San Polo is, in terms of surface area, the smallest sestiere in Venice, yet at the same time it is the most highly populated. With its narrow alleys and campielli, it is full of residential buildings with workshops below. This is also the area of traditional Venetian cuisine, including the simplest local dishes in the many osterie (wine-shops) and bacari where you can enjoy typical dishes and taste the famous cicheti.

The name San Polo comes from the church of San Paolo Apostolo, San Polo for Venetians. This district contains the Basilica di Santa Maria Gloriosa dei Frari, the Scuola Grande di San Rocco and the Scuola di San Giovanni Evangelista and Campo San Polo in front of the main church.

The area of Rialto also belongs to San Polo: with the ponteRialto Bridge, the Church of San Giacomo and the classic fish market, Rialto is the most important area in terms of history. Rialto was one of the first areas of Venice to be inhabited and was the main economic and commercial area in the Middle Ages.
This is where you could find the jewellers, bankers, money-exchangers, trade inspectors and tax collectors. At the time, the ships exploited the deep waters of the Canal Grande and so could easily sail up to Rialto and moor against its banks to unload their precious (mostly Oriental) cargo.

1100 - 1200 - - rev. 0.1.7