Authentic Venice: walk across Castello

If you are looking for an alternative to the usual itineraries between Rialto and San Marco, this guided walk could be for you.  


Starting from Riva degli Schiavoni, the tour aims at illustrating two significant places for the history of the city: the Shipyard and the Church of San Pietro di Castello.  

The history of Venice cannot really be understood without recognizing its nautical and military power. The interior of the Arsenale today is rarely open to the public, but everyone can admire its imposing walls and the magnificent entrance door. In addition to the symbolism related to naval victories, here you will see four impressive Greek sculptures from the 6th-4th century BC - the only Greek originals preserved in Italy outdoors - representing lions, a war trophy of the Venetians from Greece.  

The church of San Pietro is located at the eastern end of the city and can be reached with a pleasant walk between ancient populous houses, bridges that cross canals full of private boats, and laudry hung out to dry in the sun. The church was formerly the cathedral of Venice: here first the Bishop of Olivolo and then the patriarch of Castello lived, but then it was downgraded to a simple parish in favor of San Marco in the Napoleonic era. Its facade, whose white stands out against a still grassy field, was built on a project by Andrea Palladio.