(The) I sestiere ? Venezia?s quarters by Trekki
More than 100 islands form Venezia (well, the centro storico). Everyone says that the city looks like a big fish (the tail would be in the east), but for me it resembles more the shape of Italy?s boot. Anyhow, the city is divided into 6 districts. Each of these districs or sestieri does have its very own characteristic atmosphere and it definitely pays to see each of them and not only stumble around in San Marco. Let me start with San Polo and Santa Croce, two sestieri which mix into each other on the south western banks of Canal Grande. It was here where Venezia has her roots, at rivo alto and where today the daily life is maybe pulsating most. Only a few steps away from Ponte Rialto are excellent food stalls with delicious and fresh products from the islands (ah, sh*t, I forgot to buy that cheese ? haha, next time). These sestieri are also the city?s most tightly inhabited areas.
South of these sestieri, Dorsoduro waits with popular and marvellous art collections of L?Accademia and Peggy Guggenheim Museum. But this sestiere has much more to offer: cheap cafes, bars and restaurants along Zattere, very atmospheric tiny streets along the small canale, where you are practically alone when wandering around, the famous Campo S. Margherita and Campo San Barnaba with nice bars to drop down for a drink.
Castello is my favourite sestiere. A lot of marvellous churches and historical buildings are here, such as Zanipolo church (chiesa SS Giovanni e Paolo) or L?Arsenale and its fabulous entrance portal. In the east is Isola San Pietro, one of the most quiet and relaxing spots I found. And of course, Giardini Pubblici and the areal of Biennale invite to stroll around under shady trees.The most diverse sestiere is maybe Canaregio (or Cannaregio in Italian). Its south is lined with shops and restaurants along Strada Nova, but the north west is a very much local resident area. Not with the splendour of the palazzi left and right of Canal Grande, but well, splendour isn?t all. This part of Canaregio I liked very much, it was quiet to walk along the tiny streets, I didn?t meet any foreigner there and the coffees and Spritz I had there were very much reasonable.
And finally ? San Marco. It was the centre of Venezia?s old days, the seat of power and religion with Palazzo Ducale and Basilica San Marco. And it seems to be still the centre of power and religion, the most expensive and overpriced shops and restaurants can be found here and the Eurodisney tourists come in herds like pilgrims to Piazza San Marco. But now enough with my sarcasm, only an ignorant idiot can withdraw from the charm and harmony and magic beauty of this ensemble of Piazza, Palazzo Ducale and Basilica San Marco. They emanate eternal beauty and I found myself roaming around the buildings almost day and night, when I was close by. Often I realised that my feet brought me there without my brain intending to do so. San Marco is the sestiere with so many famous buildings like the opera house La Fenice, the palace and stairs of Contarini del Bovolo and Campo San Stefano.
In my to-do and off-path sections (if I ever arrive there, lol), I will describe the beauties I saw in detail and hopefully I can convince at least some of my readers to spend not only ?the obligatory? 1 day in La Serenissima, but stay longer and get same bewitched as she got me - in love forever.
