Zattere
The
Zattere, in the sestiere of
Dorsoduro, may be the most people-friendly stretch of waterfront in
Venice: Unlike the Riva degli
Schiavoni along the San Marco waterfront, it's rarely jam-packed
with tourists, and there are few--if any--souvenir stands along the wide
stone-paved promenade that runs from just above the
cruise port's San Basilio pier to the tip
of Dorsoduro. (See
panoramic photo.)
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In the first image below, you can see nearly the
entire length of the promenade. Also visible are the Grand Canal and
Accademia Bridge (labeled
"Ponte dell'Accademia" in the photo) and, on the southern side of
the wider
Giudecca Canal, the island of
La Giudecca.
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The second photo starts at the
San Basilio pier, continues past
the San Basilio vaporetto stop (a small platform in front of the
yellow Billa supermarket), and finishes just beyond a large dock
that is used for visiting yachts, naval training ships, and other
vessels. (We've seen Johnny Depp's yacht
Vajoliroja moored here a few times.)
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Image 3 shows the next stretch of the Zattere,
including a waterfront restaurant, the
Zattere
vaporetto
and airport boat
piers, and two churches: Santa Maria
della Visitazione and the more important
Santa Maria del Rosario church
(more commonly known as the Gesuati,
a name that's also used for a church in the district of Cannaregio.)
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In the fourth picture, we've skipped to the final
section of the Zattere, where the sestiere or district of Dorsuduro
narrows by the
Church of Santa
Maria della Salute and the
Punta della Dogana with its historic customs house.
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Tip: The Zattere
is a great place for a walk at any time of year. It's especially
pleasant on milder Sundays from fall through spring, when Venetians
crowd restaurant and café tables along the
promenade (which faces south, toward the sun). Around 5 or 6 p.m.
during the cruise season, you can watch ships move slowly up the
Giudecca Canal on their way to the Adriatic. (Saturday is usually
the best day to see cruise ships; check the port's
cruise calendar for departure times.)
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