Riva degli Schiavoni
Riva degli Schiavoni
4.5
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The area
Neighbourhood: Castello
Castello is the largest of the six sestieri (districts), and the only one not facing onto the Grand Canal. More than half of Castello is situated within Arsenale, the naval base, which occupies over one-fifth the area of Venice. This gentrified maritime neighbourhood feels busy but casual. Castello’s side streets are laid back, with small boats lining canals criss-crossed by laundry. Semiannual exhibitions add a strong artsy current to the Arsenale area. Via Garibaldi in Castello, with its shops and bars, has one of Venice's rare straight and wide boulevards. When a large ship turns around the Lido to enter the Giudecca Canal, the startling sight creates an illusion that it will run aground right on Via Garibaldi! Families treasure Giardini near the island's tip, green with rare trees and grass, and Riva degli Schiavoni is a popular spot for Venetians to take a stroll to watch the sunset.

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4.5
4.5 of 5 bubbles566 reviews
Excellent
234
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266
Average
53
Poor
9
Terrible
4

Asiyah Noemi K
Pula, Croatia5,332 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Nov 2023 • Family
Riva degli Schiavoni is one of the most populous areas in Venice, and quite understandably so. From here there is a beautiful view of the Lagoon, the island of San Giorio Maggiore, Giudecca and on the other side are famous hotels and restaurants with beautiful palaces and bridges. A great idyllic place to relax in the landscape in a spritz aperol in a great cappuccino or in a good lunch. Riva degli Schiavoni is a wide promenade at the Castello sestier in Venice. It stretches along the Bacina San Marco, from the Ponte della Paglia to the Rio de la Ca 'di Dio canal. The waterfront was named after merchants from Dalmatia, Greece and the eastern Adriatic coast who were called Schiavoni (Slaves) during the Venetian Republic. They anchored there with their merchant ships, and they also had their sales stands there. The waterfront was in fact the best part of the Venetian port for trade and business, due to the proximity of St. Mark's Square, the center of Venice's political power. The street (promenade) began to form in the 9th century, it was extended in 1060 by drying up the hitherto swampy parts. Originally it was much narrower than it is today, or a little wider than the ponte della Paglia bridge. The waterfront was widened to its current size between 1780 and 1782, during the last few years of the Venetian Republic. On the waterfront, in 1172, Marco Cassolo stabbed to death the doge Vitale Michiel II, who headed along the waterfront to the church of San Zaccaria to celebrate Easter. On the waterfront from Piazza San Marco to Arsenal there are several buildings of special architectural or historical significance such as, the historic Ponte della Paglia, a bridge at the very western beginning of the promenade, with a beautiful view of the Bridge of Sighs, the Prigioni Nuove Palace connected to the Doge's Palace with the mentioned Bridge of Sighs (Ponte dei Sospiri), Hotel Danieli Excelsior, together with the former Dandolo Palace, is the most luxurious Venetian hotel, interesting bridge over the Rio del Vin canal, Bronze monument to King Vittorio Emanuel II, beautiful work by sculptor Ettore Ferrari from 1887. Furthermore, there is the beautiful Londra Palace hotel, the bridge over the Rio dei Greci canal, Church of the Pietà - Saint Mary of the Visitation with the eponymous fraternity in which Antonio Vivaldi also worked, the Ponte del Sepolcro which bridges the Rio della Pietà, the former Gabrielli Palace now the hotel building of the same name, and the bridge which bridges the Rio de la Ca 'di Dio, which ends the Riva degli Schiavoni .
Written 30 November 2023
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Alessandro F
Milan, Italy32,411 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Jan 2020 • Solo
This waterfront area was named Slavoni then Schiavoni for the Slavic men who brought cargo to Venice from across the Adriatic sea .
Written 6 January 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

REDMAN
Egaleo, Greece5,017 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
May 2019
This buzzing canal... The center of Venice! The tourist boats are bringing you here, from the main canal, to enjoy the classic Italian view.
It's like a piazza on the water!
Written 8 November 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

𝓝𝓪𝓽𝔂 ® 👑
Moscow, Russia153,179 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
July 2022 • Couples
Slavyanskaya embankment is called because once Dalmatian (Slavic) sailors moored ships here. that was later. And in the 9th century, Slavic slaves were brought here, who were then resold as soldiers to Saracens or eunuchs in harems. Now there are huge crowds of tourists and impeccably beautiful views.
Written 10 January 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Brad
Hong Kong, China174,756 contributions
3.0 of 5 bubbles
Feb 2012 • Couples
After enjoying time at Piazza San Marco, we've always enjoyed crossing the small bridge, called, Ponte della Paglia, where you can stop and take photos of the Bridge of Sighs above the canal that runs back of the Doge's Palace, to have a quieter stroll next to the sea on the Riva Degli Schiavon. This promenade seems to be the longest stretch of straight path we can find for taking a stroll in Venice.

During the day, it can feel stuffed with tourists but its very nice here early in the morning or later in the evening, affording some quieter walks by the open sea. While facing the San Marco Basin, this promenade area remains lined with typical Venetian buildings, making a very beautiful and nice scene, with the exception of the fair number of taxi boat stations that line this stretch of ground. Along the Riva Degli Schiavon, you can also see the very large and impressive statue of Vittorio Emanuele and Santa Maria della Pieta, the church connected to Venice's legendary musical composer, Vivaldi.

What to else to see near the Riva Degli Schiavon?

In addition to visiting this lovely promenade, there is a host of very good to excellent attractions just minutes away in the Piazza San Marco area. First and foremost is Basilica San Marco its accompanying Campanile. You can also see the lovely Torre dell’Orologio, building - with the winged lion statue and fantastic clock displayed on its facade and the two tall columns, called Colonne di S. Marco and di S. Teodoro placed near a gondola docking station at the bank of the piazza. Or you can use this as a starting point to explore the Castello district, a quieter side of Venice if you've already seen what Venice has to offer in the famous piazza area.
Written 1 March 2012
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tRAVellerOfTheW0rld
Almere, The Netherlands1,723 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Mar 2014 • Family
Riva Degli Schiavoni is the most beautiful promenade of Venice along the Grand Canale. We walked all the way from the Doge's Palace to the Arsenale, crossing many idyllic bridges and passing many wonderful buildings. Always with a great view on the island of San Giorgio Maggiore. This is Venice at its best! Along the way you will see the beautiful statue of Vittorio Emmanuele II and the church of Vivaldi, Santa Maria della Visitazione, locally known as La Pietà

Schiavoni means ‘slavs’ and refers to the fishermen from Dalmatia (the slave country) who arrived in Venice in medieval times. For centuries, vessels would dock and disembark here, and the waterfront was a place for traders and sailors from all over the world.

Today Riva degli Schiavoni still serves as a docking place for gondolas and many of the boats from the islands of Venice. It is a crowded area, but not as crowded as San Marco Square. Also there are the busy Vaporetto stops San Zaccaria and Arsenale.
Written 8 February 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Steve Gardiner
Bexhill-on-Sea, UK432 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Nov 2014 • Couples
Venice seems like its own continent - whether coming by train or plane, one can hardly fail to notice that there 'normality' finishes at the Mestre station, or the airport, and 'sublimity' begins as soon as one begins to cross the water towards this fairytale city.

Every view contains great interest, and this is true above all to the Riva Degli Schiavoni.

In particular, I recommend arriving there half-an-hour or so before sunset, to witness the fantastic play of light on the water, and buildings.

Even better is to rise just before dawn, before most of the tourists have stirred, and then you have most of the promenade to yourself - on a clear morning the light is just as magical as sunset, perhaps more so.

Don't forget there is a wealth of interesting architecture and history contained within the buildings flanking the promenade, but if you are like me, your eye will be continually drawn back to the water, the bobbing gondolas, the cupolas and towers opposite catching a gleam of sun.

Where else in the world would you rather be?
Written 30 November 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

John O
Waxhaw, NC1,897 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Apr 2014 • Couples
My wife and I were here several times in April 2014. This long stretch of pavement extends from the Royal Garden (public park) to the eastern end of Venice - San Elena. A great walk leading to shops, restaurants, and escape from the crowds.
Written 20 April 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

LWL3333
Wellington, FL17,965 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Mar 2013 • Couples
This is a rather wide walkway the "other side" of St. Mark's lined with touristy restaurants on the land side, and the end of the Grand Canal on the other. It is very sunny in the afternoon, so keep this in mind on a hot summer day. You can take a seat in a cafe and have a coffee or a drink and watch the people go by, or sit on the steps of one of the several bridges and do the same for free.
Written 19 March 2013
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

TheShis
Tel Aviv, Israel42,744 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
May 2022
This is a lovely, yet over-crowded, place to take a long, slow stroll in the late afternoon, when the heat is gone and the sun is about to set.
Written 13 August 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

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Riva degli Schiavoni - All You MUST Know Before You Go (2024)

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