10 great secret places to visit in Venice that no one will tell you

Venice needs no introduction: the pearl of the Venetian Lagoon is probably the most iconic and recognizable city in the world. Experiencing the magic of this place in person is priceless and always gives great emotions. We have selected for you 10 places to visit in Venice full of atmosphere, far from the canonical touristic tours. Dimore D'Epoca offers a selection of magnificent hotels in Venice, ideal for living the most of an unforgettable journey. We also thought of combining this unique place with the great wine culture of the area, creating a wine tasting experience in Venice.

Libreria “Acqua Alta”, a magic place for book lovers

For book lovers, a stop at the Libreria Acqua Alta in Venice, one of the most original bookshops in the world, is a must. The Acqua Alta Bookshop in Calle Lunga Santa Maria Formosa is the only place on earth where you will find a vast choice of books, new and used, arranged inside decidedly particular shelves: various types of boats, literally. The books are not just to buy but have been transformed into real furnishing objects. Old encyclopedias can become steps on a staircase, or cover the walls of external courtyards, transforming them into colorful surfaces. To complete the furnishings there are also oars and mannequins. The owner is very kind.

 

“Fondaco dei Tedeschi”: shopping, art and culture in the heart of Venice.

Fondaco dei Tedeschi is a hidden treasure in the deep heart of Venice. This historic building situated on the Grand Canal near the Rialto Bridge was the headquarters and living quarters of the city's German merchants. Today the building houses luxury shops, spaces for art exhibitions on three floors. It has a large covered but very bright internal courtyard and a magnificent roof terrace that offers a unique view of Canal Grande. The terrace can be visited for free upon reservation.

 

Discovering Giudecca Island

Giudecca is an island part of the sestiere of Dorsoduro, south of Venice: it's located south of the central islands of Venice, from which it is separated by the Giudecca Canal. It is easily reachable by vaporetto (Venice's boat public transport system) in a couple of minutes from Zattere stroll or in 15 minutes form Santa Lucia railway station. The island of Giudecca has a unique charm: far from the confusion and tourist routes, it is silent and full of atmosphere. Many celebrities have purchased a residence right here. Giudecca is also famous for its beautiful private gardens.

 

Squero San Trovaso: where gondolas are built

“Squero San Trovaso” is the typical Venetian shipyard where gondolas are created, built and repaired. The Squero San Trovaso is the most famous squero in Venice, born before the seventeenth century, and one of the very few still active. The squerarolo of San Trovaso builds the gondola entirely by hand, almost always without a project, as ancient tradition taught. To discover this artisanal processing technique, Squero San Trovaso also organizes tourist visits for groups.

 

The Ghetto of Venice

The Venetian Ghetto was the area of Venice in which Jews were forced to live by the government of the Venetian Republic. The ghetto is a neighborhood rich in history and charm, definitely worth a visit. There are many antique synagogues like Scuola Grande Tedesca (Great German Synagogue), Scuola Italiana (Italian Synagogue), Scuola Spagnola (Spanish Synagogue), Scuola Levantina (Levantine Synagogue), Scuola Canton (Canton Synagogue) and the Jewish Museum of Venice. There are some typical kosher cuisine restaurants too.

 

Eating in Venice: Cantina Do Spade

A few steps away from Rialto bridge you can find Cantina Do Spade, an ancient tavern established in 1448 where you can eat typical Venetian dishes made with extreme care. The dishes are prepared respecting the seasonality of the ingredients and ancient recipes, but with a touch of innovation. Cantina Do Spade is located in San Polo, 859, 30125 Venice: you can reach it from the Santa Lucia railway station with a walk of less than 20 minutes or with “vaporetto” public transport boat. We love this place so much that we created a culinary experience at Cantina Do Spade just for you.

 

A true Venetian expericence: “Al Mercà”

Al Mercà is one of the best “bacaro” in Venice. A bacaro is a typical Venetian tavern where people meet at any hour of day for a quick but tasteful meal and a glass of good wine, simply enjoing small things in life. Al Mercà is one of smallest bacaro in Venice, but it offers some of the best “cicchetti” in town. “Cicchetti” are small snacks made with a slice of fresh bread and many different ingredients like fish, meta, cheese and vegetables. Belive us, once you start tastig them you'll never stop! Al Mercà is located in Campo Bella Vienna, 213, 30125 Venezia, few steps from Rialto bridge. You can reach it from the Santa Lucia railway station with a 20 minutes walk or with “vaporetto” public transport boat. This place is worth a visit: don't hesitate!

 

Osteria la Zucca: Venetian taste, but vegetariana

Osteria la Zucca is one of the most original restaurants in Venice. A magical place where tradition meets innovation, with extraordinary results. Much loved by the inhabitants of Venice as well as tourists, Osteria La Zucca offers delicious vegetarian dishes with some vegan options. You can find it in Sestiere Santa Croce 1762, 30135 Venice. You can reach Osteria la Zucca from Santa Lucia Railway station with an easy 10 minutes walk. It is strongly recommended to book in advance, the restaurant is very popular.

 

Scala Contarini del Bovolo: a magic staircase

Palazzo Contarini del Bovolo is a late Gothic building in Venice, located in the San Marco district, near Campo Manin, and overlooking the Rio di San Luca. What makes this building so special is an astonishing 26 meters high staircase, “Scala Contarini del Bovolo”. The staircase leads to an arcade, providing an impressive view of the city roof-tops. The original construction of the building should date back to the 14th century, but the addition of the staircase instead took place at the end of the fifteenth century. You can visit this charming place and go up the staircase with an 8 Euros ticket (6 Euros for kids).

 

One last advice: get lost in Venice!

Venice is a magnificent place, unique in the world: to best experience it we recommend visiting the places on this list, in addition to the most famous attractions such as Piazza San Marco, Rialto Bridge, Punta della Salute and Peggy Guggenheim Museum. One last tip: get lost in Venice! Walk aimlessly through the streets, enjoy the beauty of this place: it will be easy to imagine being in the 1500s, especially in the less touristy area of Sestrier Castello. Try it, you won't regret it: you will take home unique memories and emotions.