Venice: Away From The Crowd
Updated: April 2023
Venice is one of the top three most sought-after tourist destinations in the world. As such, it’s also one of the most crowded places, with long queues at its most popular sites. So where can one find a peaceful spot in Venice away from the crowds?
The answer is simple: go in the opposite direction of the crowds. Walk a few corners away from the Rialto-Accademia-San Marco triangle and take any direction to find peace and quiet. Another good alternative is to visit during the off-season when there are fewer tourists and less crowded streets, allowing you to enjoy your coffee in a small shop overlooking the famous canals while watching the world glide by.
Many tourists stick to well-worn destinations such as Piazza San Marco, Doge’s Palace, and Basilica, and sometimes venture out to Murano to watch glass-blowers at work. But why not head northeast to San Francesco della Vigna Church in Castello? It has the best collection of fine sculptures by Pietro Lombardo and several paintings by Paolo Veronese, Bellini, and other masters.
Like Cannaregio, Castello is home to many Venetians and has great restaurants, bakeries, shops, and other places of interest. It also has La Pieta (Santa Maria della Visitazione), where famous composer Vivaldi was choir master in an earlier building; San Giorgio dei Greci, a Greek Orthodox church; and San Pietro in Castello Church in the far east of the sestiere. Castello is also home to the Venice Biennale exhibition pavilion (Biennale D’Arte Contemporanea & Architettura) located in Giardini di Castello.
In Cannaregio, there’s more to see than just the Jewish Ghetto and Museo Ebraico. This was the home district of Titian, Marco Polo, and Tintoretto. Madonna dell-Orto Church has several of Tintoretto’s paintings.
The sestieri of San Polo and Santa Croce are where you can smell fish in the morning from Rialto market. Enjoy Chinese cuisine or traditional Italian fare at excellent osterias and trattorias. They also have their share of galleries and churches: Galleria Internazionale d’Arte Moderna; Santa Maria Gloriosa dei Frari with its famous Madonnas by Bellini and Titian; and Scuola Grande di San Rocco, known as Tintoretto’s “Sistine Chapel,” where he spent his remaining years painting its ceiling.
Mestre may be the last place a tourist would want to visit in Venice as it’s where most Venetians live on the mainland. However, it has a lovely district around Piazza Ferretto lined with shops, bars, and restaurants that are lively day and night. Hotels here have much lower prices than those in the lagoon and offer parking if you arrive by car.
Lido is perfect for those who enjoy beaches, sun, 5-star hotels, and golf courses. In Burano, an hour-long waterbus ride takes you to a tranquil fisherman’s village with colorful painted houses.
Finally, one last secret for escaping Venice’s crowds is to get up early in the morning and walk through its streets or duck into a cafe for a hot latte. At this time, everything looks truly magical – which is what you came for, right?
