Destinations with a purpose. Suggestions for an elegant and informative eco tour.

__________________________________________________________________________Venice and it’s lagoon represent an extraordinary ecosystem which is relatively undiscovered.  Made up of islands, land above water and submerged, historical centers rich in culture, art and architecture.  To protect this patrimony of natural and manmade riches, an important intervention is being realized at the openings of the lagoon, between land and sea, this project is called Mose.  It is the largest public works project in the world today and is the only project of it’s kind to defend the city of Venice from the encroaching sea and rising tides.  It’s well worth a visit.  Eve Italia will accompany you by boat to explore and view this amazing territory. With a map to chart your course of possibilities, here’s an overview of options that will delight as you spend a day on the open waters of Venice.

Lido Inlet

  • The 800 m wide Lido Inlet is the widest of the three gaps connecting the Venice Lagoon with the Adriatic Sea. The current configuration dates to the 19th century when the two long jetties at Punta Sabbioni and San Nicolò were constructed.
  • Since 2003, the inlet has been one of the sites for construction of Mose, a complex innovative defence system designed to protect Venice and its lagoon from high waters.
  • Due to the width, the Lido Inlet will be protected by two rows of mobile gates which will rise up from the bed to create a barrier blocking the incoming tide. Already visible is the small island that will serve as the connection between the two rows of gates and a small-craft harbor with lock that will allow vessels to pass through when Mose is operational.

Riva degli Schiavoni (Schiavoni Wharf)

  • Constructed during the time of the Serenissima Republic, the wharf served the trabacoli, the fast cargo vessels used by merchants from Dalmatia to sell their goods in Venice.
  • The wharf was widened in 1780, which turned it into a favorite Venetian spot to stroll, with a splendid view of St. Mark’s Basin.

Island of San Giorgio Maggiore

  • Situated in the heart of St. Mark’s Basin, the island was developed by the Benedictine monks who settled there in 982 (and still inhabit the island today) and reclaimed the island to build a monastery dedicated to St. George.
  • The Benedictines enlarged and embellished the monastery, through the works of famous architects, such as Andrea Palladio (Palladium) who is responsible for the 16th century basilica overlooking the basin, and Baldassarre Longhena.
  • The island came back to life in the 1950s when a large part of the monastery was granted in concession to the prestigious Cini Foundation.

Island of San Servolo

  • Settled by monks between 764 and 804, a monastery and church were built and dedicated to San Servolo. Benedictine nuns replaced the monks and remained on the island for five centuries. In the 1700s, the monastery became a hospice for the mentally ill until 1978.
  • After decades of decay the island was the focus of a major restoration project by the Water Authority and Venice Province in the 1990s to return it to its former splendor.
  • Today it houses a conference and exhibition center, the Venice International University, and one of the largest gardens in the Venice lagoon.

Napoleonic Gardens

  • The “green heart” of Venice is the gardens of Castello and nearby island of Sant’ Elena. Developed in 1807 when Napoleon Bonaparte sought to provide citizens with a public place for strolling.
  • The gardens were designed and created from 1808 to 1812 by Gianantonio Selva, also responsible for the La Fenice Theatre. Covering roughly 60,000 m², many churches and monasteries were demolished to make space for Italy’s first public gardens, common practice in Napoleonic times.
  • When the Venice Biennial began in 1885, a large part of the gardens was used for exhibitions. The gardens that remain contain over 100 tree species, a heritage which makes this 19th century Napoleonic “gift” a precious botanical garden on the lagoon.

Island of Sant’ Andrea

  • Considered one of the most dangerous points of sea access for attacks on Venice, for centuries this small island served as a fortress defending the lagoon. In the 1500s, the Venetians reinforced the existing defences, constructing a new fort designed by Verona architect, Michele Sanmicheli.
  • In 1743, Giacomo Casanova was imprisoned in the fortress, dedicating a number of pages of his “History of My Life” to the island.
  • The cannons of Fort Sant’Andrea were fired just once in 1793 to stop the French ship “Liberateur d’Italie” from approaching the city.

Island of Sant’ Erasmo

  • Formerly known as Pineta Maggiore (from the pinewood that covered the seaward side), Sant’ Erasmo is the largest lagoon island. The landscape and atmosphere are very different from the other lagoon islands, with it’s market gardens and vineyard.
  • An agricultural island during the 19th century, the French, then Austrian domination turned the island into of the lagoon’s defence outposts. Evidence of its military history can be seen in the imposing Torre Massimiliana Tower.
  • Sant’Erasmo is a favourite destination for Venetians who flock to its beach (the bacàn) opposite the Lido Inlet and a great island to take in by bicycle.

Island of Lazzaretto Nuovo

  • In the year 1000, the small island opposite Sant’ Erasmo was granted to the Benedictine monks of San Giorgio Maggiore who built a small church dedicated to Saint Bartholomew.
  • In 1468, to protect Venice from the plague, the island was became a quarantine station for men and goods suspected of being contagious. It was given the name of Lazzaretto Nuovo to distinguish it from the Lazzaretto Vecchio near Lido.
  • With the fall of the Serenissima Republic, the island of was used for military purposes and later abandoned and left to decay.
  • In 1985 it was restored by the Italian State to organise archaeological and cultural activities. The island can be visited from April to October.

Island of Murano

  • The island of Murano, actually a group of seven smaller islands, was populated since the 6th century by Roman refugees fleeing barbarian invasions.
  • Murano soon became an important trade and fishing center and remained independent from Venice until 1291 when the government of the Serenissima Republic decreed that all glassworks be transferred from the city to the island.
  • Since then the name Murano has been associated with glass making and is one of Europe’s most noted glass-production centres.