Location: San Polo
Top Things to do in San Polo
What to do and see in San Polo, Veneto: The Best Things to do
With its gondolas, canals, amazing restaurants, and unforgettable romantic ambiance, Venice is definitely a city for one's bucket list. Waterfront palazzos, palaces, and churches make drifting down the Grand Canal feel like cruising through a painting. To really experience Venice you must go to the opera or to a classical music performance, nibble fresh pasta and pastries, and linger in the exhibit halls of an art gallery. Label lovers will drool over the high-end shopping in Piazza San Marco.
Restaurants in Venice
1. Atelier d'Arte La Colonna
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 14 reviews
Atelier about art, homemade drawing and pictures. When you came inside you feel the idea of art, of the impression of mind about the artist. You can see different work of different idea of art about the expression of the artist, you can found your piece inside many other piece. I wait you for visit me and lost inside my works.
2. Creature di Gomma - Venice Vintage Toys
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 222 reviews
The exhibition Creature di Gomma - Venice Vintage Toys, was born from an idea of the Venetian collector Fabrizio Fontanella, matured over time and resulted in 2018 in a project that makes its private collection available to the public. It is an impressive collection, one of the most important in the world, of vintage puppets and toys from the sixties, seventies and eighties, the result of a passion that has lasted for thirty years. Today it counts more than 5.000 pieces. It is a Cultural Association and the entrance card, valid till the end of the year, is of 5 euro per person.
Reviewed By I4487YHalicel
Visited this lovely place after seeing all of the wonderful reviews and it didn't disappoint! Lovely trip down memory lane with some of the characters on display, and we even discovered a few we had never seen before. Very friendly staff member talked us through the history of the collection and some of the individual pieces. Very fair price of €5, would recommend to all ages.
3. Canal Grande
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 41,173 reviews
Venice's main water thoroughfare, lined with great Renaissance palaces, is a colorful and busy spectacle of gondolas and vaporetti.
Reviewed By Bandit-One - Lucerne, Switzerland
We have been in Venice a bunch of times. But still amazes us the same as the first time. It's just a lovely place to be. Countless sights, great food and no (car) traffic. The Canale Grande is one of the most famous sights in the city. And rightly so. You could rent a private water taxi, take a tour boat or just hop on one of the water buses. For us the water bus was fine. Drive along the whole canale or hop and off (buy a day-ticket). You will pass endless interesting sights. Starting from the train station (Ferrovia) the Ponte degli Scalzi, the Chiesa di San Simeon Piccolo, the Chiesa di San Geremia, Rialto Mercato and Rialto Bridge, the Ponte dell’Accademia, the Basilica di Santa Maria della Salute, the Punta della Dogana and at the other end the Piazza San Marco with the Palazzo Ducale and the Basilica di San Marco. And that's just the very big sights along the way. Of course you also can walk through Venice (we love it) and you will pass the Canale lots of times. It's also fun just to wander around without plan and getting lost in the beautiful backstreets of Venice. This time we were lucky to rent an apartement for a few day directly on the Canale Grande. With views of the canal from every room. Be it in the morning during breakfast or in the evenings when the lights on the canal seemed magical: We never got and never will get bored of that sight. Light or dark, day or night, sunny or rainy. The Canale Grande is a sight to behold. Love it - and we love this town.
4. Palazzo Pisani Moretta
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 64 reviews
One of the most beautiful palaces frescoed by Tiepolo is located on the Grand Canal between Campo San Tomà and Campo San Polo.
Reviewed By Mark42139 - New York City, United States
This is one of the most beautiful palaces in Venice, and it's in a great location on the Grand Canal.
5. Scuola Grande di San Rocco
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 2,962 reviews
The Scuola Grande di San Rocco is a lay confraternity founded in 1478. The popularity of the cult of St. Roch, whose remains had been in the possession of the brotherhood since 1485, contributed to the latter’s rapid expansion to the extent of it becoming the richest Scuola of the city. At that point it was decided to build a new monumental headquarters and engage Tintoretto to decorate it with his most celebrated pictorial cycle, illustrating episodes from the New and Old Testaments. It is the only one of the historic Scuole Grandi to have survived the fall of the republic. It is a unique site, where over 60 paintings are preserved in their original setting in a building that has hardly undergone any alteration since its construction. The confraternity is still active today, carrying out its traditional charitable duties as well as looking after its extraordinary artistic patrimony.
Reviewed By 760billa - Spring Lake, United States
The Scuola Grande di San Rocco is one of those places that I suspect many visitors to Venice have never heard about. But, it should make every tourist's short list of places to see while in Venice. It features the artwork of the Italian painter, and master of the Venetian school, known as Tinteretto. To appreciate the history behind this building and the life story of Tinteretto, I highly recommend using the audio guide which is available for a reasonable charge. The audio guide will lead you through three floors of artwork. You can choose how much or how little detail you care to listen to. Even if you only have an hour, I think this is a must do attraction in Venice.
6. Basilica di Santa Maria Gloriosa dei Frari
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 4,171 reviews
Originally built in the mid-13th century, Santa Maria Glorisoa dei Frari (St. Mary of the Friars) houses many masterpieces of Venetian Renaissance art, notably Giovanni Bellini's triptych "Madonna and Child with Saints," the "Assumption" and the "Pesaro Madonna" by Titian, Saint John the Baptist by Donatello.
Reviewed By rzoe - Cambridge, United States
This Basilica is home to Titian's Assumption of Mary which is one of the most beautiful paintings in the world - it takes your breath away. It's 22 feet high, 11 feet wide and is perfect for its place on the high altar of the church. The church also has some fine Bellini's, but the reason to go there is the Titian. We were there is September and there were very few tourists so were able to sit and look at the painting in peace.
7. San Polo
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 228 reviews
Venice district that offers many interesting historic sites such as the Church of San Giacomo di Rialto, thought to be the oldest church in Venice.
Reviewed By Raffiella11 - Leicestershire, United Kingdom
True heart of the city, centres around the Rialto Bridge/bustling Rialto market,dense in history/culture, secluded Palazzo’s down narrow alleyways, if only we knew where they were/we would love to see inside. Overflowing with tourists on the bridge taking photographs and just wandering around, most not knowing any history of the area. Take time to read about San Polo’s history it is totally fascinating, and things you see will make more sense.. At the bottom of the Rialto Steps is a double sided array for very tacky tourist stalls. Wander away from the area of the market, there is a vast array of local food/wine & clothes shops. Do not miss the Spice Street it has been here since the 16th century when spices were brought from Asia, plus fabulous cheese shops, bakeries etc . Do not miss the oldest church in the city, San Giacomo di Rialto, opposite is the statue which most tourists miss of Gobo – the hunchback. Looking towards arches, is wine bar/restaurant Banco Giro this is the site of the first bank in the world. There are other bars nearby but Banco Giro is far the best. My advice while walking around, look up at the buildings, and there are fabulous sights to be seen. Walking on the Fondamenta dell O'lio at the side of the Grande Canale takes you into the heart of San Polo. Narrow alleyways, pretty canals, peaceful squares,,local venetians are going about there daily life, unusual churches, some fabulous individual designer shops. It also has masses of the most interesting musuems, some on the side of the Grande Canal, others hidden away. Last year we visited Palazzo Mocengo, near the San Stae stop – 17th century furniture/costumes – well worth a visit This district has a great array of fabulous restaurants whether looking for a casual lunch, or a more upmarket dining experience, you just have to find them. We often take this walk which leads us into Campo San Cassian, we just keep on walking - my advice is just get lost. Sometimes you can be totally alone, walking down narrow alleyways, and coming across a huge door with an amazing door knocker – unkown it is probably the most fabulous Palazzo behind the large wooden door, with lavishly decorated huge rooms, they all have a rear door which gives access to a small canal, where they have a boat. We actually got lost, found a lovely osteria where we had a fabulous pizza/plus wine. Still lost we came across the Santa Maria Gloriosa dei Frari church, the exterior is very plain, once inside it is totally mind-blowingly fabulous – we have been trying to find this church for years. If you take the Vaparetto from the market going north on the Grande Canale, sit back, take in the wonderful sights of Palazzo’s - all different shapes/styles, which have been there since the 16/17th century. Some are breathtakingly beautiful, others rather grey and unloved.
8. Scuola Grande San Giovanni Evangelista di Venezia
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 186 reviews
Scuola Grande San Giovanni Evangelista is both a building complex and a lay brotherhood since 1261. The building gradually enlarged as the importance of the Scuola increased from XIV till XVIII century. The venue can be used for different type of events or visited as a museum. In this way the Brotherhood provides the funds for maintenance and restoration of this heritage.
Reviewed By 367makem
I was not prepared at all for the beauty and mystery of this place! I chose a guided tour (10 e entrance fee + 5 e for the guide), and it was the best decision, otherwise I would have probably seen the place in 10 mins, missing the magical history behind it. Elena was absolutely wonderful, she speaks perfect English and Italian, and left us speechless while telling us the story of the place, a mix of history, religion, art, politics, war and social habits, it was like travelling back in time and living every detail through imagination, it was an experience that will last in my mind for a long time, and made me curious to discover similar places. Thank you Elena and I hope to see you again soon for another tour!
9. San Michele
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 342 reviews
Venice's cemetary island since the 1800s.
Reviewed By wilsonx6
We were told about this place and wanted to go and see it. We took the water bus from Venice. It is just so tranquil and calm and offers a very rare and curious insight into how locals celebrate their loved ones.
10. Mercati di Rialto
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 1,223 reviews
Located near the landmark and arched Rialto Bridge (which you’ll see pictured in countless photos of Venice), this busy daily market stands in the commercial center of the city alongside the city’s famed Grand Canal. Venetian locals and international tourists alike frequent this centuries-old market for fruit, fish, and vegetables.
Reviewed By davebH4790ZN - Manchester, United Kingdom
Wonderful fish market in the centre of Venice, just a short walk from rialto bridge, wonderful experience, the atmosphere was buzzing, well worth a visit. We walked through other stalls and gift shops to get to the fish market.
