St. Erasmus Island, about four kilometres in length, is traditionally thought of as the market garden of Venice. As far back as the sixteenth century, its land was described as a landscape rich in cultivation, so that it provided the city with “abundant and very best quality “ fruit and vegetables.

This agricultural tradition is still alive today and at St. Erasmus local specialities are grown, such as the violet artichoke, a variety that was very highly esteemed at the time of the Venetian Republic.

Its first tender shoots are called “castraùre” and are a keenly anticipated delicacy in spring. In May, the “Festa del Carciofo”, the artichoke festival, celebrates this important product with displays of a range of varieties, flavours and tastings.

Another important gastronomic celebration is the “Festa del Mosto”, which normally takes place in early October and is dedicated to the new wine vintage.

Over the course of the centuries, the island has also become important for other reasons, particularly strategic ones, which are probably the most significant. The old military fortifications are still partly visible.

The most important and the best preserved is the circular Torre Massimiliana, built by the Austrians in the middle of the nineteenth century. Also notable are the three-winged pillboxes of the Ridotto Nuovo and the Testa di Ponte, now restored with a riverside walk and a public park. Today, the road which links this riverside area with the different fortifications is Via dei Forti. The island is also a spot for completely relaxing - if you go on to the beach at Bacàn, right beside Torre Massimiliana, you will see why it is so appreciated by Venetians in the height of summer.

With its single road running all around the perimeter of the island, St. Erasmus is the only island in the northern end of the lagoon which is completely accessible by bike and is also perfect for exploring on foot. The island is reached by ACTV vaporetto Line 13, from the Fondamenta Nuove and Murano and also from the Cavallino-Treporti shore, a trip which itself offers enchanting vistas of canals and sand-banks. You can probably arrange bike hire on arrival. The paths unroll between fields and orchards, offering glimpses towards the shore at Cavallino and to the nearby islands. There are so many paths and byways, often leading to the main farms of the area; you can decide which to visit based on the season and their opening times (contact details and links to individual businesses at the end of the text). As an alternative, it is possible to join bicycle tours organised by the Comune di Venezia between April and September in 2025, which will start at the vaporetto stop from San Giuliano in Mestre. For this offer, you can bring your bike with you; various itineraries will be offered, depending on availability at the various farms and the time of year. An expert guide will explain the history of the land and tell you about its unique products.

Our suggested self-guided itinerary leaves from the Capannone vaporetto stop, from where you can continue by bike or on foot along the Strada Vicinale dei Forti. After about 1km, you will arrive at the Spiaggia del Bacàn. It’s a small, sandy oasis, a favourite meeting place for Venetians, especially during the summer.

To the south-west, the beach is dominated by the imposing Forte di San Erasmo, better known as the Torre Massimiliana. Built by the Austrians in1843-44, on the foundations of the French fort built between 1811-14, its plan is circular allowing for a 360 degree range of fire around the horizon. This unusual structure was designed by the Archduke Maximilian of Habsburg-Este, and is one of the few examples to be seen in Italy. Its military use continued until the end of the Second World War, after which it was used as accommodation for refugees and as an agricultural storehouse. Today, thanks to a volunteer group, it is occasionally open for exhibitions and events.

On a bike and still full of energy, you can carry on along the Via dei Forti for another 3.5 km, admiring the lovely view over to the Cavallino – Treporti shore, until you reach the quietest and most isolated part of the island, with nothing but orchards and vineyards. From here, if you take Via de le Motte, you arrive at the Punta Vela vaporetto stop, with its view over to the island of San Francesco del Deserto, where there is a Franciscan convent. Along this section of the route, it is easy to spot a number of boundary stones, originally placed at the end of the eighteenth century to mark the boundaries of the Lagoon (https://centocippi.it/). Continue for another 1.5km to find the modern church of Cristo Re (Christ the King). From here you can take the vaporetto to Treporti or turn back to the Capannone stop, just 2km away.

Here is a list of the businesses which are participating in the guided tours offered by the Comune, but which you can also visit independently, working out your own personal itinerary.

Mazzorbo