Castello Sestiere - Venice Italy

Castello is the largest of Venice’s six sestiere (districts). It's also the most varied offering plenty of things to see and a more genuine feel of Venice.

Where to Stay

The Venice Metropole Hotel is fabulous if you want superb service, superior accommodation and a location that would be very difficult to beat.

Exploring Castello

Castello varies considerably in character. The area basically gets more touristy and more up market the nearer you get to Saint Marks Square. Going the other way, the further you go east, the more rundown and working class the area appears. If you get lost visit our maps of Venice Italy page.

The eastern waterfront offers lovely views across to San Giorgio. The best time to visit the waterfront is early morning when there are less people about.

Castello is famous for its Arsenal (Arsenale). This is the original armoury and naval dockyard. My father-in-law, an Arsenal supporter (football/soccer team) tells me that the word originates here – I don’t know how true that is though.

Castello has lovely parks too, my parks section mentions a few of these.

Take a stroll up Via Garibaldi, which is one of the few wide avenues that Venice has. There is nothing particularly fantastic along here but it is a pleasant street, with shops selling stuff people need rather than only tacky souvenirs.

The Importance of the Greek Community

Many of the Greeks who moved to Venice came from the Dalmation coast of Yugoslavia (once a Greek colony) and they were given the name Schiavoni. You will find many places named after them – most famous perhaps being the Riva degli Schiavoni.

Centre point of the Greek community was San Giorgio dei Greci. This 16th century church includes some superb mosaics and a 14th century Byzantine Icon, Blessing Christ, which is of major significance. The church is the most important Greek church to be found outside of Greece or Turkey.

Other Sights

San Giorgio degli Schiavoni

The ancient school of the Greek Dalmation community, the building Contains a series of nine masterpieces by Vittore Carpaccio featuring Saint George and other Saints including Saint Jerome and Saint Augustine.

San Francesco della Vigna

Together with Santa Maria Gloriosa dei Frari this is the second of the two Franciscan churches to be found in Venice.

It is a lovely 16th century church in simple Francescan style but personally I prefer Santa Maria Gloriosa dei Frari. The church houses some beautiful artwork by Battista Franco and Francesco Fontebasso.

My personal favourite is the touching painting of the Madonna and child by Antonio da Negroponte,

Venice’s Naval Museum

Near the Arsenale, this museum should be visited by anyone who wants to understand fully the history of Venice Italy. For Venice as a trading city, built on water, ship building was vital and this museum provides an interesting insight. Entrance is only 3 Euros and the Gondola display is the best part.

Santi Giovanni e Paolo (San Zanipolo)

A big church built in the 15th century. Very big and very impressive but somehow it seems to be missing something.

Campo Santi Giovanni e Paolo

This is the square in which the church previously mentioned is to be found.

Second only to Piazza San Marco, it is a lively and pleasant place and the atmosphere is different to St. Marks – less commercialized perhaps.

The 15th century Scuola Grande that faces onto the square has one of the loveliest facades in all of Venice and that is indeed something when you consider the competition.

Santa Maria Formosa

Situated in a busy and rather pleasant piazza (campo) this 15th century church is nice enough but nothing special.

What Else?

A number of other sights are worth seeing while you are in Castello. These include San Zaccaria which has some great artworks by Bellini and the La Pieta church on the Riva degli Schiavoni, the church where Vivaldi was once choir master.

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