A Venice itinerary on foot you must not miss is the one that takes you around the smallest area of the city: the sestiere (district) of Santa Croce. Opting to dedicate a day to discover its beauties, will be an excellent alternative to the traditional tours inside St. Mark’s Basilica and the Doge’s Palace.

We suggest taking inspiration from our Venice itinerary in 2 days to personalize this itinerary: you will have the opportunity to spend your time in the best possible way.

Venice itinerary: culture and museums in Santa Croce

Your relaxing walk around the Santa Croce sestiere starts a few steps from the hotel: head toward the Santa Lucia train station, and cross the Ponte degli Scalzi, until you reach your first stop, the Chiesa di San Simeon Piccolo.

The unique style of this façade is reminiscent of the famous Roman Pantheon: the unique dome and large front tympanum will invite you to come in and appreciate the internal crypt. After paying a 2 euro ticket, you’ll have the chance to admire the only catacomb complex in the city. The place is very evocative: the basement is covered in frescos with scenes of Christian life, and there are 21 chapels, 8 of which are walled and unexplored.

After this beautiful church, we suggest walking along the secluded calli of this area, away from the crowds: following the municipal signs posted on the buildings, it is quite easy to get to the Museum of Natural History and the International Gallery of Modern Art of Ca’ Pesaro.

In case you are looking for something more original to visit, we strongly advise you to enter Palazzo Mocenigo – Center for the Study of the History of Fabric, Costume, and Perfume. This museum organizes many different interactive tours and, thanks to multimedia tools and sensorial experiences, the visit will fun even if you’re with your kids.

Venice itinerary: relax in Santa Croce

“Sometimes the most productive thing you can do is relax.” Campo San Giacomo dell’Orio is one of the most popular Venetian squares, where you can sit at a table and enjoy a nice local aperitif. Opt for an Aperol spritz, accompanied by some traditional cicheto – it will be the perfect break during your walk.

This square is famous for one of the fun facts about Venice you didn’t know. Being one of the largest in the city, in the 60’s it housed a huge circus tent, where animals performed. Obviously, all the animals, including huge elephants, were being led up and down the bridges of this area, in front of speechless bystanders. There are many pictures that show this weird event!

If you don’t know what to do for dinner, near this Campo, you can find one of the Michelin starred-restaurants in Venice inside the splendid Palazzo Venart. The creative cuisine of the Ristorante Glam is curated by the multi-starred chef Enrico Bartolini and his team. They will delight your palate, and it could be the perfect place to conclude one of the absolutely must-do itineraries in Venice.