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Venice Basics:
Venice is built entirely on water. It is made up of 116 islands, connected by 150 canals and over 400 bridges.
When viewed from above, Venice looks like the shape of a fish. It is divided loosely into six districts (sestieri) -
San Marco, Castello, Dorsoduro, San Polo, Santa Croce and Cannaregio. In addition, surrounding these main
areas are the islands of Guidecca, the Lido, Murano, Burano and Torcello.
Each district has it's own distinct character.
San Marco is the central hub of the city, where you find, among other landmarks, the Basilica of San Marco,
the Doge's Palace, the Piazza San Marco and the Campanile. This is also where most tourists in Venice will
spend their time sightseeing.
Dorsoduro, which makes up part of the head of the fish, is home of students, artists, popular museums
(Accademia and Peggy Guggenheim's) and the University.
Castello, the tail fin of the fish, is the largest sestieri, and contains a wide variety of monuments, churches,
museums, the Arsenale, the Giardini and the Biennale. It's is also where you where you will find a taste of
everyday Venice back in it's less frequented neighborhoods.
Cannaregio runs from the train station and meets up with Castello. This area is also less populated by
tourists, and is most noted perhaps for being home of Venice's Jewish Ghetto area.
San Polo sits in the center of Venice on the east edge of the Grand Canal. It's in this district where you will
find the Rialto market, and Campo San Polo, famous for outdoor movies in summer time in the campo.
Santa Croce is also an area which sees fewer tourists, but is filled with local trattorias and pizzerias. It also
boasts Ca Pesaro which houses the Modern Art museum in Venice. Piazzale Roma, the parking garage and
only area of Venice where cars will be found is here in Santa Croce.
Venice is built entirely on water. It is made up of 116 islands, connected by 150 canals and over 400 bridges.
When viewed from above, Venice looks like the shape of a fish. It is divided loosely into six districts (sestieri) -
San Marco, Castello, Dorsoduro, San Polo, Santa Croce and Cannaregio. In addition, surrounding these main
areas are the islands of Guidecca, the Lido, Murano, Burano and Torcello.
Each district has it's own distinct character.
San Marco is the central hub of the city, where you find, among other landmarks, the Basilica of San Marco,
the Doge's Palace, the Piazza San Marco and the Campanile. This is also where most tourists in Venice will
spend their time sightseeing.
Dorsoduro, which makes up part of the head of the fish, is home of students, artists, popular museums
(Accademia and Peggy Guggenheim's) and the University.
Castello, the tail fin of the fish, is the largest sestieri, and contains a wide variety of monuments, churches,
museums, the Arsenale, the Giardini and the Biennale. It's is also where you where you will find a taste of
everyday Venice back in it's less frequented neighborhoods.
Cannaregio runs from the train station and meets up with Castello. This area is also less populated by
tourists, and is most noted perhaps for being home of Venice's Jewish Ghetto area.
San Polo sits in the center of Venice on the east edge of the Grand Canal. It's in this district where you will
find the Rialto market, and Campo San Polo, famous for outdoor movies in summer time in the campo.
Santa Croce is also an area which sees fewer tourists, but is filled with local trattorias and pizzerias. It also
boasts Ca Pesaro which houses the Modern Art museum in Venice. Piazzale Roma, the parking garage and
only area of Venice where cars will be found is here in Santa Croce.
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