The Cannaregio Canal is one of the
main waterways in Venice heading north towards the lagoon from
the Grand Canal and roughly splitting the Cannaregio district
in two. The Cannaregio district is situated in the north of
Venice and runs from the Railway station in the West to the
Rialto Bridge in the East.
Cannaregio
is well known as the location of the first recorded Jewish
'ghetto' - there are many different explanations as to how the
word ghetto came about but the one that I feel has the most
credence is that is is a shortening of the Italian 'borghetto'
which literally means 'little town'. These days the word has
lost it's original meaning and conjurers up images of
deprivation or segregation, which itself is of little surprise
when you look at the reintroduction of 'ghettos' throughout
hundreds of town and cities in Nazi Germany in WW2, with a
more sinister purpose than simply segregation.
Reaching the bridge where this
photo was taken is around a 10 minute stroll from the railway
station via Rio Tera Lista Di Spagna, one of the main
thoroughfares around Venice. For this reason you will find it
gets pretty busy with tourists wheeling their suitcases along
or browsing in the windows of the many shops lining this route
selling glass, shoes and a variety of souvenirs.
Along this
route to the Rialto Bridge you will find dozens of small bars,
cafe's and restaurants lining the route, particularly along
the 'Strada Nuovo'. As with the aforementioned route it can be
quite busy, especially near the markets, so for this reason
you may want to check out the Cannaregio Canal itself with
riverside restaurants and bars and an altogether quieter
dining experience. One final location worthy of a mention is
the Suso Ice Cream shop down a little sidestreet and about 5
minutes walk from the Rialto Bridge - Delizioso!!! |
