Around the middle of the nineteenth century, with the construction of the railway bridge, Cannaregio becomes the first point of entry into the city for those arriving in Venice by train. The area near the station, Punta San Giobbe, has recently been transformed into the University Ca' Foscari’s Economic Campus.

Out of the ordinary

From the station, the lively Strada Nuova leads to Rialto. However, just a few streets away you can discover smaller squares in terms of size or function, but no less interesting, such as the squares of Sant’Alvise, dei Mori and dell’Abbazia.

Campo de l'Abazia Cannaregio ph Andrea Solveni.jpg — Campo de l'Abazia. ph. Andrea Solveni

Hidden treasures

Continuing through the maze of banks, calli and campielli, you will discover the hidden treasures of Cannaregio, not to be missed:

the beautiful Gothic church that houses a miraculous statue of the Madonna found in a nearby garden, the Madonna dell'Orto, known as the Tintoretto church. The artist (who lived a stone’s throw away in Fondamenta dei Mori) decorated it with an extraordinary series of paintings, and is buried there with his family.
a true Renaissance jewel of Venice: Santa Maria dei Miracoli, designed by Pietro Lombardo, is the favorite church of many Venetians.
the Ghetto Island, the oldest Jewish quarter in Europe (established in 1516), today a lively and busy area of the city, where the five synagogues and the Jewish Museum tell the traditions of the historical Jewish community of Venice.

Chiesa Santa Maria dei Miracoli ph Comune di Venezia.jpg — Chiesa di Santa Maria dei Miracoli. ph. Comune di Venezia

The most beautiful buildings on the Grand Canal

Cannaregio has some of the oldest and most monumental buildings in Venice.
In the stretch of Grand Canal included in the sestiere, you can see the Ca' d'Oro, a splendid Gothic palace from the fifteenth century. It owes its name to the fact that, originally, some parts of the facade were covered with gold.
La Ca' d'Oro is now a state museum that houses the precious art collection of Baron Franchetti, last owner of the palace.
Ca' Vendramin Calergi, home of the municipal casino, is the last residence of Richard Wagner, where the famous master lived and composed during the last months of his life. Some rooms of his apartment have become a museum, accessible with guided tour.

Church of Sant’Alvise