Santa Croce is the least touristed of Venice's six sestieri, a quiet residential neighborhood in the northwestern corner of the city. It is the first point of contact for anyone arriving by car: the Ponte della Liberta, the causeway connecting Venice to the mainland, terminates at Piazzale Roma, the city's bus station and car park, which sits within Santa Croce's borders. From this modern transportation hub, the neighborhood quickly gives way to a medieval fabric of narrow calli and small canals that feels deeply local. Santa Croce shares a border with San Polo, and the two sestieri blend together so seamlessly that many visitors cross from one to the other without realizing it. The main sights include the Fondaco dei Turchi, a 13th-century palazzo on the Grand Canal that now houses the Natural History Museum, and the church of San Giacomo dell'Orio, which anchors one of Venice's most charming and lived-in campi. The Giardino Papadopoli, a small park near Piazzale Roma, provides a rare patch of green. Santa Croce's greatest appeal lies in its ordinariness: this is where Venetians live, shop at neighborhood stores, and gather at local bars, largely unbothered by the tourist economy that dominates other parts of the city.
Santa Croce
Updated 22 Mar 2026·How we research
Highlights
- Campo San Giacomo dell'Orio
- Fondaco dei Turchi (Natural History Museum)
- Piazzale Roma
- Giardino Papadopoli
- Ponte della Costituzione (Calatrava Bridge)
- Chiesa di San Stae
- Palazzo Mocenigo
- Fondamenta del Megio
Frequently Asked Questions
3 QuestionsIs Santa Croce worth visiting as a tourist?
Santa Croce is rewarding for visitors who want to see a more authentic side of Venice. It lacks the marquee attractions of San Marco or Dorsoduro, but its quiet streets, local atmosphere, and absence of crowds are appealing. Campo San Giacomo dell'Orio is one of the most pleasant squares in Venice: a tilted, tree-shaded space surrounded by low buildings with a beautiful Romanesque church. It is a perfect spot for a morning coffee.
What is there to see in the Fondaco dei Turchi?
The Fondaco dei Turchi, originally a 13th-century warehouse and trading post, now houses Venice's Natural History Museum (Museo di Storia Naturale). The collection includes dinosaur skeletons, a cabinet of curiosities, and exhibits on lagoon ecology. The building itself, with its distinctive arcade along the Grand Canal, is worth seeing from the water even if you do not go inside.
How do I get from Piazzale Roma into the rest of Venice?
From Piazzale Roma, you can walk across the Ponte della Costituzione (the Calatrava Bridge) to the train station area in Cannaregio, or take vaporetto lines 1 or 2 down the Grand Canal. On foot, walking toward the Rialto through Santa Croce and San Polo takes about 20 minutes and passes through some of the quietest and most atmospheric streets in Venice.
