Curious Corners of Venice: 10+1 Secrets to Discover
Venice of details and hidden surprises
Beyond its most famous monuments, Venice hides a world of small details, stories and legends that often go unnoticed. These corners require curiosity and a slower pace, inviting you to stop for a moment and capture the city’s most intimate soul.
1) The Hunchback of Rialto
Created in 1541 by Pietro da Salò, the Hunchback of Rialto is an Istrian stone statue supporting a small staircase in front of San Giacomo church. This was where public announcements and sentences were read: convicts had to run from Piazza San Marco to the statue and kiss it, earning forgiveness from the crowd. A small monument that tells of justice and daily life in the Serenissima.
2) The Blue Door
In a small alley of Castello stands the Blue Door, named after its vivid color. Once belonging to an old workshop, it still bears signs of repairs and time. Today it is a symbol of how minimal details, often overlooked, can become icons of urban poetry.
3) Ca’ Dario, the “cursed” palace
This elegant 15th-century Renaissance palace on the Grand Canal is surrounded by a sinister reputation: many of its owners met tragic ends, fueling the legend of the “cursed house.” Visits are not open to the public, but from the vaporetto you can admire its beautiful façade, decorated with colorful details and stone ornaments that highlight its refinement.
4) Palazzo Tetta: surrounded by water
Palazzo Tetta is one of the very few buildings in Venice surrounded by water on three sides, where the Rio di Santa Marina and the Rio di San Giovanni Laterano meet. Built in the 17th century, it is a rare example of residential architecture fully in dialogue with the canals, resembling a small island within the city.
5) The Garden of Palazzo Soranzo Cappello
Hidden in Santa Croce, the garden of Palazzo Soranzo Cappello is a little-known green oasis, today home to the Superintendency of Archaeology, Fine Arts and Landscape of Venice. Among centuries-old trees and flowerbeds, one can still sense the atmosphere that inspired writers such as Henry James and Gabriele D’Annunzio, who spent time here during their Venetian stays.
6) A pause at the Serra dei Giardini
The Serra dei Giardini, an elegant late 19th-century iron-and-glass greenhouse, is now a space where plants, flowers and a cozy café coexist. Stopping here means slowing down, breathing authentic Venetian air and enjoying a moment of tranquility. It is the perfect place to regain energy between walks, away from the bustling crowds of the center.
7) A fresco near Rialto
Near Rialto Bridge, a rare 16th-century façade fresco has resurfaced, a reminder of the time when many Venetian houses were painted on the outside. Though faded, its colors bring back the image of a city once more vivid and decorated, where walls themselves told stories.
8) The Golden Head of Rialto
The Golden Head, a small gilded sculpture near Rialto Bridge, is what remains of the sign of an old apothecary famous for preparing Theriaca, a remedy against poisons and many diseases, considered for centuries a universal medicine. A tiny fragment reminding us that Venice was also a capital of trade and medical knowledge.
9) The hanging clock
In Calle della Toletta, Dorsoduro, an old clock hanging from a wire still swings between two houses. Popular tradition says it belonged to a nearby shop and was left there as a joke; others see it as an ironic reminder of passing time. Whatever its origin, it is now a curiosity that surprises those who look up, proving how Venice preserves even the quirkiest traces of its past.
10) The Portego del Paradiso and the barbacani
In Calle del Paradiso, near Santa Maria Formosa, stands a medieval portego decorated with reliefs and Gothic arches. Here you can clearly see the barbacani, typical of Venice: stone or wooden brackets that allowed the upper floors of houses to expand without reducing ground space. There are many in Venice, but not always visible; in this alley they can be admired in all their uniqueness, together with the relief adorning the entrance.
10+1) Calle Varisco
Want to try squeezing through Venice’s narrowest alley? Calle Varisco in Cannaregio measures just 53 centimeters. You have to turn sideways, laughing a little, to reach the other side: a curious experience that amuses both adults and children, the perfect symbol of a city built on the edge of water and space.
Experience Venice like a true Venetian
Discovering these corners means uncovering a city that does not reveal itself to everyone: made of details, signs and legends. You cannot truly say you have lived Venice without seeking out at least a few of them. And by staying at Albergo Marin, just steps from the train station and the historic heart of the city, every day becomes an opportunity for new explorations. Our qualified staff will be happy to recommend the most fascinating paths and best times to experience these curiosities …
