This pleasant walk is perfect for a half-day exploration of the city's southern district Dorsoduro (with a quick side-trip to the districts of San Marco and San Polo).
Starting and end point is the Ponte degli Scalzi next to the main station Santa Lucia.
My recommendation is to walk this counter-clockwise and to go early. This way you will be able to experience the morning hustle and bustle along the Rio Novo: shops opening, neighbors chatting across windows, the postman dragging his handcart over the bumpy roads...
Continue onwards through the back lanes of Dorsoduro and see if you can spot the schools among the decaying buildings (hint: you just have to listen closely). Explore the small alleys and canals that are still eerily empty at this early hour and if you have time, check out one of the many churches on your way from the inside.
Soon you will reach one of the highlights of the tour: the Fondamenta Zattere Ponte Lungo, the beginning of the long promenade on the waterfront of the Canale Della Giudecca. Take your time to stroll along the street and if your feet are in need of a break, this is a perfect place to stop for a gelato and a coffee and enjoy the spectacle on the water.
Once you reach the tip of the island you are granted a marvelous view over the trafficked bay Bacino Di San Marco with the Campanile and the other islands in the background.
Head back on the other side of the island through the small alleys that are slowly filling up with tourists. If you are interested you can visit one of the many galleries, like the Peggy Guggenheim Collection.
At the Ponte Accademia you can cross the Canal Grande into the San Marco district. Head over the countless little bridges parallel to the Canal Grande until you reach the Traghetto station next to the Palazzo Mocenigo. Board a small gondola, pay the gondolier 2€ and enjoy a small ride to the other side of the Canal (a great, yet short alternative to a normal gondola ride).
You are now within the district of San Polo. After the long walk you are probably hungry so you can have a nice break and get lunch at one of the small coffee shops or restaurants in this area. Once fully satiated, end the trip by channeling your way through the alleys back to the starting point.
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