Venice is a particularly attractive place to walk around due to the lack of cars and bicycles. The largest historical centre in the world, Venice offers a wide variety of fascinating places to discover through an incredible labyrinth of narrow streets. Depending on where you are setting off from, it is easy to visit the neighbourhoods on either side of the Grand Canal.
DORSODURO
Dorsoduro is a museum district thanks to the Accademia Galleries, the museum of the nineteenth century Ca’ Rezzonico, the Peggy Guggenheim Collection and the Fondazione Pinault.
However, it is also an area close to Venetians’ hearts, thanks to its popular promenade on the Zattere, with its small bars and floating terraces, as well as the lively Campo Santa Margherita, the heart of university social life.
SANTA CROCE & SAN POLO
Enclosed by the vast bight of the Grand Canal, these are the two smallest neighbourhoods.
To the east San Polo comprises the market area of Rialto, which was once the financial district and is now famous for the bridge and the daily fish, fruit and vegetable market. This area contains the famous ‘bacari’, the bars serving traditional ‘cicheti’.
In San Polo there is also the most important monumental area of Venice after St. Mark's Square: the Frari church , which houses the famous altarpiece of the Assumption. by Tiziano , as well as works by Giovanni Bellini, Donatello and Sansovino , and the School of S. Rocco, Tintoretto's masterpiece.
