San Polo is one of six sestieri (districts) that make up Venice. Covering 86 acres (35 hectares) along the Grand Canal, it is one of the oldest parts of the city, having been settled before the 9th century.

Get in

See also: Venice § Getin

By vaporetto

There are several vaporetto stops along the Grand Canal, with San Tomà being one of the busiest. The stops are served by Line 1, which connects the railway station with St Mark's Square.

• 1 San Tomà vaporetto stop.  (updated Aug 2021)

See

Landmarks

Gondoliers and the Rialto Bridge.

• 1 Rialto Bridge (Ponte di Rialto) (Connecting sestieri San Polo and San Marco across Canal Grande). The bridge has become one of Venice's most recognizable icons and has a history that spans over 800 years. Today's Rialto Bridge was completed in 1591 and was used to replace a wooden bridge that collapsed in 1524. (updated Aug 2021)
• 2 Campo San Polo. A large campo (square), one of the most popular Carnival venues and also used for open-air concerts and screenings during the Venice Film Festival. (updated Aug 2021)
• 3 Scuola Grande di San Rocco, San Polo 3052 (Vaporetto line 1 or 2 to San Tomà, near the Basilica di Santa Maria Gloriosa dei Frari), ☏ +39 041 5234864. 09:30-17:30, closed Dec 25, Jan 1, Easter Sunday. A masterpiece of Tintoretto, this guild house is an exquisite example of Mannerist art at its best. In order to allow a comfortable admiration of the detailed ceiling, mirrors are offered to the visitors. Cycles of allegories, life and passion of Christ, scenes from the Old and New Testament. Adult €10, concessions €8. (updated Aug 2021)
• 4 Scuola Grande di San Giovanni Evangelista, San Polo 2454 (Vaporetto line 1 or 2 to San Tomà), ☏ +39 041 718234. Occasional 09:30-17:00. Monumental staircase by Codussi, splendid San Giovanni Salon, Oratory of the Cross with precious reliquiaries. €5. (updated Aug 2021)

Museums

• 5 House of Carlo Goldoni (Casa di Carlo Goldoni, Centro di Studi Teatrali), Rio Terà dei Nomboli, 2794 (Vaporetto line 1 or 2 to S.Tomà), ☏ +39 041 275 9325. Apr-Oct: Th-Tu 10:00-17:00; Nov-Mar: Th-Tu 10:00-16:00; closed Jan 1, May 1, Dec 25. Birthplace of Venice's most famous playwright. Museum, library and theater studies center. A MUVE museum. Adults €5, reduced €3.50. (updated Aug 2021)
• 6 Leonardo da Vinci Museum Venice, Campo San Rocco, ☏ +39 041 8876815. Small museum dedicated to the life and work of Leonardo da Vinci. (updated Aug 2021)

Churches

• 7 San Giacomo di Rialto, Ponte di Rialto, ☏ +39 348 281 5492. This church is possibly the oldest church in Venice built around 421. It is most recognized for its 15th-century clock above the entrance of the church. It is also recognized for the red pillars and beautiful gold accents around the church itself. (updated Aug 2021)There are unhandled parameters: at;
• 8 Santa Maria Gloriosa dei Frari (Basilica dei Frai, often just referred to as the Frari), San Polo, 3072, ☏ +39 041 272 8618. M-F 09:00-18:00, Su and holidays 13:00-18:00. Last admission 30 min before closing time. The big friary church, fine example of Venetian Gothic architecture, with fine monuments and paintings of Titian, Belliniand Donatello, among which the famous 'Assunta' by Titian. Adult €3, reduced €1.50. (updated Aug 2021)
  • Funerary monument of Claudio Monteverdi (Chapel of the Milanese). Tomb, composer (1567-1643) and champion of the early Baroque seconda pratica and then-new genre of opera. 

Other sights

• 9 State Archive (Archivio di Stato di Venezia), Campo dei Frari, 3002 (Vaporetto line 1 or 2 to S.tomà), ☏ +39 041 5222281. M-Th 08:10-17:50, F Sa 08:10-13:50 (reading room). One of the largest archives in the world, in an old Franciscan monastery. Manuscripts, texts and documents related to the history of the Venetian Serenissima. Free. (updated Aug 2021)

Buy

• 1 Rialto Market (Mercato di Rialto). This vegetable and fish market has been running for hundreds of years, an essential stop for home cooks in central Venice. (updated Aug 2021)
• Fanny (gloves & accessories), Calle dei Saoneri, San Polo 2723 (100m west of Cà Foscari, near Campo San Polo), ☏ +39 041 5228266, fannygloves@hotmail.it. Hundreds of leather gloves in all colours. 
• Francis Model (leather articles), Ruga Rialto, San Polo 773/A (100m SW of Rialto bridge), ☏ +39 041 5212889, ruggero.dezorzi@libero.it. Locally made leather bags. Exceptional craftsmanship. There are reports that some travellers were cheated in this store, by being told that transaction didn't occur while using their credit card, and demanded cash while in fact transaction did occur properly and thus having made the travellers pay for the same item twice. 

Eat

In general, prices are higher in the vicinity of the Rialto bridge compared to other parts of the district.

Budget

• 1 Pizza 2000, Campo Sant'Agostin, 2287. Pizza takeout (updated Jul 2022)
• 2 Ostaria dai Zemei, San Polo 1045, b. Down home cooking with Venezian style tapas (updated Jul 2022)
• 3 Antico Forno, Ruga Rialto, 973. A pizzeria (updated Jul 2022)
• 4 Acqua e Mais, Campiello dei Meloni, 1411-1412. Small plates (updated Jul 2022)
• 5 Farini, Ruga dei Speziali, 379. A bakery (updated Jul 2022)
• 6 Ristobar San Polo, S. Polo, 2024.  (updated Jul 2022)

Mid-range

• 7 Ristorante Casa Cappellari, San Polo, 805. Traditional Venetian cuisine with a warm atmosphere (updated Aug 2022)
• 8 Antica Osteria Ruga Rialto, C. del Sturion, 692. Seafood specialties (updated Aug 2022)
• 9 Farini, Ruga Rialto San Polo 655. A bistro (updated Aug 2022)
• 10 Cantina Do Mori, Calle Do Mori, 429. Venetian tapas (updated Aug 2022)
• 11 Cantina Do Spade, San Polo, 859. Venetian cuisine (updated Aug 2022)

Splurge

• 12 Antico Dolo, San Polo 778. An old seafood restaurant close to Rialto bridge: food comes from the adjacent Rialto Market daily. A complete dinner excluding wines could cost €35 each more or less. (updated Aug 2022)
• 13 Trattoria Antiche Carampane, Rio Terà de le Carampane, 1911, ☏ +39 041 524 0165. In the heart of Venice, steps away from the Rialto Bridge, is this renowned restaurant where distinguished Venetian cuisine is served in a familiar setting. (updated Aug 2021)

Ice cream

• 14 Gelateria Il Doge, +39 339 148 2164. Excellent ice cream, all made on the premises (a rarity in Venice). Plenty of vegan options. (updated Aug 2022)

Drink

• 1 La Bottiglia, Campo S. Stin, 2537 (South end of San Stin square), ☏ +39 340 076 5212. A small wine bar with excellent reviews. They offer a small but constantly changing selection of wines, complemented by excellent Italian street food and snacks. (updated Oct 2021)

Sleep

Splurge

• 1 Aman Venice, Palazzo Papadopoli, Calle Tiepolo Baiamonte, 1364, ☏ +39 041 270 7333.  (updated Oct 2021)