itinerari Archivi - Hotel Bucintoro

Mar 08 2018

Cannaregio district Venice

Cannaregio district Venice is the largest and most populated district of Venice after Castello. Cannaregio covers most of the territory on the norther side of the Grand Canal.

The bridge of Guglie in Cannaregio

The name might recall the large cane fields present in this area when still uninhabited.
Another hypothesis, a bit less plausible, is that the name comes from the Canal Regio, referred to the canal of Cannaregio. However, it could actually be an error in some Hapsburg maps. During the Napoleon’s era, some local dignitaries as Antonio Ruzini, Niccolò Vendramin Calergi and Giovan Battista Combi called the canal Canalreggio. Due to this fact, we think that this name was already used in the 19th century and so its origin must be more ancient.

In the Cannaregio district Venice is situated the Jewish Ghetto of Venice. You can reach it walking under a sottoportico, close to the bridge of Guglie. The iron hinges of the doors, who once closed the Ghetto during the night,are still easily visible. In the Jewish Ghetto you can see 5 synagogues, a few open to the public, and the Jewish museum.

If you want to visit the Jewish Ghetto, take boat line 1 and get off at San Marcuola stop.

The main artery of the district is the large walking route that goes from Santa Lucia train station to Rialto. This route starts from Scalzi bridge and it ends in Santi Apostoli square (25 minutes). This street ,which extends for 1.5 km, is called Strada Nova but it is known with the name of Vittorio Emanuele II too.

For information, feel free to ask at the reception.

Dec 28 2017

San Marco district Venice

San Marco is the smaller district of the town but it contains the political and religious heart of Venice. It has always been inhabited by the nobility and, together with Rialto and San Pietro di Castello, it is part of the original nucleus in the development of Venice. It is limited north by the Grand Canal, south by Saint Mark’s basin, west by Rio del Palazzo and east by Rio de San Zulian. It borders north with Cannaregio district and east with Castello district, it is connected with San Polo district through Rialto bridge and with Dorsoduro through Accademia bridge. Administratively, the district contains San Giorgio Maggiore island too.

Saint Mark’s square, the political and religious heart of Venice.

In the origin, its name was Rivoalto, in which Rialto come from too. It was called also Civitas Rivoalti, recalling the area of its foundation. Saint Mark’s square is naturally the heart of the district: for more than 1000 years was the political, decision and judiciary center of the Republic of Venice. Here took place the most important event as the Venice Carneval, who is still alive nowadays. Saint Mark’s square is the only square of the town exposed on the maritime basin: richful of monuments and palaces, it gathers more than 15 centuries of history and art. Saint Mark’s square is the living room of the venetian citizens: the open space dedicated to host all the most importants events in the town.

San Marco district hosts several monuments like the Bell tower, the basilica and the Doge’s Palace.

Together with the “Paròn de casa“, the bell tower, who towers with its 98 meters of height in the square and all the town, you can enjoy the view of several monuments, very close together and in different styles, as the venetian stylistic instructs. You can see the Procuratie right in front of the Basilica and the Doge’s palace, venue of the juridical power of the Serenissima; the clock tower, restored in 2006; the famous bridge of sighs beyond which starts Castello district. There is also the Napoleonic wing where you can find Correr museum. Outside the square you can also find La Fenice theatre, Goldoni theatre, San Moisè church, Palazzo Grassi and the island of San Giorgio Maggiore, where the basilica and the Cini foundation rise.

San Giorgio Maggiore island is part of the San Marco district too

From Hotel Bucintoro you can reach San Marco district very easily! Ask at the reception for mor information!

Nov 29 2017

Scala Contarini del Bovolo Venice

Hidden inside a small court on the side of Campo Manin, at the end of a tiny street, rise in all its beauty the Scala Contarini Del Bovolo Venice. This staircase, a particular structure for the venetian architecture, is part of the Palazzo Contarini del Bovolo, a gothic-style palace built between the 14th and 15th century as mansion of the Contarini family. In the end of the 15th century, when the staircase was annexed at the palace, they family name became “Contarini dal Bovolo”.

The Staircase Contarini del Bovolo, a few minutes from St. Mark’s square.

The staircase, 26 meters tall with a diameter of 4.7, was built with bricks and Istria stone and is composed by loggias and arches. You can climb the 80 steps counterclockwise and, on top, you can enjoy a wonderful view of the venetian roofs. The columns and the arches give to the staircase a peculiar aspect. Some experts see a sort of connection between the Gothic period and the Renaissance.

The magnificent view from the top of the staircase.

The entrance ticket for the staircase Contarini del Bovolo is valid for a visit of 30 minutes on the day and time chosen. You can add at you ticket the visit of the Oratorio dei Crociferi. The oratorio is 15-20 minutes far from the Scala Contarini del Bovolo. The Oratorio could be visited in a different day of the Staircase. The Oratorio is opne Fridays and Saturdays from 10-13/14-17. For groups you can organize a visit ,out of this timetable, contacting the reservation office. Entrance is free for children under 12 years who have to be accompanied by an adult. Every adult can accompany 2 children under 12 years.

Ask at the reception for more information!

Oct 29 2017

Ghost Tour Venice

Small square, tiny streets hide misteries, murders and legends. The ghosts of famous people wander in the ancient buildings along the Grand Canal. Walking in Venice is like to live a dream, bewteen old buildings which hide fantastic or orrible myths. Venice is not only art works but it is misterious histories, myths and old fairy tales too. The darkness and the magic wait for the visitors to walk through the hidden streets where he would see the darker side of Venice. Venice is a true labirynth that hides everywhere myths of demons, fairies, witches and ghosts.

Ghosts in Venice? Reserve your ghost tour and walk through myths and legends!

An unusual walk, discovering the myths of appearances in Venice. Until October 29th, Fridays and Saturdays, you will hunt ghosts in Venice thanks to Ghost tour Venice. This tour will guide you through Cannaregio district by night: you will live an intimate experience walking through the streets of the hidden Venice. Stories of the dark side of this town, of ghosts and the appearances will be narrated. Tour lasts 2 hous approx.

Book the tour here!

In order to book the tour, contact the agency Park View Viaggi in Dorsoduro. Tel. +39 041 5200988.The tour costs 15 euro per person. Meeting point in Campo San Geremia.

Ask at the reception for reservations!

Sep 14 2017

Torcello island Venice

Torcello (in our dialect Torcèło) is an island of the northern venetian lagoon. The island is easily reachable from Burano in 5 minutes with Actv line 9 or 12.

Torcello, reachable by public transportation Actv lines in 5 minutes from Burano island.

It was one old the most ancient resettlement of the lagoon until the downhill due to the predominance of Venice and due to the change of the enviromental conditions. At the moment, only 17 people live in Torcello, but it is still a sightseeing due to its archeological heritage. The name Torcello derives from one of the doors of the ancient roman city of Altino or it could be from Dorceum, small swampy emerged island.

Santa Fosca Church in Torcello.

During the ’60s, archaelogical campaigns were conducted and proved that in Torcello was inhabited since the first centuries of teh Roman empire. This researchs demonstrated also that the decline of the island was due to the bad climate situations. When the Venitian Republic fell in 1979, the civil institutions of the Serenissima that ruled the area were abolished. The monasteries and the laic schools were destroyed by the Napoleonic decrees of 1806 amd 1810. On may 1st 1818 Pope Pio VII abolished the Episcopate of Torcello and the terrirory was connected to the Venitian Patriarchate.

The result of archaelogical campaigns, in the early ’60s, demonstrated that Torcello was inhabited since the first centutires of the Roman Empire.

Walking through the long street that takes you to the square and runs along the main canal, you can feel to live in an enviroment that recalls the Roman Empire, except when you see restaurants. On the half of this walk of 7-8 minutes, you can see the famous Ponte Del Diavolo (Devil’s bridge), so called because the legend tells that it has been built in one night by the Devil in order to win a bet: probably is the lack of parapects on the sides that gives the idea that it has been built fast. Over this bridge, the area is assigned to vegetables gardens.

The famous Devil’s Bridge.

In the middle of the area stands out a marble throne, the Attila Throne: it has been mistakenly assigned to the famous captain of the Unni, it was property to the bishop of Torcello. In the main square is located the Palazzo Del Consiglio in gothic style and built in the 15th century as venue of the island’s government. Together with the Palazzo Dell’Archivio, it constitutes the Museum of Torcello, with plenty of archaelogical evidences of the latin, byzatine and medieval era.

Do not skip the Attila Throne if you are going to Torcello…have a sit!

Want to visit Torcello? Ask at the reception for indications!

HOTEL BUCINTORO SRL