San Polo
San Polo is the smallest of Venice's six sestieri, a compact tangle of streets and canals centered on the Rialto, the commercial heart of the city for over a thousand years. The Ponte di Rialto, the oldest and most famous bridge crossing the Grand Canal, connects San Polo to San Marco and remains one of the most recognizable landmarks in Venice. Just steps from the bridge, the Rialto fish and produce markets (Pescheria and Erberia) have operated in the same location since the 14th century, and they continue to supply restaurants and households across the city each morning. The campo that gives the sestiere its name, Campo San Polo, is one of the largest open spaces in Venice, used for outdoor cinema screenings in summer and carnival events in winter. The monumental Basilica di Santa Maria Gloriosa dei Frari, known simply as "i Frari," houses masterworks by Titian and Bellini and rivals San Zanipolo as the most important church in Venice after the Basilica di San Marco. Nearby, the Scuola Grande di San Rocco contains Tintoretto's extraordinary cycle of more than sixty paintings, often called the "Sistine Chapel of Venice." San Polo packs an enormous amount of history, art, and daily Venetian commerce into a remarkably small area.
Highlights
- Ponte di Rialto
- Rialto fish and produce markets
- Basilica dei Frari
- Scuola Grande di San Rocco
- Campo San Polo
- Ca' Pesaro
- Chiesa di San Giacomo di Rialto
- Campo San Tomà
Frequently Asked Questions
3 QuestionsWhen should I visit the Rialto markets?
The Rialto fish market (Pescheria) and produce market (Erberia) are open Tuesday through Saturday, roughly from 7:30am to 12:30pm. The fish market is closed on Mondays and Sundays. Arrive early for the best selection and atmosphere. The sight of fresh lagoon seafood laid out on marble slabs under the Gothic loggia of the Pescheria is one of the quintessential Venice experiences.
Is the Frari church worth visiting?
The Basilica dei Frari is one of the most rewarding churches in Venice. Titian's Assumption of the Virgin behind the high altar is one of the great paintings of the Renaissance, and his Pesaro Madonna hangs in the left nave. Giovanni Bellini's triptych in the sacristy is equally stunning. The church also contains the monumental tombs of Titian and Canova. Admission is a few euros and well worth it.
Where are the best bacari (wine bars) in San Polo?
The streets around the Rialto Bridge are Venice's bacaro heartland. All'Arco, a tiny bar steps from the market, serves outstanding cicchetti paired with local wines. Do Mori, one of the oldest bacari in the city (open since 1462), is famous for its francobolli (stamp-sized sandwiches). Cantina Do Spade and Naranzaria are also within a few minutes' walk.
