The city of Venice , with its sparkling canals and its corners full of history, has always been a city capable of enchanting visitors from all over the world. But, beyond the most popular destinations, there is a lesser-known Venice , made up of hidden gardens, contemplative silences and stories that intertwine the charm of the past with the beauty of the present to create a unique atmosphere.
So, if you are thinking of spending a short holiday in Venice and are ready to explore the city in an alternative way, you will find in this article an unusual itinerary, away from the crowds, designed specifically to make you experience a special and unforgettable day in the Serenissima.
Discovering the Venetian gardens
The Venice you don't expect hides behind ancient walls and discreet doors. The gardens of the lagoon city, often hidden from the eyes of passers-by, represent small havens of peace in which history, nature and architecture come together.
The garden of the Scuola Vecchia della Misericordia
The first garden to immerse yourself in is one in which to stop and contemplate the beauty. It is located in the Cannaregio district and is accessed through a very charming Gothic-style cloister. The garden area covers 2300 m2 and it is possible to walk along the perimeter via two walkways marked by a hedge of red roses and both are shaded with vines and wisteria which in the flowering season make the experience even more magical and dreamy.
The species that can be admired are centuries-old cypresses, false jasmine, laurels and multi-colored oleanders, but the most interesting species in this garden is the marmai rose, a special hybrid of flowers that reaches 15 cm in diameter.
The gardens of the church of San Francesco delle Vigna
Overlooking the northern side of the lagoon, the convent of San Francesco in Vigna is famous in the area for its flourishing vineyards while the church is known for the façade created by Antonio Palladio. A place that invites reflection, thanks to its spiritual history and the charm of its gardens. Here you can breathe an air of simplicity that recalls the essence of monasticism and respect for nature.
Today, the gardens are divided into different sections, including a vineyard where Teroldego del Trentino and Refosco del Friuli vines are grown.
Walking through the gardens, you can admire fruit trees, aromatic plants and flowers which, together, create a serene and contemplative environment. These green spaces not only reflect the monks' self-sufficiency, but also testify to a deep connection with nature and a dedication to cultivation as a spiritual practice. It is an ideal place for those who want to find a moment of tranquility and reflection, surrounded by history and natural beauty.
The garden of Ca' Morosini
The Morosini family purchased a complex of buildings in the seventeenth century which still bears their name today and is located in the Cannaregio district. The current complex with the garden was built at the behest of the descendants and is a typical Venetian garden full of ornamental plants mixed with vegetable gardens and fruit trees.
Crossed by two pergolas of roses and American vines, it presents a varied and rich vegetation of irises, petunias, mimosas, dahlias, snapdragons, together with apricot trees, figs, persimmons, pomegranates and finally olive trees and cypresses.
The garden of the Casino degli Spiriti
Also in the Cannaregio district is this place surrounded by an aura of mysterious charm. Part of the Palazzo Contarini dal Zaffo complex, this secret garden overlooks the lagoon offering a suggestive view and an atmosphere of tranquility far from the most beaten tourist routes. The suggestive name Casino degli Spiriti derives from the legends surrounding this place, considered in the past a meeting place for artists, philosophers and intellectuals, but also strangely associated with enigmatic presences and ghost stories.
These narratives helped create an aura of mystery around the garden and the adjacent building. The garden itself is an example of Renaissance elegance rich in architectural and botanical elements that reflect the era of creation. Walking through its avenues you can come across centuries-old plants and details that bear witness to the Venetian history and culture of the time. Visiting the garden of the Casino degli Spiriti means immersing yourself in an atmosphere suspended in time where natural beauty blends with the charm of Venetian legends.
A dive into the history of Venice together with Casanova
We cannot talk about an alternative visit to Venice without including places that intertwine human stories and memories of the past.
The Wheel of the Innocents of the Monastery of Pietà
The Wheel of the Innocents of the Monastery of Pietà in Venice represents a significant historical testimony of the assistance to abandoned newborns. Located in Calle della Pietà, near the Riva degli Schiavoni, this structure was part of the orphanage attached to the monastery. In practice, the wheel was a cylindrical wooden mechanism rotating around an axis that allowed mothers to leave their unwanted newborns in complete anonymity. By inserting the child into the wheel and making it spin, the newborn was welcomed into the institution without the mother's identity being revealed.
This system guaranteed discretion and security and offered the little ones a chance at a better life. Today, the Wheel of the Innocents is still visible, integrated into the structure of the Hotel Metropole, which occupies the former monastery. Although no longer in use, this place remains a symbol of Venetian history and the city's commitment to caring for the most vulnerable that is worth seeing.
The Bridge of Sighs with Casanova's prisons
Built in 1614, the Bridge of Sighs is not exactly a little-known area of Venice, but one of the most iconic. What is often not exactly known concerns the legends linked to the Bridge and the New Prisons to which it connects Palazzo Ducale. It is a covered bridge that was used to transport prisoners from the Palace to the Prisons, then from the court to their cells. The romantic name "Bridge of Sighs" derives from the fact that perhaps the prisoners, crossing it, sighed while observing the lagoon and their lost freedom for the last time through the small windows.
Among the most famous prisoners who crossed this bridge was Giacomo Casanova, the famous 18th century adventurer and seducer. Arrested in 1755 on charges of "libertinism" and other charges, Casanova was incarcerated in the Piombi, the prisons located under the roof of the Ducal Palace. His daring escape in 1756, through a hole in the ceiling of his cell and subsequently passing through the roof of the palace, has entered legend, making the history of the Bridge of Sighs and the Venetian prisons even more intriguing.
Visiting the Bridge of Sighs and the prisons offers an immersion in the history of Venetian justice and in the human events that have passed through these places, allowing you to relive atmospheres full of mystery and charm.
Venice: a city to discover with new eyes
This alternative Venice invites you to look beyond the surface, to get lost in its secret gardens and to be fascinated by the stories that emerge from its thousand-year-old stones. A city that, far from the crowds and mass tourism, reveals itself in its most authentic essence and offers you an unforgettable day.
Get ready to experience a Venice you don't expect: a city of silence, beauty and history just waiting to be discovered, do so by booking an apartment online in advance .
