Venice – Castello

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Castello is the easternmost and largest of the six sestrieri of Venice. It stretches from the city center to the very edge of the main islands that form the city, and it includes not only magnificent churches, museums, and monuments, but also lush gardens and the historic naval and mercantile district.

✪ Arsenale

The Arsenale is a large naval complex in Venice, made up of different historic buildings and shipyards in the old port of the city. This form of early industrial cluster was once the source of the naval power of the Republic of Venice and, during its golden age, it employed over 16,000 workers. Some areas of the Arsenale are still being used to this day by the Italian Navy. The iconic main entrance of the Arsenale, known as Porta Magna, is an early example of Renaissance architecture and it features the Piraeus Lion, an 11th-century Greek statue. Some parts of the Arsenale have now been repurposed as exhibition spaces for the Venice Biennale.

✪ Giardini della Biennale

Also known as: Giardini Pubblici, Giardini Napoleonici

The Giardini della Biennale is a large public park in the eastern part of Castello, which was originally inaugurated in 1812. The area is mostly notable for hosting the permanent national pavillions of the Venice Biennale art exhibition, but it also hosts various other attractions. Among these are the Monument to Giuseppe Garibaldi, which guards one of the entrances to the gardens, the Monument to the Partisan Woman, located on the water, and Parco delle Rimembranze, a lush park full of trees.

✪ Riva degli Schiavoni

Riva degli Schiavoni is a monumental waterfront facing the Venetian Lagoon, starting from Ponte della Paglia, adjacent to the Doge’s Palace, and continuing east. This area is often overcrowded with tourists, and it features some landmarks such as the large Monument to Victor Emmanuel II, while also offering a great view of the surrounding islands. Various historic buildings face Riva degli Schiavoni, which also hosts some of the busiest ferry terminals in the city.

✪ Basilica of Santi Giovanni e Paolo

Also known as: Basilica of San Zanipolo

The Basilica of Santi Giovanni e Paolo is one of the largest and most impressive churches in Venice. A masterpiece of Gothic architecture, it was completed in the 15th century and it is mostly notable for hosting various great works of art. Every corner of this church is filled with an incredible amout of breathtaking artworks. The interior includes numerous elaborate funerary monuments of doges and nobles, along with paintings by Lotto, Cima da Conegliano, and Veronese, among others, and a lavish altarpiece by Giovanni Bellini.

Scuola Grande di San Marco

The confraternity building of the Scuola Grande di San Marco is adjacent to the Basilica of Santi Giovanni e Paolo and features a richly decorated Renaissance facade. Now it serves as entrance for a civil hospital while also hosting a museum of medical history and instruments.

Equestrian Statue of Bartolomeo Colleoni

The Equestrian Statue of Bartolomeo Colleoni (Monumento Equestre a Bartolomeo Colleoni) is a large Renaissance bronze statue sculpted by Andrea del Verrocchio between 1480 and 1488 and it’s located next to the Basilica of Santi Giovanni e Paolo. It was the second equestrian statue of the Italian Renaissance, coming a few decades after the one dedicated to Gattamelata made by Donatello in Padua. The statue portrays the general Bartolomeo Colleoni, who served under the Republic of Venice during the 15th century.

Church of San Zaccaria

The Church of San Zaccaria is a magnificent 15th-century church that hosts a large amount of pieces of art, such as the San Zaccaria Altarpiece (Pala di San Zaccaria), one of the greatest works by Giovanni Bellini, and paintings by artists such as Tintoretto, Van Dyck, and Tiepolo. A peculiar feature of this church is the medieval crypt which is located under the sea level and is often flooded.

Church of La Pietà

Also known as: Church of Santa Maria della Visitazione

This church located on Riva degli Schiavoni is noted for its association with Antonio Vivaldi, who worked here in the early 18th century. The church was later rebuilt but it is still used as a concert hall. The decorated interiors feature a ceiling fresco painted by Tiepolo.

Naval History Museum

Located in a historic building facing the Venetian Lagoon, the Naval History Museum of Venice (Museo Storico Navale) hosts a collection of relics, models, and items showcasing the long seafaring history of the city. It is located next to the Arsenale and run by the Italian Navy.

Church of San Giorgio dei Greci

The Church of San Giorgio dei Greci was founded by members of the Greek Orthodox community in Venice after the fall of Costantinople to the Ottomans. The interior is a classic example of the splendid Orthodox artistic style, decorated by the most prominent Greek artists of the time. Next to the church is the Museo delle Icone, a museum dedicated to Byzantine-style icons and the history of the Greek community in Venice.

Scuola di San Giorgio degli Schiavoni

The Scuola di San Giorgio degli Schiavoni was the confraternity building of the Dalmatians (here called Schiavoni) who lived in Venice. It dates back to the early 16th century, and its richly adorned halls host a cycle of paintings by Vittore Carpaccio.

Church of San Francesco della Vigna

The Church of San Francesco della Vigna is a Renaissance church with a facade designed by Andrea Palladio and it features a tall bell tower. The interior is decorated with many paintings and statues and includes the funerary monuments of various doges and nobles.

Libreria Acqua Alta

The Libreria Acqua Alta (“High Water Bookstore”) is a peculiar bookstore tucked in a narrow alley. It is filled top to bottom with books and magazines, including many vintage pieces. Everything here is designed to survive potential floodings, with the books even inside a full-size gondola.

Palazzo Querini Stampalia

Palazzo Querini Stampalia is a historic 16th-century palace hosting the seat of the cultural institution Fondazione Querini Stampalia and its rich art gallery, which hosts many interesting artworks of the Venetian Baroque and Rococo. It is located next to the Church of Santa Maria Formosa.

Palazzo Grimani

Palazzo Grimani is a richly decorated 16th-century palace serving as an art museum and exhibition space. The many splendid halls of this palace are all adorned with elaborate statues and frescoes.

Basilica of San Pietro di Castello

The Basilica of San Pietro di Castello is a Renaissance church is located on the island of the same name, at the eastern end of Venice. The current building was built during the 16th century but the site was occupied by a church since the Early Middle Ages. This church served as the city’s cathedral from 1451 to 1807, when the role was assigned to Saint Mark’s Basilica, previously the private church of the Doge. It features a leaning bell tower and it hosts some artworks, the most notable of which is the Throne of Saint Peter (Cattedra di San Pietro). This seat was said to have belonged to Saint Peter himself, but it was actually made out of an Islamic funerary stone carved with lines from the Quran.

Cemetery of San Michele

San Michele is an island located between Venice and Murano, and forms part of the sestriere of Castello. Most of the island is occupied by the city’s monumental cemetery, erected during the 19th century on the site of a former monastery. The cemetery hosts the tombs of various illustrious personalities such as composer Igor Stravinsky and physicist Christian Doppler. Located just next to the entrance of the cemetery is the Renaissance Church of San Michele in Isola.