Venice beyond San Marco and Rialto

We want to give you an idea of what you can discover if you leave the well-trodden streets between San Marco and the Rialto. The aim is to lead you to more secluded places, but certainly no less fascinating. There you can see the Venetians go about their daily business, in calli and campi where the language you're most likely to hear is the local dialect.
In this way you come into contact with the true spirit of Venice.
Here you find just some of those "hidden" places ... the advice is to get lost in Venice and discover some hidden corners, campi (squares) and calli (streets) with palaces, churches ... anything you wouldn't see with the normal way Rialto - San Marco.

To see ...

Ca' d'Oro, Campo dei santi Giovanni e Paolo, Arsenale, Squero San Trovaso, Chiesa della Salute, la Fenice, the tour along the Canal Grande (possible also with public service), ...

• Ghetto
• Frari
• Scala del Bovolo
• Fondaci
• Burano and Torcello
• Itinerari segreti del P. Ducale

Ghetto

The word "Ghetto" has been used for the first time in Venice and derives from the presence in this area of cannon foundries. This term refers to the molten metal (called ghetto or getto) with which the guns were cast. This name then spread rapidly throughout Europe to designate areas to which Jews were restricted.
In 1516 this area became the obligatory residence of the Jews, who were however, relatively secure here, given the economic interest of the Venetian Republic in keeping this community in the city. The development of the Ghetto took place in 3 stages, in its 3 areas that are called Ghetto Nuovo (an island connected to rest of Venice with only 2 bridges), then it came the Ghetto Vecchio and then Ghetto Nuovissimo. A peculiarity is the height of the houses: they were extended upwards to compensate the lack of space.
It is advisable to take the guided tour proposed by the "Museo d'arte ebraica" with which you can visit also some synagogues taking the name by their original country (Spanish, German, Italian, ...).

Frari

The Church of Santa Maria Gloriosa dei Frari, is one of the most important monumental area in the city and inside you find great art works as the splendid altarpiece depicting the "Assumption of the Virgin", that by itself is worth a visit.
The Bell tower is the highest in the city after that of San Marco.
To the right of the facade is the entrance to the former monastery. Now the complex houses the "Archivio di Stato" (State Archives), where documents relating to the history of the city and the Venetian Republic are kept.

Near Santa Maria Gloriosa dei Frari you find also the Church of San Rocco and the Scuola Grande of San Rocco, one of the best known Venetian confraternities.

Scala Contarini del Bovolo (Stairway by Bovolo)

Hidden in a small "corte", at the end of a narrow calle, near Campo Manin, there is a marvel of architectural imagination for the beautiful palace. Up the stairs you have a nice view on the roofs, bell towers, and on the domes of San Marco and on the entire city.
See www.scalabovolo.org for more info and to visit it (in Italian).

Fondaci

Over the centuries, many foreigners have lived in Venice, especially as a result of its trade links. The communities of foreigners ("foresti" in Venetian dialect) frequently lived in the fondaci, which consisted of a building with a courtyard, often on a canal, the ground floor of which was used as a warehouse and for trade. In particular, on the Grand Canal, between the station and Rialto, were located the Fondaco dei Turchi (Turks), now the Natural History Museum, and that of the Tedeschi (Germans), now the central post office in Venice.

Burano and Torcello

The islands tour is a classic but most of the times the visitor stops only in Murano for luck of time (preview one day for the islands).
Burano and Torcello though, are worth a visit.
Burano: a fishing village renowned for its lace making. The houses are also famous for their bright colors, ranging from purple to mustard to bright yellow. Visit the Lace Museum where you can see some of the amazing creations.
From Burano, with a taxi, you can make a little tour to the near "Isola di San Francesco del Deserto".
Torcello: the island is where the civilization of the lagoon began. There were more than 20.000 inhabitants and was the focus of the lagoon. Torcello today is abandoned and few buildings are left. The Cattedrale of Santa Maria Assunta, however, is magnificent. The campanile is one of the lagoon's highest. The real attractions are the 13th century Byzantine mosaics inside the church.

Secret itineraries in Palazzo Ducale

These itineraries are well known and this is reason why it is necessary to book your visit in advance. It's worth to mention the secret itineraries because they take you into the doge's hidden apartments and the Palace of Justice, where the most important decisions were made. You also visit the famous "Piombi" where Casanova was held in prison and from where he escaped.
It is necessary to book in advance. See www.turismovenezia.it