Santa Croce is a district of Venice. The Santa Croce district borders
to the south and east with the San Polo district, having as limits the
Rio di San Stae, the Rio Marin and the first part of Rio della Frescada,
up to the parish of San Pantalon. To the south it borders the Dorsoduro
district at Corte Gallo and Corte Barbo. To the north it is bordered by
the Grand Canal and is connected to Cannaregio via the Scalzi bridge and
the Constitution bridge. If we exclude the Tronchetto area, of recent
origins, the district appears to be the least extensive in the city.
Background
The district owes its name to the church of Santa
Croce, an important place of worship demolished after the suppressions
by Napoleon. As part of San Polo, this sestiere formerly belonged to the
area called Luprio, where numerous salt pans were located. It is the
sestiere that during the 20th century more than the others suffered the
impact of the road link between Venice and the mainland, first with the
construction of the Maritime Station and then with the creation of the
Piazzale Roma area, the opening of the Rio Novo and the construction of
the artificial parking-island of Tronchetto, all direct consequences of
the construction of the Ponte della Libertà automobile bridge in 1933,
which transformed the northern part of the district into the automobile
and bus terminal in the lagoon city. This is the only district of the
lagoon city where there is a small area where you can circulate with
vehicles, albeit in a very limited way.
On boat
1 San Stae. 1 A N Orange.
2 Riva de Biasio. 1 5.1 5.2N
3 Piazzale Roma "G". 2 No
4 Piazzale Roma "F". 1 2 2 / No.
5
Piazzale Roma "E". 4.1
6 Piazzale Roma "D". 3 4.2 5.2
7 Piazzale
Roma "B". 5.1 6
8 Tronchetto Market. 2 No
9 Tronchetto. 2N Orange
Blue.
10 Tronchetto Ferry. 17
On the train
The People mover of Venice has been in operation
since 2010, has a length of 0.857 km with departures every 7 minutes.
The route goes from Piazzale Roma (near Santa Lucia station) through the
Marittima stop (port) to the island of Tronchetto.
Summer
(April-October) Weekdays 07:00 - 23:00 Holidays 08:00 - 22:00
Winter
(November-March) Weekdays 07:00 - 23:00 Holidays 08:30 - 21:00
1 Church of San Giacomo dall'Orio, Campo S. Giacomo dall'Orio, 1587
(Riva De Biasio station). €3, free with the Chorus Pass. Mon-Sat
10:30-16:30.. Built in the 9th century, it is one of the oldest churches
in Venice. The charm of this church lies in its gloomy and archaic
exterior and interior, dominated by the warm presence of wood. Its
current form - the Latvian cross with a nave, two passages and a
transept - is the result of a reconstruction project that began in 1225,
as well as subsequent modifications that occurred in the 15th and 16th
centuries. There are also a number of paintings such as Lorenzo Lotto's
high altar "The Virgin Mary and Child with the Apostles and Saints"
(1546), which is one of the few works by the artist that can still be
found in Venice. The old sacristy houses some of the best works by
Jacopo Palma il Giovane, including the Titian altar with "Padre da
Ponte" (1580-81); while the new sacristy has a coffered ceiling.
2
Church of San Simeone Piccolo (church of Saints Simeon and Judas) (to
the right of Palazzo Adoldo and opposite the Venice railway station).
The last church built in Venice was built in the early eighteenth
century and was supposed to be a copy of the Pantheon in Rome. That's
why it has a large dome with a statue of San Salvatore on top. One of
the churches where they celebrate the Tridentine Mass on Sundays. It is
also recognized for its dome because it is used to make the church
appear taller than it is and the dome itself is entirely covered in lead
plates. The building has long been used as a concert auditorium.
3
Church of San Stae (church of Sant'Eustachio and fellow martyrs), Campo
San Stae (San Stae station). €3, with Chorus Pass - free. Mon-Sat
1.45pm-4.30pm. The church was built at the request of Doge Alvise
Mocenigo around 1709 to serve as a family crypt and was decorated in the
late Baroque style and is dedicated to San Eustachio. The facade is rich
in marble decorations and inside there are numerous paintings. The
sculptors who created these decorations were Tarsia, Torretto, Baratta
and Groppelli. The architect and builder of the interior of the church
was Giovanni Grassi. The church has a central sector, a vaulted ceiling
and three chapels on each side. The ceiling above the choir area is one
of the church's most beautiful features, with a beautiful painting that
adds color and brightness to the building.
4 Church of San Nicola da
Tolentino (I Tolentini). It was built in 1591-1602 by the architect
Scamozzi. The austere neoclassical facade is adorned with a colonnaded
portico by the architect Andrea Tirali. The former cathedral houses
magnificent works by Palma il Giovane (Madonna and Child with Saints,
St. Cecilia), Padovanino (Episodes from the life of St. Nicholas),
Bernardo Strozzi (St. Anthony of Padua and St. Lawrence, distributing
gold to the poor"). The doge Francesco Morosini is buried in the church,
the marble canopy above the tombstone was made by Filippo Parodi,
following Bernini's teaching. Now the church houses the university's
faculty of architecture.
5 Church of Sant'Andrea della Zirada.
6
Church of Santa Maria Maggiore.
7
Church of Santa Maria Mater Domini.
8 Church of the Name of Jesus.
9
Church of San Simeone Profeta (San
Simeone Grande or San Simeon Grando).
10
Church of San Zan Degolà
(church of San Giovanni Battista Decollato).
11 Palazzo Adolfo, Santa Croce, 711-712.
12
Palazzo Belloni
Battagia (Palazzo Belloni Battaglia). The magnificent Baroque building
was built in the mid-17th century by the architect Baldassarre Longhena
for the Belloni family. The first order is finished in white marble, the
main portal is crowned by a tympanum and framed by Ionic columns on the
sides. The second tier of the palace is decorated with coats of arms
with floral ornaments, the arched windows of the loggia are crowned with
female heads. Torn arches, unusual for Venice, are built above the
windows. The mezzanine has six irregularly arranged windows, a scalloped
cornice and a decorative frieze. The palace is crowned with two
beautiful pointed turrets in the form of obelisks. It is believed that
the palace was built for the admiral, but most likely this is not the
case: obelisks are often used to decorate palaces in Venice.
13
Palazzo Coccina Giunti Foscarini Giovannelli.
14
Palazzo Correggio.
15 Palazzo Donà (Palazzetto Sangiantoffetti Donà).
16
Palazzo Donà
Balbi.
17 Palazzo Duodo.
18
Palazzo Emo Diedo
19
Ca' Favretto
20 Fondaco del Megio (Fondaco del Miglio or Depositi del Megio). The
building with the lions of San Marco on the facade was built in the 15th
century.
21 Palazzo Foscari
Contarini
22 Gradenigo Palace
23
Palazzo Giovanelli
24
School of the Laneri
25
Palazzo Marcello
26 Marcello Toderini Palace
27
Foresti Papadopoli Palace (Palazzo Poerio
Papadopoli)
28 Palazzo Priuli Bon
29 Palazzo Priuli Stazio
30
Palazzo Soranzo Cappello
31
Ca' Tron
32 International Gallery of Modern Art (palazzo Ca' Pesaro)
(vaporetto 1 for San Stae), ☎ +39 041 524695, capesaro@fmcvenezia.it.
Adults €14, reduced €11.50 (valid for both Ca' Pesaro museums). Nov-Mar:
10am-5pm, Apr-Oct: 10am-6pm, closed Dec 25, Jan 1, May 1. The majestic
exterior of this palace built in 1710 hides two interesting art museums.
Ca' Pesaro's fabulously painted ceilings, alluding to the strength and
prestige of the Pesaro clan, rival even the works of art. The
International Gallery of Modern Art includes the works exhibited at the
Venice Biennale and covers numerous artistic movements of the 19th and
20th centuries, including McKyalio, the Expressionists and Surrealists
and sculptures by Rodin and Wildt, often the result of acquisitions
aimed at the various editions of the Biennial. On the middle floor there
are regular temporary exhibitions showcasing modernist and contemporary
artists; admission is included in the ticket price.
33
Museum of
Oriental Art (Palazzo Ca' Pesaro), ☎ +39 041 5241173,
capesaro@fmcvenezia.it. Adults €14, reduced €11.50 (valid for both Ca'
Pesaro museums). Tue-Sun Nov-March: 10am-5pm, Apr-October: 10am-6pm,
Closed M, 25 Dec, 1 Jan, 1 May. It preserves the treasures of the
journey of Prince Henry of Bourbon, which took place in 1887-89
throughout Asia. Prince Henry reached Japan at a time when Edo art was
becoming cheaper in favor of modern Meiji and purchased 30,000 items,
including Edo-era nets (miniature sculptures), weapons, screens and
utensils. About three-quarters of the collection is Japanese; the
remaining quarter includes a small collection of 12th- to 15th-century
Islamic pottery and intricately carved 18th-century Chinese chess
pieces.
34 Museum of Natural History of Venice Giancarlo Ligabue
(Fontego dei Turchi), Santa Croce 1730 (vaporetto line 1 for Riva di
Biasio), ☏ +39 041 2750206, nat.mus.ve@comune.venezia.it. Adults €8,
concessions €5.50. June-October: 10am-6pm; Nov-Mar: Tue, Fri
09:00-17:00, Sat-Sun 10:00-18:00. Built in the XIII century as a palace
of the Pesaro family. With its imposing facade overlooking the Grand
Canal, it is one of the most famous secular buildings in Venice. Its
Venetian-Byzantine style double loggia reflects the purpose for which
the building was erected: as a warehouse for the trade of goods from the
Orient. In 1381 the building was sold to Niccolò d'Este, Lord Ferrari,
and then (in 1621) it became a fountain for the local Turkish merchants
(ie the place where they had to live and carry out their business). The
Palazzo was used for this purpose until 1838, then from 1865 it was
involved in important restoration works. Subsequently, the Correr Museum
was located here and then, from 1923, the Natural History Museum. It was
created to house various local scientific collections: from the Correr
Museum to the Veneto Institute of Sciences, Letters and Arts and others.
Over time, this material has been added as a result of acquisitions and
donations to create the current rich, diverse and 700 million year old
collection, with 2 million exhibits, zoological, entomological and
botanical collections, fossil and anatomical preparations and
collections ethnographic .
35 Palazzo Mocenigo (Museum of Palazzo
Mocenigo) - Center for the Study of the History of Fabrics, Costumes and
Perfumes), Salizada di San Stae (vaporetto 1 for San Stae), ☎ +39 041
721798, info@fmcvenezia.it. Adults €5, concessions €3.50. Wed-Mon,
Apr-October: 10am-5pm, Nov-March: 10am-4pm; December 26th, January 1st,
May 1st. Venice received a wonderful addition to its real estate
portfolio in 1945, when Count Alvise Niccolò Mochenigo bequeathed the
17th-century palace, which belonged to his family, to the city. While
temporary exhibitions are held on the ground floor, on the main floor
you will find a splendid collection of historic fashion, including
exquisitely embroidered men's silk waistcoats. Completing the charm and
intrigue is an exhibition dedicated to the art of perfumery, an ode to
16th-century Venice as the European capital of perfumery. The luxurious
chandelier-decorated halls of Palazzo Mochenigo look almost identical to
those of 18th-century parties. However, even in the flow of
entertainment in the Green Living Room, the wise guests were attentive.
The Mochenigo family denounced the philosopher and host Giordano Bruno
for heresy to the Inquisition.
36 Ca' Corner della Regina (Fondazione
Prada) (San Stae station). €10. Wed-Mon 10am - 6pm. Ca'Corner, built
between 1724 and 1728 by Domenico Rossi for the San Cassiano Corner
family, is a Venetian palace overlooking the Grand Canal. It was built
on the ruins of a Gothic building in which Catherine Corner, the future
Queen of Cyprus, was born in 1454. The architecture recalls the style of
nearby Ca Pesaro, designed by Baldassare Longhen. The frescoes on the
ground floor represent a series of episodes from the life of Caterina
Cornaro. In 1800 the palace became the property of Pope Pius VII. From
1975 to 2010 it became the seat of the ASAC, the Historical Archive of
Contemporary Art of the Venice Biennale. Since 2011 the headquarters of
the Prada Foundation has been located in Venice, and to date it has
launched 8 temporary projects at the site, together with a program of
conservation and repair of the palazzo.
37 Constitution Bridge (Calatrava Bridge). In 1999, the modern bridge
by the Spanish architect Santiago Calatrava was commissioned (worth 4
million euros), which connects the Piazzale Roma bus station and the
main railway station Santa Lucia. Year after year it is accused of being
useless, inconvenient, inaccessible to people in wheelchairs or anyone
with luggage.
38 Scalzi Bridge. It is one of the four bridges that
cross the Grand Canal. It is also known as the "railway bridge" due to
its proximity to the Santa Lucia railway station.
39
Papadopoli
Gardens. Small public park in the center of Venice.
40
Ponte delle
Tette, Fondamenta de le Tette (on the border between the districts of
San Polo and Santa Croce). At the time of the Republic of Venice, the
whole area constituted a real red light district, in which houses of
tolerance abounded and one of these was located just above the Ponte
delle Tette. The prostitutes, looking out the windows towards the bridge
below, used to lure passers-by by showing them their uncovered breasts.
This singular toponymy originates from here. According to the historian
Tassini, this custom could have been imposed on prostitutes by a law of
the Serenissima to limit the spread of homosexuality, or with the aim of
"divert men from sinning against nature with this incentive".
Modest prices
1 Bacareto da Lele, Campo dei Tolentini 183 (Santa
Croce), ☎ +39 347 8469728. 6am-8pm.
Average prices
2 Osteria
Mocenigo, Salizada San Stae 1919, ☎ +39 041 5231703.
3 Trefanti, Rio
Marin, 888 (From the station, take the Scalzi bridge, continue taking
the calle opposite, take a forced left, after the first bridge continue
right over the rio. The tavern is located at number 888 on the left), ☎
+39 0415201789, info@osteriatrefanti.it. Tue-Sat 12:00-14.30,
19:00-22.30; Sun 7pm-10.30pm. Small tavern with typical Venetian
cuisine. The products vary on the basis of the fish supply. Reservation
recommended.
Modest prices
1 Ai Tolentini, Calle Amai, Santa Croce 197/G, ☎ +39
041 2753266.
Average prices
2 Hotel Ca' Zusto, Campo Rielo -
Santa Croce 1358, ☎ +39 041 5242991, fax: +39 041 2440063.
High
prices
3 Hotel Carlton Grand Canal, Fondamenta S. Pantalon, Santa
Croce 578, ☎ +39 041 2752200.
The Santa Croce district borders to the south and east with the San
Polo district, having as limits the rio di San Stae, the rio Marin and
the first part of the rio della Frescada, up to the parish of San
Pantalon.
To the south it borders the Dorsoduro district at Corte
Gallo and Corte Barbo. To the north it is bordered by the Grand Canal
and is connected to Cannaregio via the Scalzi bridge and the
Constitution bridge.
If we exclude the Tronchetto area, of recent
origins, the district appears to be the least extensive in the city.
The district owes its name to the church of Santa Croce, an important
place of worship demolished after the suppressions by Napoleon.
As part of San Polo, this sestiere formerly belonged to the area called
Luprio, where numerous salt pans were located.
It is the sestiere
that during the 20th century suffered more than the others the impact of
the road link between Venice and the mainland, first with the
construction of the Maritime Station and then with the creation of the
Piazzale Roma area, the opening of the Rio Novo and the construction of
the artificial Tronchetto parking-island, direct consequences of the
construction of the Liberty car bridge in 1933 (at the time Ponte
Littorio), which transformed the northern part of the district into the
car and bus terminal in the lagoon city. Together with a part of
Dorsoduro, in the parish of Santa Marta, it is the only district of
Venice where there is a small area where vehicles can be driven, albeit
in a very limited way.