Dorsoduro Venice: art, crafts, food and wine

Venice is a city rich in art and history but there is a district (which venetians call "Sestiere") that contains the artistic and university heart of the city: Dorsoduro. Unlike the neighboring Sestiere di San Marco, the calli and campielli of Dorsoduro are less crowded and hide unforgettable views of an authentic Venice. You will find some of the most important art museums in the city and you can plan your itinerary in the name of local crafts and food and wine.

What to visit in Dorsoduro

Basilica della Salute

It is one of the most important Baroque churches in Venice. It is located in the Punta della Dogana area and is the backdrop for many photographs taken from the Accademia Bridge. Designed by Baldassarre Longhena, of Palladian inspiration, this basilica is the arrival point of a pilgrimage that takes place every year on November 21st on the occasion of the Feast of the Madonna della Salute, an ancient Venetian tradition, which commemorates the thanksgiving of the entire city to the Madonna for the end of a terrible pestilence between 1630-31.

Zattere

The Fondamenta delle Zattere overlooks the Giudecca Canal and connects the Maritime Station to Punta della Dogana, a path of almost one kilometer. It is the ideal place to stroll and enjoy the view. A mandatory stop especially for the sweet lovers is “da Nico” ice cream parlor which with its now famous gianduiotto will brighten your day even more.

Campo Santa Margherita

The hub of the neighborhood's social life, Campo Santa Margherita comes alive during aperitif hours, thanks , above all, to the proximity of some of the IUAV and Ca 'Foscari university location. Going along it towards the Accademia it is possible to cross the famous Ponte dei Pugni and admire the characteristic fruit and vegetable shop-boat.

Museums and galleries

Dorsoduro is home to some museums that art lovers should visit. Here are the main ones:
Gallerie dell’Accademia with works by Venetian and Italian artists including Giorgione, Carpaccio, Veronese and many others;
The Peggy Guggenheim Collection where you can admire the masterpieces of contemporary art (Duchamp, Kandinsky, Picasso just to name a few);
Punta della Dogana with the Pinault Collection, home to various temporary exhibitions;
Ca' Rezzonico, the eighteenth-century Venetian museum housed in a splendid Baroque palace;
Palazzo Cini with its works of ancient art (including Filippo Lippi, Beato Angelico, Botticelli, Piero di Cosimo, Pontormo);
Casa dei Tre Oci, famous for its photographic exhibitions;
V-A-C Foundation, recently opened gallery and home to various temporary exhibitions.

Squero di San Trovaso

The squero di San Trovaso, housed in a wooden structure with the typical shape of a mountain house, is one of the oldest traditional shipyards in the city still active. Operating since the 17th century, gondolas, pupparini, sandoli, sciopòni and other boats typical of the Venetian lagoon tradition are still built here today.

Craft shops

Ca' Macana with its masks, Perlamadredesign and its creations with pearls, Canestrelli mirrors and Dal Nono Colussi focaccia are just some of the shops that carry on local craftsmanship between tradition and innovation. Lose yourself in the streets of Dorsoduro and discover the shops of the past, exchange a few words with the owners and you will discover the most authentic Venice.

Cicheti and more: where to eat

Visiting Venice also means savoring its traditional dishes such as cod, saor or cuttlefish. Of course there are also typical recipes based on meat and vegetarian reinterpretations to satisfy everyone's tastes. Here we mention only a few taverns that may be of interest in the Dorsoduro district in addition of course to our Restaurant La Rivista: Osteria allo Squero, da Codroma, Osteria Ai Pugni, Cantine del Vino already Schiavi, alla Bifora.