Things to do and see in Venice

Santa Maria Gloriosa dei Frari
SAN POLO DISTRICT

Step inside the largest church in Venice, Walking down the aisles of this simple and elegant Gothic Franciscan church you will find yourself surrounded by extraordinary works of art that reach back through eight centuries of history.

San Pantalon
DORSODURO DISTRICT

The smallest parish in Venice houses the largest secret. Nothing compares to the magnificence that can be admired as soon as you turn your gaze towards the ceiling: what may appear to be a fresco is actually a mammoth oil on canvas painting considered the largest in the world.

Santa Maria della Salute
DORSODURO DISTRICT

This 17th century, octagonal church is dedicated to Our Lady of Good Health (Salute). It was constructed after Venice had been freed of the plague in 1630-31. Every year, the 21 November a Festival dedicated to the Virgin Mary, brings Venetians around the church for a festival.

San Zaccaria
CASTELLO DISTRICT

This former monastic complex is considered one of the most beautiful religious buildings in the city. The remains of various doges are buried in the crypt, which is the oldest surviving part of the original church. And it is indeed the crypt the main peculiarity of the church: it is flooded most of the year due to the tides.

Santi Giovanni e Paolo
CASTELLO DISTRICT

One of the most impressive medieval and religious building in Venice. Several doges and famous characters, who wrote crucial pages over the history of the Serenissima Republic have been given burial here, which give the Basilica the name of Pantheon of Venice.

San Francesco della Vigna
CASTELLO DISTRICT

Originally where vineyards were planted. Nearby stood a small and modest church dedicated to St. Mark because, according to a tradition of the time, this was where the he had lodged during a storm and an angel appeared, greeting him with words Pax tibi Marce Evangelista meus (motto of the Serenissima) prophesying the future foundation of Venice.

Chiesa dei Gesuiti
CANNAREGIO DISTRICT

A famous rococo interior with marble inlay carved to look like fabric, carpet, and flock wallpaper. Also a very dark Titian Martyrdom of Saint Lawrence. The layout of the church is typical of Jesuit churches, in the form of a Latin cross with three chapels in the longest wing. The ceiling is adorned with frescoes.

Sant'Erasmo

The perfect place for a pleasant and relaxing break. Can be explored on foot or by bicycle along flat paths suitable for all ages. Certainly, useful are a towel, to take advantage of a break in the shade of an orchard or to sunbathe on the “Bacàn” beach, and a camera to capture the breath-taking view that Sant’Erasmo offers on the islands of the Venice lagoon and a stop in for wine tasting.

San Lazzaro degli Armeni

A real jewel among the islands of the Venice lagoon, inhabited by 22 monks today. Of particular interest are the art gallery, the museum and the library, where there are volumes, manuscripts and artifacts from all over the world. The monks, moreover, take care of several rose gardens on the island, and they use the rose petals to produce a jam, known as vartanush, prepared with a typical Armenian recipe. Reserve in advance.

Malamocco

A Venetian town located in the south-central area of the island of Lido. It has its roots in the Roman civilisation and is cloaked in salt-encrusted legends heard in the tales of Venetian fishermen. Understated and detached from the glamour of other areas of the Lido, Malamocco is a village surrounded by a canal, where time seems to have stood still.

Pellestrina

A hidden corner of the lagoon, a refuge for the lovers of secluded places. A peaceful island, home to fishermen and lacemakers, with beaches far from tourism and colourful houses overlooking the water. While walking around the villages of the island, you can still find women making lace outside their home. Typical of Pellestrina, bobbin lace is a lacemaking technique. Experience Pellestrina's culinary delights such as bossolà, rings of crunchy bread, or the traditional fish pie.

San Francesco del Deserto

Home of a Franciscan monastery founded in 1230. It is surrounded by sandbanks and is wrapped around its perimeter by cypresses and pines. It is said that the Saint of Assisi passed through here in 1220 in search of a quiet and secluded place to pray and meditate. The island is now open to visitors seeking peace of mind and meditation, who wish to unwind by strolling in the park, or visiting the church and the cloister. Accessible only by private transport or taxi. The tour is guided by a Franciscan friar with limited English. By reservation only.

Lazzaretto Nuovo

For centuries it was one of the doorways to Venice, a place of cultural and commercial exchange, technologically advanced, like a little innovation citadel. With the Repubblica Serenissima it was the Lazzaretto of "quarantine" for vessels suspected of carrying contagious disease from the Mediterranean ports. Today, it is an ecomuseum, a dynamic center and laboratory engaged in educating and sharing with the community.

Lazzaretto Vecchio

Visits Suspended due to Restoration.
In 1423 it was chosen by the Republic of Venice as the site of a public hospital, the first of its kind, where victims of the plague could be housed. In 2000, it was chosen for the National Archeological Museum of the Venice Lagoon, but the project was suspended. From 2014 - 2019 associations that rescued Lazzaretto Nuovo, fought against the island’s abandonment. In 2020 the Ministry of Culture responded by reopening the project and restoration.

Alberoni Sand Dune Oasis
LIDO ISLAND

For lovers of natural and wilder settings, there is a unique environment used as a stopover and winter habitat by numerous birds. Then, for two kilometers, bare beach, the shifting dunes with hardy vegetation, and inland dunes with flora similar to that of the Steppes. Behind, a 30 hectare pine grove.

Royal Gardens
SAN MARCO DISTRICT

If you are in Venice, resting on one of the benches to read the newspaper, or having a drink at the Coffee House Pavilion designed by the architect Lorenzo Santi between 1816 and 1817, admiring the old greenhouse and the drawbridge connecting the Procuratie, is truly one of the most beautiful shows that the lagoon city can offer.

San Nicolò Nature Reserve
LIDO SILAND

Another treasure of biodiversity at the north end Lido. About a kilometer and a half long, the reserve takes its name from the nearby church of San Nicolò, founded in the 11th century. It includes a pine forest area, a dune area and the beach, where you can see protected species of birds such as the Kentish plover and the least tern.

Birdwatching in Torcello
TORCELLO ISLAND

The Northern Lagoon of Venice has always been a crossroads for a significant amount of migratory species. Some spend short periods here, for a break during their long journey. Others stay much longer. Andrea Rossi, a professional fisherman for 4 generations, has created a birdwatching observatory in Torcello.

Lio Piccolo
LIO PICCOLO ISLET

Lio Piccolo is a small oasis of the Venetian Lagoon made up of a set of tiny islands connected by one of the most beautiful cycle paths in Italy. A set of tiny islets separated by narrow channels that make up a network that can be traveled by bicycle which is accessed by a single paved road. A truly unique landscape will open up before your eyes in the middle of the lagoon.

Row Venice
CANNAREGIO DISTRICT

Looking for something different to do in Venice, something truly authentic and un-touristy? Row Venice gets you off the beaten Venetian path and behind an oar, offering you the possibility to experience the rich heritage of this unique rowing style first-hand.

Lido Bicycle Tour
LIDO ISLAND

Just a few minutes’ boat ride from Venice – the city where cycling is forbidden – there is a route that allows you to pedal along the lagoon, enjoying the green landscapes, places steeped in history, passing charming palaces and then stopping to enjoy the peaceful and placid atmosphere of the fishing villages.

Venezia Catamaran Cruises
CASTELLO DISTRICT

Relax on the boat named "No Stress" and enjoy a sail around St Mark's Basin and the central lagoon. Offering six themed cruises daily lasting 90 minutes. Enjoy fantastic views, relaxed atmosphere, live music and full bar catering for a great break from the crowds.

The beaches of Venice Lido
LIDO ISLAND

Lido has 10 kilometers of coastline, with beautiful Blue Flag beaches, golden sand and clear blue waters, rich in marine fauna with a gently-sloping seabed allows even the youngest children to bathe in tranquillity.

Venice Golf Club
LIDO ISLAND

A green area of Lido is the Venice Golf Club, one of Italy's most ancient golfing destinations and the only one in Venice, established at the beginning of the 1930s by Count Giuseppe Volpi di Misurata: the course covers more than 100 hectares.

Lido on Horseback
LIDO ISLAND

A unique and unforgettable experience. Lido Equestrian Club offers a new way to visit Venice Lido from October to April. For more information and to book this horse riding experience you can contact the club through their Facebook page.

Play tennis in Venice
LIDO ISLAND

Tennis Club Ca ‘del Moro designed to successfully combine your holiday and tennis, you can experience a different kind of holiday, visiting the many wonders of the Lido without giving up your favourite sport.