English

Deutch

Italian

Chinese

Czech

French

Japanese

Portuguese

Russian

Slovak

Spanish

Murano, one of the <a href="https://venicexplorer.com/explore/off-the-beaten-track" target="{$styles.content.links.extTarget}" rel="noreferrer">islands surrounding Venice</a>, is a world-known destination. Known for its incredible glassmaking craft, Murano attracts many travelers. It is the second-largest island in the <a href="https://venicexplorer.com/explore/the-best-of-venice/the-venetian-lagoon" target="{$styles.content.links.extTarget}" rel="noreferrer">Venetian Lagoon</a>, consisting of seven smaller islands linked by bridges. So, let's explore why everyone should visit this wonderful island!&nbsp;
<h2>Getting there</h2>
It takes less than an hour to get from Venice to Murano by vaporetto. Moreover, you can <a href="https://www.viator.com/searchResults/all?text=glass+factory+venice&amp;destId=522&amp;pid=P00039620&amp;mcid=42383&amp;medium=link&amp;campaign=free+ride+from+San+Marco" target="{$styles.content.links.extTarget}" rel="noreferrer">get a free ride from San Marco</a>, provided by some of the island's glass factories. These places require you to see a 20-minute demonstration at the factory, but that's more of a benefit than a chore. You can use our interactive <a href="https://venicexplorer.com/" target="{$styles.content.links.extTarget}" rel="noreferrer">Venice map</a> and plan a perfect <a href="https://venicexplorer.com/itineraries/murano-itinerary" target="{$styles.content.links.extTarget}" rel="noreferrer">Murano itinerary</a>.&nbsp;
<h2>History</h2>
Originally, Murano was an area known for fishing and salt production. However, in the 15th and 16th centuries, talented glassmakers from Venice settled on the island. This changed the history of Murano forever. In 1924, Murano became a part of Venice, and until 1950, it managed to be the world's monopoly in glass forging. Artists who created extraordinary glass pieces had unprecedented status and privileges. It was so prestigious that Venetian nobles married the daughters of the glassmakers. Glassmakers who tried to set up their businesses elsewhere got killed. Venice officials wanted to protect the traditional techniques and trade secrets of the Murano glass.&nbsp;
<h2>Why you should visit</h2>
<h5>Glass factories and shops</h5>
Strolling through Murano's narrow streets and colorful houses is a pleasing experience. But a guided tour at a glass factory is unforgettable. These factories are the main attraction for Murano visitors. You'll stumble upon workshops with exhibition areas where you can see how the artists create their glassworks. Maybe they won't show you all the tricks of the trade, but it's a one-of-a-kind sight. In almost every factory, the demonstration is free of charge, and the vendors will try to sell you their products at any cost. Remember that you don't have to buy anything if you don't want to.
<h5>Murano Glass Museum</h5>
To dive deeper into the history of glassmaking, visit the <a href="https://venicexplorer.com/venice-museums/murano-glass-museum" target="{$styles.content.links.extTarget}" rel="noreferrer">Murano Glass Museum</a>. While touring the museum, you'll explore different types of glass art and various techniques. The collection at the Murano Glass Museum showcases objects from ancient times to the 20th century.
<h5>Basilica dei Santi Maria e Donato or Duomo of Murano</h5>
If you can spend a whole day in Murano, we recommend seeing <a href="https://venicexplorer.com/venice-churches/basilica-dei-santi-maria-e-donato" target="{$styles.content.links.extTarget}" rel="noreferrer">Basilica dei Santi Maria e Donato</a>. This minor Basilica, or Duomo of Murano, is a Venetian Byzantine-style church. It is also one of the most ancient <a href="https://venicexplorer.com/explore/churches" target="{$styles.content.links.extTarget}" rel="noreferrer">Venice churches</a>. Inside the Basilica, you'll find mesmerizing mosaics and even relics of the dragon!&nbsp;

Murano and its glassworks

Burano was one of the first settlements in the <a href="https://venicexplorer.com/explore/the-best-of-venice/the-venetian-lagoon" target="{$styles.content.links.extTarget}" rel="noreferrer">lagoon</a>. It has continued to prosper as a fishing community over the years. Burano is densely populated, and its waterways perfectly harmonize with its colorful houses. In recent decades, the island has changed dramatically. It turned from a village of fishermen and lacemakers to a bustling tourist destination.
The island's heart is the piazza and the street named after the Burano composer Baldassare Galuppi. There are linen and lace shops on the street. Enjoy open-air trattorias serving fresh fish and the famous Bussolai Buranei.
Burano is well-known worldwide for its lace. Dogaressa Morosini established and promoted the Burano lace school in the late 1500s. But the lace art of the island declined due to the pressure of competition from the French lace. In 1872, the establishment of Scuola dei Merletti revived the art of embroidery. The technique called the "air stitch" is what made Burano lace famous. In this technique, the artisan uses a needle and thread by hand without any support. The art of Burano lace has since undergone many evolutions and modifications.
Today Burano lace is all about complex designs, which take a lot of time and dedication. That's why it is expensive and difficult to find. It is also partly because there are only a few lace makers left. If you are lucky, you can see lace makers at work in the Burano lace schools. To learn more about the history of lace and admire some delicate samples, see the<a href="https://venicexplorer.com/venice-place-details/museo-del-merletto" target="{$styles.content.links.extTarget}" rel="noreferrer"> Burano Lace Museum</a>.
But Burano is not just about lace! One of the places we recommend seeing is the church of<a href="https://venicexplorer.com/the-city/venice-culture/annual-events/festa-di-san-martino" target="{$styles.content.links.extTarget}" rel="noreferrer"> San Martino</a>. This unfinished church has a striking leaning bell tower and is the symbol of Burano. On Burano, you must take at least one photo of Bepi Sua's house. The eccentric Mr. Bepi repainted the walls of the house daily. If you can afford a few days to explore the lagoon, stay for the night in one of the colorful houses on the island.<a href="https://www.viator.com/tours/Venice/Hop-on-Hop-off-Cruise-Transfer-to-Venice/d522-301278P1?pid=P00039620&amp;mcid=42383&amp;medium=link&amp;campaign=Experiencing+Burano" target="{$styles.content.links.extTarget}" rel="noreferrer"> Experiencing Burano</a> as a local rather than a tourist will be a unique adventure.

Burano Island Venice

Torcello is a perfect place to escape the crowds and experience a different side of Venice. Only about a dozen people live on the ancient island, so a trip there is like going back in time. You can tour the Basilica, visit one of the <a href="https://venicexplorer.com/explore/venice-museums-galleries" target="{$styles.content.links.extTarget}" rel="noreferrer">Venice museums</a>, and explore the nearby <a href="https://venicexplorer.com/explore/off-the-beaten-track-in-venice/burano-and-its-lace" target="{$styles.content.links.extTarget}" rel="noreferrer">Burano</a> island.&nbsp;
<h2>Getting there</h2>
Torcello is only 5 minutes away by ferry from <a href="https://venicexplorer.com/explore/off-the-beaten-track-in-venice/burano-and-its-lace" target="{$styles.content.links.extTarget}" rel="noreferrer">Burano</a>, and both <a href="https://venicexplorer.com/explore/off-the-beaten-track" target="{$styles.content.links.extTarget}" rel="noreferrer">Venice islands</a> are worth the visit. Besides, you can combine them into an exciting one-day <a href="https://venicexplorer.com/stay/itineraries" target="{$styles.content.links.extTarget}" rel="noreferrer">Venice itinerary</a>. To reach Torcello from the city, take a vaporetto at Fondamenta Nuove or <a href="https://venicexplorer.com/venice-churches/san-zaccaria" target="{$styles.content.links.extTarget}" rel="noreferrer">San Zaccaria</a>. You can use our <a href="https://venicexplorer.com/" target="{$styles.content.links.extTarget}" rel="noreferrer">Venice map</a> for navigation and planning.&nbsp;
<h2>History</h2>
Torcello is a 5th-century island in the lagoon. Its first settlers were the Altini, a population from the mainland. They fled from the Longobards' invasions. The Altini brought great wealth, including building materials and relics of saints. Along with <a href="https://venicexplorer.com/explore/off-the-beaten-track-in-venice/burano-and-its-lace" target="{$styles.content.links.extTarget}" rel="noreferrer">Burano</a> and Mazzorbo, it was the first lagoon settlement. From the 10th century, it was the most important trade center with the East. As the <a href="https://venicexplorer.com/explore/the-best-of-venice/ponte-di-rialto" target="{$styles.content.links.extTarget}" rel="noreferrer">Rialto</a> community grew through trade, Torcello became a religious center. But with time, the island lost its splendor due to its marshy areas and the malaria epidemic. These problems drove the remaining island's population towards Venice.&nbsp;
<h2>Why you should visit</h2>
Did you know that Ernest Hemingway spent some time on the island in 1948? That's because Torcello is an enriching experience off the beaten path. Its main attraction is the 7th-century <a href="https://venicexplorer.com/venice-churches/santa-maria-assunta-di-torcello" target="{$styles.content.links.extTarget}" rel="noreferrer">Basilica of Santa Maria Assunta</a>. This <a href="https://venicexplorer.com/explore/churches" target="{$styles.content.links.extTarget}" rel="noreferrer">Venice church</a> was one of the first buildings in the lagoon. It features Late Paleochristian architecture and the earliest mosaics in the area. It also has a magnificent bell tower offering a great view of Torcello Island. Another <a href="https://venicexplorer.com/explore/churches" target="{$styles.content.links.extTarget}" rel="noreferrer">Venice church</a> to see there is Santa Fosca, a part of the Basilica's complex.&nbsp;
When in Torcello, remember to see the famous Devil's Bridge. Together with Ponte Chiodo di <a href="https://venicexplorer.com/the-city/geography-of-venice/cannaregio" target="{$styles.content.links.extTarget}" rel="noreferrer">Cannaregio</a>, it is one of the bridges without a parapet. According to the legend, the devil built it in one night to win a bet. In addition, history buffs can visit Torcello's Museum. Inside this <a href="https://venicexplorer.com/explore/venice-museums-galleries" target="{$styles.content.links.extTarget}" rel="noreferrer">Venice museum</a>, you'll find archaeological remains found on the island. The building of the museum is Palazzo del Consiglio, a Gothic-style palace built in 400.&nbsp;

Torcello

The Venetian Lido is a slender sandbank 12 km (8 miles) long, which forms a natural barrier between <a href="/">Venice</a> and the open sea. It is both a residential suburb of the city and more importantly for tourists, the city’s seaside resort.
This island in the lagoon, as well as her sister Pellestrina, allows cars It is linked to the <a href="https://venicexplorer.com/the-city/geography-of-venice/santa-croce" target="{$styles.content.links.extTarget}" rel="noreferrer">Tronchetto island</a> car park by car ferry almost every half an hour.&nbsp;From <a href="/">Venice</a>, the Venetian Lido is regularly served by a vaporetti.
The Lido’s main season runs from June to September, the most crowded months being July and August. In winter, most hotels are closed.
<h2>The World’s First Lido</h2>
In the 19th century, before the Lido was developed, the island was a favourite haunt of Shelley, Byron and other literary figures. Byron swam from the Lido to Santa Chiara via the <a href="https://venicexplorer.com/fr/explore/the-best-of-venice/grand-canal" target="{$styles.content.links.extTarget}" rel="noreferrer">Grand Canal</a> in under four hours, beginning the tradition of a famous swimming marathon with a Cup, the Byron Cup, which lasted until swimming along the Grand Canal ceased because of traffic and water pollution.
Bathing establishments were gradually opened, and by the turn of the century the Venetian Lido had become one of Europe’s most fashionable seaside resorts, frequented by royalty and film stars. They stayed in the grand hotels, swam in the sea or sat in deckchairs on the sands by the striped cabanas.
Life in the Lido’s heyday was brilliantly evoked in Thomas Mann’s book Death in Venice. The Hotel des Bains, where the melancholic Von Aschenbach stayed, was featured in the novel and in Visconti’s 1970’s film. It is still a prominent landmark and an elegant place to stay.
The other face of the island overlooked by Mann, and Visconti’ was that of fishing and rural life. Artichokes grow here at their best, and oysters from the lagoon were the preferred choice of Napoleon. who had them delivered in sealed boxes throughout his Campaigns.
The Venetian Lido is no longer the prestigious resort it was in the 1930s. Beaches are crowded, the streets busy and the ferries packed with day trippers. Nevertheless, the sand, sea and sporting facilities provide a welcome break from city culture. The backwaters provide a green respite from the heat of Venice.
<h2>Exploring the Island</h2>
The Lido can be covered by bus but a popular form of transport is the bicycle. You can hire one from the shop almost opposite the vaporetto stop at <a href="/explore/venice-churches">Santa Maria Elisabetta</a>.
The east side of the island is fringed by sandy lido beaches venice. For passengers arriving by ferry at the main landing stage, these beaches are reached by bus, taxi or on foot along the Gran Viale Santa Maria Elisabetta. This is the main <a href="/the-city/buy-local">shopping street of the Lido</a>.
At the end of the Gran Viale you can either turn left for the beaches of San Nicolo, or right along the Lungomare G Marconi, which boasts the grandest hotels and the best beaches. The hotels control the beaches in this area and charge exorbitant fees for the use of beach facilities.
When the road turns 90° to the right and joins via Sandro Gallo, you can choose to climb the small pedestrian-bike track leading to the Alberoni lightship all along the Adriatic Sea shore, if you are walking or biking. This area is freely accessible, and offers the only chance to be free of the sand and have your swim in a rocky environment. About 20 small seawalls create a series of half pools, often frequented by naturists.
Via Sandro Gallo, a long, straight road, leads south-west to the village of Malamocco and then to Alberoni.
The street runs mainly in the middle of the islands, but a right turn can be made to admire the sight of the lagoon and of Venice from the Lido.
Malamocco offers some pleasant fish restaurants. The evidence that this was once Metamauco, the 8th century seat of the lagoon’s government, Bishop and Duke can be found in a couple of ancient palaces, inside the small and otherwise poor village. During their empire, a Roman’s road to salt deposits of Grado and Trieste passed along the two islands of Pellestrina and Venetian Lido. Malamocco still shows a tiny roman Bridge, half way between the Lagoon and the Sea shores.
Alberoni, at the southern end of the Venetian Lido, is the site of a golf course, a public beach and the landing stage for the ferry across to Pellestrina.
A nature reserve covers a dune area, where flora and fauna of the sandy areas can be observed.
<h2>San Nicolo</h2>
On the opposite side of this long island, San Nicolo area boasts a large Roman bridge along the lagoon side. The monastery of San Nicolo, founded in 1044 and rebuilt in the 16th century, and a 16th century palace, once the seat of the Council of Ten, the political police of the Serenissima. Across the Porto di Lido, you can see the island-fortress of Sant’Andrea, built by Michele Sanmicheli between 1435 and 1449, to guard the main entrance of the lagoon. Then the Vignole isle, the bigger Certosa (Benedictine Central Monastery) until dissolution under Napoleon and now reduced mainly to wild grass land, was a port for pleasure craft. On the right, you’ll see a long and green line of land, Sant’ Erasmo Island, still the vegetable garden of the town, whose products are sold in a particular area in the Rialto Market.
It was to the Porto di Venetian Lido that the Doge was rowed annually to cast a gold ring into the sea in symbolic marriage each spring. After the ceremony he would visit the nearby church and the monastery.
The nearby Jewish cemetery which is open to the public dates back to 1386.
The rest of this northern area was given over to an airfield. The Aeroclub located there organizes private flying and parachuting lessons.
<h2>Getting to the Venetian Lido</h2>
Reaching the Venetian Lido is a straightforward affair. From the heart of Venice, vaporettos (water buses) frequently ply the waters, connecting the city to the island. A short and pleasant ride across the lagoon will transport you to this enchanting destination.
<h2>Tips for a Memorable Visit</h2><ul> 	<li>Timing: The best time to visit the Lido is during the shoulder seasons (spring and autumn) when the weather is pleasant, and the crowds are fewer.</li> 	<li>Exploration: Don't confine yourself to the beaches. Take some time to wander the streets, visit local cafes, and soak in the island's unique ambiance.</li> 	<li>Film Festival: If you're a film lover, consider planning your visit during the Venice Film Festival for a chance to catch a glimpse of the glamour and excitement of this prestigious event.</li> 	<li>Rent a Bicycle: Cycling is an excellent way to explore the Lido's hidden corners and scenic spots at your own pace.</li> 	<li>Respect Local Customs: Remember that the Venetian Lido is a residential area as well. Be respectful of the locals and their daily lives during your visit.</li> </ul>&nbsp;
The Venetian Lido is a captivating destination that offers a perfect blend of history, culture, and relaxation. Whether you seek a quiet beach retreat, a cultural escape, or a mix of both, the Lido has something to offer every traveler. As you plan your next Italian adventure, consider venturing beyond Venice's main attractions to discover the magical allure of the Venetian Lido - an unforgettable experience awaits.

Venetian Lido

The island of San Michele cemetery is located just in front of the waters of Fondamente Nova between <a href="/">Venice</a> and <a href="https://venicexplorer.com/venice-place-details/murano-glass-museum" target="{$styles.content.links.extTarget}" rel="noreferrer">Murano</a>. According to some legends it was a hermitage and San Romualdo dei Camaldolesi stayed there. In 1839 the island of San Michele was united with the island of San Cristoforo della Pace by filling in the canal that divided them. This decision was taken in order to create an island to house a city cemetery. The aim was to avoid widespread diseases that were common in highly concentrated places like Venice. Before the island was designed, the bodies of Venetians were traditionally buried in <a href="/explore/venice-churches">churchs</a> cemeteries.
This island has much to offer visitors and requires at least a couple of hours to visit. After taking the vaporetto from Fondamente Nove you will arrive in island of San Michele after a few minutes. On the waterbus ride, look to your right for Dante's Chiatta with Virgil. This bronze work by Georgy Frangulyan immortalises the two poets on a gondola, while Dante shows Virgil the way.
Next to the island's pier stands the church of <a href="https://venicexplorer.com/venice-place-details/santa-maria-assunta" target="{$styles.content.links.extTarget}" rel="noreferrer">San Michele in Isola</a>.&nbsp;&nbsp;The church was designed by Mauro Codussi and finished in 1479. It was the first church in Venice to be clad in white Istrian stone and was the seat of a prestigious Camaldolese monastery. Of great beauty is the Emiliani Chapel inside.
Most of San Michele is covered by the cemetery. The architect Annibale Forcellini designed the island of San Michele cemetery in 1872. Historical figures such as the poet Ezra Pound and the composer Igor Stravinsky are buried in the cemetery. Also remembered are the creator of the Russian ballet Sergej Diaghilev, the painter Emilio Vedova, the writer Josif Brodsky and the coach Helenio Herrera. The cemetery is also home to many Italians such as Carlo and Gasparo Gozzi, Teodoro Ferrari, the Venetian Giulio Lorenzetti, Emilio Vedova, Roberto Calasso and many others.
&nbsp;This cemetery is part of the historical and cultural heritage of the municipality of Venice and is a tourist destination. Today Venetians are buried on the mainland.
If you visit Venice and plan to visit Murano, we suggest you disembark, before or after, on the island of San Michele.
&nbsp;

Island of San Michele

One of the most characteristic places in the Venetian lagoon is the island of Giudecca. Venetians call it Zudeca and it was originally called Spinalunga as it is the longest island in the lagoon. The island is well connected but very quiet and belongs to the Dorsoduro sestiere. Giudecca is separated from <a href="/">Venice</a> by the canal of the same name, the Giudecca Canal.&nbsp;&nbsp;This tranquillity has allowed the flourishing of cloistered <a href="/explore/venice-churches">churches</a>, monasteries but also houses of wealthy and noble Venetians.&nbsp;
Giudecca is not only a place of great serenity, but also a place of culture and art. Probably the Basilica del Redentore is the religious and cultural heart of the island. The <a href="https://venicexplorer.com/venice-place-details/the-redentore" target="{$styles.content.links.extTarget}" rel="noreferrer">Basilica del Redentore</a> is the work of Andrea Palladio, a triumph of classical Renaissance art. The white marble exterior will impress you with its geometry and rigour. The interior will enrapture you with its lights and works of art, such as those by Tintoretto and Veronese. The Redentore Festival is held here in July, an event commemorating the end of the terrible plague at the end of the 16th century.&nbsp;&nbsp;
Another important stop is the Chiesa delle Zitelle, a Renaissance-style church that was once a convent for orphan girls. This is why the church was given the name Chiesa delle Zitelle. The original name was Church of Santa Maria della Presentazione. Inside you will be struck by the vaulted dome and the altarpiece entitled "Presentation of the Virgin in the Temple" by Francesco Bassano. Inside you will find other works such as those by Palma il Giovane and Antonio Vassilacchi.
Another marvel is the Church of St Euphemia, with its frescoed ceilings depicting the life of St Euphemia. The Venetian Gianmaria Morlaiter's sculpture of 'The Virgin with Christ on her knees' is another reason to visit the church.&nbsp;
The island of Giudecca is home to well-known workshops of Venetian craftsmen and artists. It is pleasant to stroll through the streets of Giudecca in search of some handicrafts to support the local economy. The island has also been home to famous artists. One of these was the painter and architect Mario de Maria who lived in the Casa dei Tre Oci, designed by himself.&nbsp;&nbsp;The magnificent Casa dei Tre Oci takes its name from the shape of its windows, shaped like three eyes.&nbsp;&nbsp;This incredible building overlooking the Giudecca Canal is one of the most photographed places in the lagoon. This is a neo-gothic building with Venetian themes and used to host artists from all over the world passing through Venice.&nbsp;
Giudecca is a beautiful tongue of land filled with art and history that will make your experience even more unique.

Giudecca

Jesolo has been one of the most popular destinations for Italians since the post-war period.&nbsp;&nbsp;Even today more than 5 million tourists visit this seaside area. Who comes to Jesolo, comes for the beaches with fine sand and nature. They also come here for the evening entertainment, the relaxation of the services, and the possibility of doing various activities such as trekking or cycling tours. You will find yourself between the mouths of the Sile and Piave rivers, and you will see the Barene ecosystem. In Jesolo you will be a few minutes from <a href="/">Venice</a> and only two hours from the Dolomites. If you're a fan of local flora and fauna, the Laguna del Mort is home to seabirds and other animals. You will have 15 km of bathing beaches, both free and with establishments. The area is also interesting from a historical point of view with the Ancient Walls and the Caigo Tower. As you can see Jesolo has a lot to offer.
Jesolo has a long history and was known by the Romans as Equilium, famous for its horse breeding. In about 1500 it took the name of Cavazuccherina, in honour of Alvise Zucharin who diverted the course of the river Piave that was flooding the area. Since 1797, with the fall of Venice, the area suffered the same decline. It only recovered at the end of World War II, with the reconstruction and the Italian boom.&nbsp;s or the so-called Gondolini, the tourist trains.&nbsp;
Since the 1990s Jesolo has started a process of modernisation thanks to the work of the town planner Kenzo Tange, a contemporary reinterpretation of a seaside town.&nbsp;
The Jesolo area is served by ATVO bus lines. With ATVO you can easily reach <a href="https://venicexplorer.com/stay/getting-here/reach-st-marks-square-from-marco-polo-airport" target="{$styles.content.links.extTarget}" rel="noreferrer">Marco Polo Airport</a>, Treviso, Punta Sabbioni and from here the whole lagoon area, thanks to the waterbuses. If you want to reach Piazzale Roma you can always use the ATVO line. Alternatively, you can also use bike sharing, rental bikes, rental car
Jesolo boasts many restaurants serving fish from the Adriatic, game from the Piave and Sile rivers, as well as classic Italian dishes. One of the most popular places for those who appreciate Venetian cuisine is Porto di Cortellazzo.
When you plan to visit Venice between April and September, carve out some relaxing days in Jesolo.

Jesolo

Venice Mestre is the gateway to the <a href="/history-of-venice">historic centre of Venice</a> and is connected to it by the Ponte della Libertà bridge. Mestre is a junction for the railway system with the Venezia Mestre FS station and for the motorways with the A4, the A27 and the A 57. From Mestre it is very easy to reach <a href="https://venicexplorer.com/stay/getting-here/reach-st-marks-square-from-marco-polo-airport" target="{$styles.content.links.extTarget}" rel="noreferrer">Marco Polo Airport</a> thanks to the ACTV and ATVO buses. Parking in Mestre is also much easier without spending a fortune thanks to the many covered and supervised car parks. From here you can reach the whole of Northern Italy without any major problems.&nbsp;
You can also decide to stay in Mestre and travel to <a href="/">Venice</a> every day for your sightseeing. Here you will find <a href="https://venicexplorer.com/explore/restaurants" target="{$styles.content.links.extTarget}" rel="noreferrer">excellent hotels at reasonable prices</a> and you will find the same professionalism and courtesy that distinguishes the Venetian people.
Mestre has always been a land of passage. In fact, the Roman Via Gallica passed through here and it was also the watershed between the Holy Roman Empire and the Republic of Venice. It was not until 1337, after the Serenissima had wrested Mestre from the hands of Verona, that what would become known as the "Stato de Tera" began to take shape. The "Stato de Tera" were the mainland possessions of the Serenissima. From 1400 onwards Mestre became the gateway to the trade of the Serenissima until its decline with the end of the Venetian Republic in 1797.&nbsp;
In contemporary times, in 1929, Mestre was incorporated into the municipality of Venice and the chemical and industrial hub of Porto Marghera was created. A further economic boom took place in the post-war period, peaking in the 1970s.
Mestre is not only a land of borders and passageways, it is also a land of culture still in ferment. In fact, one of the pavilions of the <a href="https://venicexplorer.com/it/the-city/venice-culture/annual-events/la-biennale-di-venezia" target="{$styles.content.links.extTarget}" rel="noreferrer">Biennale</a> is held inside Forte Marghera, a nineteenth-century fortification defending the lagoon. Other events are also held in Forte Marghera.
The heart of Mestre is Piazza Erminio Ferretto, now also a pedestrian zone with restricted traffic (ZTL). Here you will find the Cathedral of San Lorenzo in neoclassical style and on the opposite side of the large square you will find the Clock Tower.&nbsp;&nbsp;The <a href="/explore/venice-churches">Church</a> of San Girolamo with an altarpiece by Palma il Giovane is another noteworthy church. The Alpini of northern Italy are devoted to the Madonna del Don and in the Chiesa dei Cappuccini every September the Alpini pay homage to a sacred relic found in Russia.
Mestre also has pleasant parks such as San Giuliano Park, Villa Querini gardens, Piraghetto Park and many others.
If you visit Venice consider staying in Mestre, it can be a convenient and pleasant option.

Off the Beaten Track in Venice