Sights · Our pick in Venice
Venice and its lagoon: the back story
The back story
Photo Credit
Image courtesy of © Irin Acassi · CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia CommonsAbout Venice and its lagoon: the back story
UNESCO has listed “Venice and its Lagoon” as a World Heritage site since 1987. The city stands on islands in a shallow lagoon, linked by bridges and crossed by the Grand Canal, with Murano, Burano, Torcello and the Lido spread out across the water.
The city
Six sestieri make up the historic city: San Marco, Castello and Cannaregio on one side of the Grand Canal; San Polo, Santa Croce and Dorsoduro on the other, with the Giudecca across the water.
Photo Credit
Image courtesy of © This Photo was taken by Wolfgang Moroder. Feel free to use my photos, but please · CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia CommonsThe lagoon
Out in the lagoon lie Murano, the island of glass; Burano, with its painted houses and lace; Torcello, with its cathedral and mosaics; and the Lido, the long sandbar that faces the Adriatic.
See the city from the water first: ride a waterbus the length of the Grand Canal.
The tides
High tides (acqua alta) have shaped the city’s life; today the MOSE barriers at the lagoon inlets are raised when exceptional tides are forecast.
Our advice: give the islands a whole day, and walk the city early in the morning, before the day visitors arrive.
Why it's on our list
- The city
- The lagoon
- The tides
Opening hours, prices and seasonal openings change, so please check with Venice and its lagoon: the back story before you go.