Cannaregio is a district of Venice that overlooks the North Lagoon, place of departure to reach the islands of Murano, Burano and Torcello. The district begins from the campo SS. Apostoli and along the Strada Nuova leads to the station.
The itinerary that we propose to you starts from the Church of the SS. Apostoli and arrives to the splendid Renaissance palace seat of the Casino of Venice.
Good walk
Legend has it that the Church of the SS. Apostoli was erected by the Bishop of Oderzo after the apparition of the Twelve Apostles who ordered him to build a church in the place where he met a group of twelve cranes. And those cranes were spotted right where the church is now. On the altar there is the beautiful masterpiece by Giambattista Tiepolo depicting the communion of Saint Lucia.
Ca’ d’oro
Continuing on the Strada Nuova you arrive in a narrow street on the left that leads to the palace of Ca’ d’oro which was built in the first half of the XV century by the Contarini family and owes its name to the beauty of architecture.
The Baron Giorgio Franchetti, the last owner, bought the building and began a patient restoration work of the property restoring the original structure, recovering even the pieces that had disappeared. The Baron’s intention was to create an open-air museum.
So, in the two floors of the building, he made the pieces of his collections: sculptures, bronzes, furniture. At his death, the work of expanding the collections was carried out and the frescoes by the fontego dei tedeschi of Giorgione and Titian were also included.
Coming back on the Strada Nuova you continue crossing the bridge and turning immediately to the right along the Fondamenta until you arrive at the beautiful Church of Misericordia overlooking the elegant Campo dell’Abazia, typical Venetian campiello with central well.
From the church you can go in fondamenta della Misericordia and in fondamenta degli Ormesini, where you can meet Bacari and typical restaurants: Paradiso Perduto, Rioba, Al Timon.
Turning right you will go through the streets until you reach the Church of Our Lady of the garden.
Chiesa della Madonna del’Orto
The Madonna Dell’Orto is one of the largest and most beautiful churches in Venice; It was erected in the middle of the fourteenth century, in 1355 and dedicated to St. Christopher Martyr. In 1377 the people called it the Chiesa della Madonna dell’Orto following the placement (18 June) within the Church of a statue of the Virgin considered miraculous, the work of the sculptor Giovanni de Santi. The church of San Martial, not far from Madonna Dell’Orto dates back to the year 982 A.D. The main altar was originally dedicated to San Martial.
The side altar at the center of the church is dedicated to Madonna delle Grazie, a beautiful gilded wooden statue of the 1200. The church preserves works by Tintoretto, Titian, the altar with the miraculous statue of the Blessed Virgin of Graces, the beautiful ceiling with four canvases by Sebastiano Ricci, the main altar with valuable marble statues.
From here you can continue to the Parco Groggia, a peaceful oasis of greenery, among the few remaining in Venice where you can cool off.
In just under 10 minutes from the park you can walk along the ghetto, a typical Jewish quarter where you can visit the museum and the synagogue.
Then after the fondamenta of the Ponte delle Guglie, take the Strada Nuova and go to Palace Ca ‘ Vendramin Calergi in San Marcuola. The second floor of the palace is home to the Casino of Venice, the oldest game house in the world, with its foundation in 1638. The palace is a perfect example of Renaissance style, residence of Doges and the last dwelling of Richard Wagner, Ca’ Vendramin Calergi is one of the most elegant palaces that overlook the Grand Canal.
