Marco, Venice It’s important to check that the restaurant at which you’re interested in eating is open! Restaurants in Venice do not all close on a Monday, rest days vary, and not all open at night. Booking is highly advisable, especially when you want an outside table. And not all restaurants (especially […]