Venice – Dorsoduro

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Dorsoduro is a sestriere of Venice that occupies most of the areas south and west of San Marco. It is characterized by a higher and less swampy terrain compared to the rest of the city, and it is notable for hosting various remarkable museums and a few of the most famous landmarks of Venice. The mostly residential islands of Giudecca and Sacca Fisola, separated from the main part of the city by the Giudecca Canal, are also part of Dorsoduro.

✪ Gallerie dell’Accademia

The Gallerie dell’Accademia is a museum of pre-19th-century art and the most important collection of Venetian artworks. The museum is hosted in the former Church of Santa Maria della Carità and the adjacent buildings, once belonging to the Venice Academy of Fine Arts. The collection includes works by some of the most important Renaissance and Baroque artists such as Giorgione, Canaletto, Tintoretto and Titian, among many others. The Gallerie dell’Accademia also houses one of the most iconic artworks in history, the Vitruvian Man (Uomo Vitruviano) by Leonardo da Vinci, although it is only displayed rarely due to its sensitivity to light.

✪ Peggy Guggenheim Collection

The Peggy Guggenheim Collection is a remarkable museum of modern and contemporary art hosted in the historic Palazzo Venier dei Leoni, facing the Grand Canal of Venice. It ranks among the most notable museums of 20th century art in the world and it is one of the most visited sites in Venice. The museum houses the personal collection of artworks gathered by Peggy Guggenheim including pieces of Futurist, Cubist, and Surrealist art by artists such as Magritte, Picasso, and Dalí.

✪ Basilica of Santa Maria della Salute

The Basilica of Santa Maria della Salute is located near Punta della Dogana at the easternmost tip of Dorsoduro and is one of the most iconic sights in Venice. This masterpiece of Baroque architecture was built between 1631 and 1687 as a votive offering after the devastating plague that hit the city in 1630. Designed by Baldassarre Longhena, the octagonal building features two large domes and two bell towers, and it is richly adorned with statues and elaborate decorations. More impressive statues and artworks are hosted in the interior.

✪ Punta della Dogana

Punta della Dogana is the point where the Grand Canal and the Giudecca Canal meet. Here, the 17th-century triangular building known as Dogana da Mar, once used as customs house, now hosts a contemporary art museum. Located nearby is the building of the Patriarchal Seminary of Venice (Seminario Patriarcale di Venezia), which hosts the Pinacoteca Manfrediniana art gallery, close to the Basilica of Santa Maria della Salute. The tip of Punta della Dogana offers amazing views of the city center of Venice.

✪ Ca’ Rezzonico

Ca’ Rezzonico is one of the most iconic and splendid palaces facing the Grand Canal of Venice. A remarkable piece of Baroque and Rococo architecture, it now hosts the large art collections of the Museum of 18th-century Venice (Museo del Settecento Veneziano). The many rich halls of the palace feature a large amount of impressive and lavish decorations, frescoes, and statues, including various works by Tiepolo and Canaletto.

✪ Il Redentore

Il Redentore (Basilica del Redentore) is a large 16th-century church designed by Palladio and built after the end of a major plague outbreak. It is located on the island of Giudecca, facing the Giudecca Canal, and it’s the most important landmark of this area, dominating the landscape with its wide dome. The interior hosts various artworks by Tintoretto, Veronese, and Palma il Giovane. Every July the Festa del Redentore, a major festival in Venice, commemorates the pilgrimage that the doge and the senators used to make every year to this church.

Ponte dell’Accademia

Ponte dell’Accademia is a bridge near the Gallerie dell’Accademia, crossing the Grand Canal to connect the sestrieri of Dorsoduro and San Marco. The original 19th-century steel bridge built here was in a bad state and so it was demolished and replaced with a wooden one in 1933, which was intended to be a temporary structure before the construction of a stone bridge. The wooden bridge ended up becoming the permanent solution and the current Ponte dell’Accademia, reinforced with steel during the 1980s.

Scuola Grande dei Carmini

Scuola Grande dei Carmini is a confraternity building located next to the Church of Santa Maria dei Carmini. The chapel and halls inside the Scuola Grande are masterfully adorned with decorations and paintings by Longhena and Tiepolo, among other impressive works of art from the 17th and 18th century.

Church of San Sebastiano

The Church of San Sebastiano gained it current appearance after some restoration works of a previous building in the early 16th century. It hosts various remarkable artworks, most notably a large series of painting by Paolo Veronese, who is also buried in this church.

Church of the Gesuati

Also known as: Church of Santa Maria del Rosario

The Church of the Gesuati was built over a previous church in the mid 18th century, and it is a remarkable example of Rococo art. While the facade adorned with statues is really beautiful, the most stunning feature of this church is the impressive ceiling decoration and series of paintings by Tiepolo that are located inside, along with other notable works by Piazzetta and Tintoretto.

Squero di San Trovaso

A squero is a traditional Venetian boatyard where small vessels such as the iconic gondola are built and repaired. The Squero di San Trovaso is among most famous and oldest of the few surviving ones in Venice, dating from the 17th century. It is located not far from the Gallerie dell’Accademia.

Ponte dei Pugni

The Ponte dei Pugni (“Bridge of Fists”) is a small bridge in Venice that was once the site were members of different factions would meet to fight with the goal of throwing each other in the water. The centuries-old tradition was banned when in 1705 an altercation here turned more violent.

Church of Santa Margherita

The Church of Santa Margherita is a deconsecrated church located on a corner of Campo Santa Margherita, one of the busiest city squares in Venice. The church, originally built during the 9th century was closed in 1810 and used as warehouse and movie theatre, among other purposes, and it is now am auditorium. However, it is mainly famous for its truncated bell tower, as the top half was demolished in 1808.