Sestiere of Cannaregio is the largest and the most popolous sestiere of Venice. It is crossed by Cannaregio Canal, the only one in the city center with the Gran Canal that is traveled by the ferry boats.
The name of sestiere derives from the presence, in the past, of vast rushes before the reclamation of the area that was later inhabited, or by the name of the Canal that crossed the area, Canal Regio, that is the link between the lagoon and the Grand Canal.
WHERE IS SESTIERE CANNAREGIO?
Sestiere Cannaregio can be reached with the lines 4.1 and 5.1 of the ferry boat or with the line 1, all of these lines cross both Grand Canal and Cannaregio Canal.
Probably it is easier to arrive walking by Santa Lucia train station beacause it takes only ten minutes more or less. Leaving behind the train station, turn left in fondamenta degli Scalzi and then go along to Rio Terà Lista di Spagna. You will find shortly in the middle of Sestiere Cannaregio.
WHAT WE CAN FIND IN SESTIERE CANNAREGIO?
In Cannaregio there are the train station of Venice Santa Lucia and the most important street, Strada Nova, that link the station to the Rialto’s area. There is also the Jewish Ghetto, the area where the jewish community was forced to live during the Napoleonic period.
The most important shopping‘s streets are Strada Nova and Lista di Spagna, that are also frequented by young people because of the presence of bar and other meeting points.
A not to be missed area is the one of bar and restaurants in Cannaregio that is in the northern part of the district, more precisely between the Jewish Ghetto and Fondamenta Nove. Nowadays sestiere Cannaregio fully represent a place of entertainment in Venice
Peculiarities about sestiere Cannaregio
In sestiere Cannaregio there is the narrowest calle of Venice, Calletta Varisco, which width is only 53 cm. Try to travel it, it is very evocative, if you are not claustrophobic, of course!
In front of the Church of Madonna dell’orto stands Palazzo Mastelli. The legend tells of that three brothers lived there, known as merchants of clothes and spices. One day, the three brothers cheated a woman that cursed one of them for revenge. Therefore the three brothers became stone statue, that are visible on the facade of the palace close to Campo dei Mori.
WHAT TO DO AND TO SEE IN CANNAREGIO
One of the main streets in Venice, as well as one of the most touristic is Strada Nova, on of the most important (and largest) arterial road of Venice. With the term Strada Nova is usually intended all the way but actually the street is composed by three different pieces: Lista di Spagna, Strada Nova and Mercerie.
Unmissable attractions in Cannaregio
If you are walking in the streets of sestiere Cannaregio you can’t miss a visit in the Jewish Ghetto, where a law in the 1516 established the obligated residence of the jewish people in this area, totally surrounded by the water and with only two accesses. A feature of this area is the height of the houses, that were built to host all the inhabitants of the jewis community.
Another great attraction is Palazzo Ca’ D’Oro, maximum expression of flowery gothic in Venice with Palazzo Ducale.
In this sestiere there are two very peculiar bridges of Venice, Ponte delle Guglie, which name derives from the presence of four pinnacles at the basis of the handrails, and Ponte dei tre archi, that is famous for the structure composed by three arches.
Finally, if you are interested in visit of churches, you will find in this sestiere the church of Santa Maria dei Miracoli, an example of venetian renaissance architecture, featured by an almost total decoration both inside and outside and the Church Santa Maria Assunta, in Campo dei Gesuiti not so far by Fondamenta Nuove, where it is possible to admire the Lagoon and the islands of Murano and San Michele.
Instead, close to the station there is che Chiesa dei Scalzi or Church Santa Maria di Nazareth, built by Carmelitani Scalzi and example of Baroque art, with a wonderful view of the Gran Canal.
Another important church is the Church Madonna dell’Orto, an example of venetian gothic architecture with some paintings of Tintoretto inside.
To know more about
If you have enough time during your holiday in Venice, you can go in Campo San Geremia where the impressive Palazzo Labia is located, inside the palace the ballroom was painted by Tiepolo.
Again in Cannaregio you can visit the Church Sant’Alvise, that was built on Campo Sant’Alvise around 1300 and has some paintings of Tiepolo inside. Close to the church, there is Villa Groggia Park, a place where spend a relaxing moment.
Best restaurants in Cannaregio
Sestiere Cannaregio offers a wide rage of places for eating, there are the typical venetian tavern , refined restaurants and also places for having a light meal.
We suggest you Restaurant la Colombina, where you can eat very good fish or try the taste menù, which proposes different combination of traditional wines and dishes.
An alternative could be Osteria Al Cicheto where you can eat very good cicheti (traditional venetian finger food), or other typical venetian dishes, few ones but well prepared.
For a snack, or a flash meal, you can try Creperia Cocaeta, that prepares sweet and savory crepes takeaway to be filled as desired with vegetables, cold cuts, cheeses and fruit.
WHERE TO STAY IN CANNAREGIO
Cannaregio is a good starting point for visiting Venice, because it is a very peculiar and central area and by you can visit all the other areas of the city.
The hotels that we proposed have good reviews by the tourists that visited Venice, they offers a good position and are surrounded by a typical atmosphere.
