What Cities Are Worth Visiting in the Venetian Lagoon?

The Venetian Lagoon is a unique environmental area that is rich in natural biodiversity and history. The best way to explore this fantastic landscape is undoubtedly by water. Let’s take a look at the amazing cities worth exploring in this Italian archipelago.

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1.    Casale 

A jouney alomg the Venetian Lagoon will most likley start at Casale. Before venturing on, you can do a  bit of sightseeing to get a taste of what’s to come on your trip along the Venetian Lagoon.

In Casale you can stock up on some of the delicious baked Italian goods and fresh food for your trip. Take a walk around the Piazza Mazzini and learn about the interesting historical events that took place along the streets while admiring its beautiful Gothic-styled architecture.

2.    Padua 

One of Italy’s oldest cities, Padua boasts some of Italy’s best preserved historical structures and landscapes. Many refer to Padua as offering an authentic Italian experience, as the city still holds its classic charm. Unlike many of Italy’s main cities, Padua has not fallen into commercialising itself for large tourist crowds.

The city is believed to have been founded around 1100 BC, with many ancient artefacts and documents recording its wars and development. Visitors can visit the famous works of Giotto in the Scrovegno Chapel. You can also explore the Palazzo della Ragione, Teatro Verdi, and the ancient Roman arena or enjoy a bike ride to a nearby wine farm.

3.    Venice 

Venice is undoubtedly the jewel upon the Venetian Canal and an essential stop along your cruise. This capital city is made up of around 120 islands and boasts some of the most magnificent art and architecture in Europe. Venice is a city rich in culture, mystery and history. While on board you can view the magnificent city scape and choose when to disembark and explore the city at your own pace.

From those iconic piazzas, churches and vast array of gelatos, Venice will leave you enthralled.

4.    Murano 

Comprised of 7 islands, Murano lies only a few minutes via boat from the city of Venice. World famous for its glass making, this city has become quite a hub for creatives over the years. You can watch a live demonstration of glassblowing and making, a prized and once exclusive Venetian art. There are plenty of stores selling beautiful Murano produced glass work, while the colourful streets are full of character and history.

5.    Burano 

Burano is considered to be the ‘little Venice’ with its colourful houses lining the canal ways. This small town is world famous for its lace making over the centuries. Burano lace is still handmade by the women, who pass the tradition down to their daughters. Burano is predominantly a fishing village, and you can still enjoy fresh seafood dishes at the many restaurants in town.

6.    Torcello 

Torcello was the first island in the lagoon to be inhabited by the Veneti people before establishing the city of Venice. Torcello was also the first refuge of the Veneti from the invading Huns. This town is interesting, as it shows the original marshland in the lagoon that covered the entire region. A visit here, will show you what Venice originally looked like before it became a thriving city and what lies beneath its present day buildings. There are plenty of cathedrals and intricate byzantine mosaics from the Dark Ages to the early settlers to discover.

7.    Lido di Jesolo 

Lido di Jesolo was considered the Riviera of Italy and has been a famous beach holiday town for decades. A stop at Lido de Jesolo offers a fun day for the whole family along its 15km stretch of flat shoreline. The town is catered toward tourism with plenty of activities for adults and children. There are plenty of outdoor festivals during July and August that take place along the beach. Besides soaking up the sun and swimming, you can also explore the town on foot or by bus. If you are interested in enjoying the nightlife in Italy, Lido di Jesolo has plenty of offer with its many bars, nightclubs and restaurants.

8.    Concordia Sagittaria

This ancient city is must for history lovers. The city was founded as early as the 10th century BC, and has always been used to house soldiers from invaders from the East. As a result, the city specialised in the production of arrows, and this gave rise to it name Sagittaria. Sagittaria or Sagittarius is the centaur with the bow and arrow which forms part of the zodiac constellation.

The city was also a commercial centre for trade between Italy and Eastern Europe. The city also has some interesting places to visit such as early ancient Roman ruins, an amphitheatre and the Santa Stefano cathedral.

9.    Portogruaro 

Portogruaro was founded in 1140 when a group of landowners were given the permission to build the first port. A site worth visiting is the National Museum of Concordia founded in 1885. The museum houses a fascinating collection of artefacts found in the area dating from the Roman Ages.

10.Bibione 

Bibione is another seaside stop before your journey along the Venetian Lagoon comes to an end. Bibione is much quieter than the popular Lido di Jesolo, and offers some down time at the beach. Explore the coast on the cycle tracks, try some of the cuisine and enjoy some of the wide variety of water sports. It’s the perfect way to unwind and soak up the sun before the end of your Italian barging holiday.

Interested in a barging holiday along Venice and Friuli? Click here for more info.