Castello Venice Tour

Backstreets and Lesser-Known Neighbourhoods of Venice

Castello is a quiet and authentic neighborhood well off the tourist track in Venice; its public gardens provide a welcome green respite from the crowds. It’s very picturesque with the canals, lush park spaces, and churches dating back to the 1200s. Come and join our Castello Venice tour and see Venice with a local like a local!

There’s a general calm filling the air among naval bastions, local bookshops, and boat ramps. Castello Venice tour is perfect if you’d rather stay away from the crowded space around St. Mark’s Square.

Venice’s Castello district is one of the most varied, historic, and picturesque Sestriere in this “City of Canals.” It’s a true delight to experience this working-class neighbourhood on a guided walking tour of Venice, particularly for those who have visited before or have “done” the main sights.

Castello means “castle,” and you learn about the long and fascinating history of this eastern side of Venice as you stroll through the hidden backstreets with your knowledgeable local guide as part of the Castello Venice tour.

Offering a mix of sophistication and local charm, Castello’s parks and churches date back over 800 years. An on-going flotilla of boat traffic navigates the network of canals that permeate this old area, which is a delight to experience at a slow amble. Fluttering laundry, flags, and flower boxes all hang beneath shuttered windows, adding a splash of color to this atmospheric area.

See boat ramps, gondola workshops, wayside shrines, and historic naval strongholds along with some of the city’s finest churches in this characterful community as part of the Castello Venice tour.

You’ll see boat ramps, gondola workshops, wayside shrines and historic naval strongholds along with some of the city’s finest churches in this characterful community as part of the Castello Venice tour.

Your eloquent local guide will take you on an enjoyable 2-hour walking tour of Venice’s Castello district, taking in the elaborate fortified walls and Porta Magna of the Venetian Arsenale.

This great stronghold once dominated the Republic of Venice. At its peak, it was the most massive naval complex in Europe and is still used as an operational naval base.

You’ll hear about how Galileo became a logistics consultant to the Arsenale over 400 years ago, and how it became an important center for rope-making. You’ll learn how the dockyard was responsible for building and maintaining fleets of warships and merchant’s vessels, contributing to Venice’s power and wealth.

Your tour guide will lead you along the tree-lined Via Garibaldi, Venice’s widest street, demonstrating the living history of this area and providing interesting facts and stories about the Street of the Seven Martyrs and the monument to Garibaldi. Enjoy walking through the flower-filled parks and informal gardens and learn about Napoleon’s role in reshaping this charming residential district of Venice.

One of the special highlights of this Castello Venice Tour is the Church of San Pietro di Castello, the official church of Venice. Your guide will talk about its architectural heritage, which dates back to the 7th century.

Look out for the remarkable Throne of St Peter with its extraordinary backrest. The nearby bell tower or campanile has presided over centuries of history, and you may feel the need to adjust your eyesight as the tower leans precariously!

Famous people, maritime history, naval fortifications, monastery buildings, delightful bakeries, peaceful parks, historic islands and humpback bridges all have their place on this informative guided tour of Venice’s lesser-known Castillo district. It’s the perfect way to explore Venice for those who want to escape the crowds and delve into lesser-known backwaters with a knowledgeable local.

Venice Castello tour ends with a breezy vaporetto ride back to St Marks’s Square. Take a seat at a pavement café and scan back through your photographs as you recall the many surprising sites that you visited on this off-the-beaten-path walking tour of Venice’s Castillo district.