The Districts

The districts of Venice

In most cities, people talk about neighborhoods. In Venice, however, there are the sestieri, the historic division of the city center into six parts: Cannaregio, Castello, Dorsoduro, San Marco, San Polo, and Santa Croce.
This is not just a simple geographical division. Each sestiere has its own identity, with different atmospheres, traditions, historic activities, and rhythms. Even today, for many Venetians, the sestiere represents a strong sense of belonging, and it is not uncommon to be asked: "Which sestiere are you from?".
For visitors to the city, the differences are also evident. San Marco is the monumental and most well-known heart; other sestieri offer a more authentic and quieter Venice, made up of squares, narrow streets, historic workshops, and corners far from the busiest routes.
It is important to know that the sestieri exclusively include the historic center. Some islands, such as Giudecca, are administratively part of a sestiere (Dorsoduro), while others, like Murano, Burano, Torcello, Pellestrina, and Sant'Erasmo, although belonging to the Municipality of Venice, do not belong to the six sestieri.
The sestieri are also represented in the famous iron of the gondola: the six front teeth symbolize the six sestieri, while the other elements call to mind the Grand Canal, Giudecca, and some of the city's most representative symbols.
Knowing the sestieri means beginning to understand the true soul of Venice: a city where each area tells a different story and offers a different way to experience it.