There are traditional places in Venice which form part of every day’s life of a true Venetian, from the simplest to the most historical and cultural. These are some of its real and most unique treasures, which must be admired and appreciated at their fullest.
Below is an essential list.
MERCATO DI RIALTO
Few steps away from the Rialto Bridge, this is the seafood market; it is located in the open air, on the court of a wonderful Venetian Gothic palace. It is open everyday except Sunday and it starts very early in the morning; it sells the freshest and best seafood in Venice, caught a few hours before in the sea. Next to it there are also the vegetable and fruit markets. All the sights and flavours and the hustle and bustle of this city in action are gathered here in one great spectacle!
ARSENALE
This is the “Arsenal” of Venice, where all the naval ships, the Venetian Fleet, used to be kept at the time of the Repubblica Serenissima. Located not far from the Historic Naval Museum in one of the furthest points of Venice, this is literally “a city within a city“! It is a huge fortress, which is partly used nowadays to store all the traditional boats of the Regata Storica, the Historic Regatta and partly to host public events, such as the Biennale, as well as private events.
ATENEO VENETO
Campo San Fantin, 1897
Telephone: 041-522-4459
Literally few steps away from Venice’s Opera House La Fenice, this has always been and still is the Venetians’ historical cultural centre. It is where some of the most important conferences, seminars and presentations take place covering a great variety of subjects from historical ones, such as Venice’s life and art throughout the centuries, presentation of books about La Serenissima, to modern day topics, such as the solution to the floods of Venice. It is a wonderful building, with the ground floor main hall where such cultural events usually take place, being beautifully decorated with the most incredible paintings. Then there is the grand stairway leading to the elegant first floor.
SQUERO DI SAN TROVASO
Located just a minute away from the Chiesa di San Trovaso, this is one of the only few remaining ancient craft traditions in Venice. A Squero is the place where Gondolas used to be and, indeed, still are built, as well as serviced and maintained. It is just unique and fascinating to watch the Venetians at work in this Squero, whose knowledge in this fabulous art goes back many generations and, indeed, centuries!