The Santa Croce district is the only one in the city to have an area, albeit limited, in which cars are allowed to circulate, namely Piazzale Roma. This square represents the only meeting point between Venice and the mainland (Mestre) thanks to the Ponte della Libertà.
Santa Croce borders directly with the Grand Canal, with the San Polo and Dorsoduro districts and with the Lagoon while it is connected to the Cannaregio district through the Scalzi Bridge and the Constitution Bridge.
Its name derives from the Church of Santa Croce, a place of worship demolished in the first half of the nineteenth century.
THE DISTRICT
This district is not full of attractions and monuments like the others and for this reason it is not one of the favorite destinations for tourists. It can thus represent a very interesting itinerary for those who want to venture out and discover authentic Venice.
In the district, however, there are many stalls selling souvenirs of the city including the typical Venetian masks.
Santa Croce is characterized by being formed by narrow streets interspersed with a few fields and for being the only district of Venice to combine the ancient with the modern, being the area that has undergone the most changes with the construction of the Ponte della Libertà, the Ponte di Calatrava, the Stazione Marittima and the People Mover (transport system that connects the Tronchetto island to Piazzale Roma).
In this district there are also two of the four bridges that cross the Grand Canal, namely the Calatrava Bridge and the Scalzi Bridge.
Where Is The Sestiere Santa Croce?
The Santa Croce district is located right in front of the station, so if you arrive by train, just cross the Ponte degli Scalzi to reach it.
Curiosities Sestiere Santa Croce
In the Santa Croce district we find Calle Ca 'Zusto, near Riva di Biasio, a narrow passageway only 68 centimeters wide.
Also present is Palazzo Mocenigo whose legend tells of a ghost in search of eternal justice. The spirit is that of Giordano Bruno, the philosopher who was denounced to the Inquisition for heresy by the owner of the building, Giovanni Mocenigo and who for this reason was burned in Rome. Since that day his soul has been wandering around the halls of the Palace.