CASTELLO DISCOVERY

Castello owes its name to an ancient Roman castle and occupies the easternmost part of Venice. As Venice looks like a fish, we can say Castello is the tail, pointing towards the Adriatic Sea.

Our discovery starts, past the tourists taking pictures of the Bridge of Sighs, with the intimate space of Campo San Zaccaria, towered by the lavish façade of its Church, interesting blend of late medieval and early Renaissance architectural features.

Your guide will tell you about the life of the nuns enclosed here for many centuries, spending a word about the human condition of upper-class women in the Venice of the past.

We continue with the Greek Orthodox complex, silent and elegant, where you will spend some taking pictures of the leaning Bell Tower and learning about the importance of this foreign community in Venice.

Few steps away are the headquarters of the Dalmatian community – the building is called Scuola degli Schiavoni – enshrining one of the best-preserved 16th century interiors of the whole city.

On request we can enter to enjoy the fairy tale atmosphere emanated by Carpaccio’s canvases.

Dedicated to the stories of St George, Augustine and Tryphon, the cycle, painted by the Venetian artist in the first years of the 16th century, is an unforgettable gem.

We reach then Campo San Giovanni in Bragora, where we shall conjure up the spirit of one of the most famous Venetians ever: Antonio Vivaldi. The great musician was born in this area and baptized in the Church here.

Through narrow streets, still populated by unfashionable little shops, we reach one of the most monumental sites of Venice: the entrance to the Arsenale, the ancient shipyard of the Venetian Republic.

The powerful Towers, the giant Lions statues, the majestic Portal with the grinning Winged Lion, the massive brick walls tell us about the maritime power of Venice through the centuries.
Everything here witnesses the efforts of the Serenissima at keeping the enemies away, and the capacity of its rulers to organize the activities here with impressive efficiency.