Dorsoduro is one of the six sestieri of Venice and means "hard spine" or also "Hard back". This fanciful name was given by the Venetians because of the presence of a solid subsoil on which this area was built. The area was therefore much less marshy than all the others.  Dorsoduro also encompasses the island of Giudecca and Sacca Fisola.

Dorsoduro is a picturesque district of quiet canals with residences belonging to wealthy Venetians and foreigners. It is considered by the Venetians to be a distinguished and elegant area. Probably the whole of the historic centre of Venice is to be considered a high-class area, especially if you are a tourist. The particularity of the sestieri, the proximity to the mainland, the history of the place, make Venetian buildings unique and therefore very expensive. Some of these palaces have become famous for their purchase prices or stories of alleged curses such as Ca Dario on the Gran Canale. The palaces overlooking the Gran Canale are another winning point of Dorsoduro. Some of the most characteristic are certainly the Ca Rezzonico with its gardens and the Ca Foscari.

Dorsoduro will enchant you with its marvellous views from Fondamenta delle Zattere or from the Accademia Bridge.

The Sestiere will also impress you for the presence of many young people who love to meet in Campo Santa Margherita or Campo San Barnaba. They are meeting places for Venetians, for young university students but also for tourists who want to experience a normal Venetian evening.

Dorsoduro has a very high concentration of museums such as the Accademia Gallery and the Peggy Guggenheim Collection. Art also pervades Dorsoduro in its churches such as the Basilica di Santa Maria della Salute, the Chiesa dei Carmini with the Scuola Grande dei Carmini next door. In the sestiere you can admire works by Titian, Tiepolo, Bellini, Veronese but also remarkable sculptures.

The concentration of many places of recreational and cultural activities have made Dorsoduro one of the most dynamic areas of Venice.