The six sestieri of Venice - Venice is divided into six districts, each with its own personality and home of different architectural and cultural monuments.
Venice is divided into
six districts or sestieri, three to the west of the Grand Canal and three to
the east. Each of these districts has a personality of its own and hosts a part
of the historical and cultural heritage of this city that is a work of art in
itself.
Santa Croce is the
first district the majority of tourists visit in Venice since the bus terminal
where the majority of tour operators leave the tourists, Piazzale Roma, is
located in this area. Santa Croce is one of the smallest districts and is the
home of several significant churches like San Giacomo dell’Orio and San Stae,
and of the International Gallery of Modern Art.
Cannareggio is the
true home of most venetians since it is really one of the few areas where it is
possible to lead a quiet normal life without the incommodities of tourists and
the lack of grocery stores. A lot of the people that has been born in Venice
has had to move to nearby towns in order to have a more conventional life with
all the services one needs to live and with other work opportunities outside of
the touristic industry.
For those who have remained, the historic Jewish ghetto
that leads to the residential area of Cannareggio is the door to a life far
from the hectic touristic districts, and the great majority of them appreciate
the closeness to the train station, located in this sestiere, that allows them
to leave the city every morning to go to work without having to navigate
through waves of tourists.
The next district
tourists cross when entering Venice is San Polo, which is one of the most
ancient districts of Venice and as such it is the home of some of the most
enchanting, but also narrowest streets in the city. San Polo has the most
important touristic market in the city as well as some of the squares that are
most frequented by students. This district is also the home of the famous
bridge of Rialto, built in 1181.
Dorsoduro is the
center of Venice’s college life. The great majority of faculties are located in
this area in historic buildings that are more beautiful than practical although
the Ca’ Foscari University remains one of the most representative ones in
Europe. The Basilica of Santa Maria della Salute is located in this district,
at the other side of the Giudecca Canal.
Next in walking
distance is San Marco, the most visited area of the city. Every year more than
20 million visitors take pictures in the square that takes its name and walk in
front of the clock tower, the San Marco Basilica and pass on to Palazzo Ducale
and Ponte dei Sospiri, some of the most visited places in Europe. San Marco is
also the home of the theater La Fenice, the main opera house of Venice.
Castello is the
biggest and most star-studded area of the city during the Venice Arts Festival,
the Biennale di Venezia, that during the first weeks of September becomes the
place to be for enjoying not only movies and short films but to see the glamour
that accompanies the celebrations. Castello is also the home of the Giardini
and of the historic church of San Zaccaria di Venezia.
Venice is
therefore not one but six different little
cities, each with its own traits but with a common character that defines the
magic of the town and attracts visitors from all over the world.
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