Cannaregio is in the Western part of the old city, with long parallel canals where reeds probably grew, hence its name (“canna” is the Italian for “reed”). The main canal is "Canale di Cannaregio", linking "Canal Grande" to the lagoon and is crossed by two bridges: "Ponte delle Guglie" (Bridge of Spires) and "Ponte dei Tre Archi" (Bridge of the Three Arches).

Cannaregio is the most highly populated district in Venice, where you can still find typically “Venetian” atmospheres and scenes. Cannaregio holds a depressing record: the creation of the world’s first ghetto, opened on 29th March 1516, when Jewish citizens were forced to live in a restricted zone. In the 1800s, under Austrian occupation, the layout of Cannaregio underwent several changes: a few canals were filled in, the construction of the railway bridge and station, the demolition of many public buildings. These changed the face of the district, making it easier to get around and so more open to tourists.
Today Cannaregio has many fondamenta, full of life, restaurants and bars, and has become a popular residential area, especially with the young.

Among the many places worth visiting are Lista di Spagna and Strada Nova leading from the railway station to Rialto, famous for their art studios and shops. Of artistic value are the Ghetto, which was seriously damaged during the flood of 1966 and completely restored at the expense of the Comitato per il Centro Storico Ebraico di Venezia and various churches: Sant’Alvise, Madonna dell’Orto, Santa Maria dei Miracoli, Santi Apostoli and the Chiesa dei Gesuiti.

1100 - 1200 - - rev. 0.1.9