Illustrations by Maria Mariano

Walking through San Polo and Santa Croce

The Ponte della Libertà and the Port of Venice completely changed the face of the the north-western side of Venice. Today, cars and buses constantly come in and out of Venice, arriving in Piazzale Roma, wholly unrecognisable compared to what it was before the 20th century!
This is where our tour starts, as we quickly escape the vehicles and visit the closeby Church of the Tolentini, which looks very much like an ancient greek temple from the outside; next to it is the old monastery of the Tolentini, which today houses the Istituto Universitario di Architettura di Venezia (or IUAV), where we’ll be able to set up a special visit, and learn about the academic syllabuses available from the professors themselves. Who knows, you might be studying in Venice one day…
Next, we’ll visit the Chiesa di Santa Maria Gloriosa dei Frari and the Scuola Grande di san Rocco, two of the most splendid landmarks in the city.
We’ll have time to meet the long-deceased Bianca Cappello, a Venetian woman who became Granduchess of Tuscany, and we’ll end our tour at the Rialto, where we can enjoy the hustle and bustle of the market if we chance it in the morning. Especially exciting atmosphere at the fish market, an absolute delight even if you’re not feeling particularly hungry.