Castello, the largest of Venice’s six sestiere, or neighborhoods, stretches from the center of the town, near Rialto in the west to the Arsenale and Giardini Gardens in the east. Castello is a quiet neighborhood, where tourists can still experience deserted squares and beautifully intimate park spaces. Check out our guide below to plan a perfect day in this exciting neighborhood in Italy.
Stroll down Venice's widest street
Via Garibaldi, which is actually a filled-in canal, is the widest street in all of Venice. It is lined with small shops, fantastic bars and lovely cafes that have a unique atmosphere. It feels like Via Garibaldi is a little self-contained village in itself, where locals spend their days. Besides its modern shops, Via Garibaldi is also home to a fantastic outdoor market selling fish, fresh fruit and vegetables on weekday mornings. Via Garibaldi is the lively heart of the Castello sestiere!
Museo Storico Navale, the naval history museum in the Castello district, is located on the waterfront along the Riva San Biago, near the famous Arsenale. This museum showcases a fascinating collection of historic gondolas, impressive ship models and other memorabilia that are significant to Venice’s naval past. Museo Storico Navale, as the museum of the Italian Navy, also showcases the interesting past of the organization.
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Take an authentic picture
Ponte di Quintavalle is a wooden, 45-meter-long bridge that stretches across the Canale di San Pietro and connects the mainland of Castello with the island of San Pietro. Ponte di Quintavalle is the perfect spot to take an authentic picture, as it offers postcard-like views on to the Canale with its rows of boats, boatyards and colorful houses. You will also find fishing nets and clothes hanging outside the houses, allowing visitors to sneak a peak at typically Venetian life.
To admire outstanding architecture in the Castello district, go to the Scuola di San Marco, located on Campo di Giovanni e Paolo, one of the largest squares in Venice. The impressive piece of Italian architecture was first built by the Confraternity of San Marco in the early 13th century. Confraternities, or brotherhoods, played a major part in Venezia’s past and were often responsible for some of the most impressive buildings. The building’s southern façade, with exquisite marble stone statues, is truly marvelous to look at.
With an academic background in intercultural communication and modern languages, Sophia has always been fascinated by the uniqueness of cultures worldwide. She is particularly interested in cultural history and has a passion for classic and contemporary literature, art and photography. Sophia loves to travel and meet people with different cultural backgrounds to get a broader view of the world and become a true cosmopolitan.
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