• Brief description: Castello is the largest neighborhood (sestiere) in Venice. It is where the humblest houses are located, since the majority belonged to the workers of the shipyard situated in the area. There are still many Venetians who live there, and outside the tourist area, you can breathe a really neighborhood atmosphere, with small local shops, clothes hanging from the balconies... The neighborhood is known today for having the Arsenale, a large shipyard of boats built on the remains of an old Roman castle (hence the name of the neighborhood), and also for its gardens (Giardini), where most of the pavilions of the Biennale of Venice are located.
• Recommended route: take the vaporetto and get off at the Santa Elena stop (L1). Walk through the gardens towards the city. Along the way you will find the pavilions of the different countries of the Biennial of Venice. When you arrive at the Spanish Pavilion, head towards the canal, and continue the path to its banks. Later on you will see the chilling Monument to the Partisan Women in the water, in homage to the women who helped to overthrow fascism in Italy. A little further on, take the Viale Giuseppe Garibaldi to reach the Giuseppe Garibaldi Monument. The street that crosses in front is the pleasant and lively Via Garibaldi, full of restaurants and shops. If you turn to the right, in the channel that there is more ahead there is usually a boat that sells fruit. All those streets that cut with the canal are super authentic, and you could walk through them. Return by the Fondamenta de la Tana, walking next to the castle wall. Cross the first bridge on the right and follow the Campiello Tana until you reach the next channel. Turn right into the Fondamenta Arsenale, until you reach the door of the Arsenal of Venice, where you can see its giant lions (it is not worth entering).
• Duration of the visit: 2h.