Chioggia, sometimes called Little Venice, is a fishing port on the Venetian lagoon. In the heart of the historic center there is a wide pedestrian street lined with shops and bars that are the scene of a lively passeggiata night and the Sottomarina area, 2 km from the port, has good sandy beaches.
Chioggia can be visited as a day trip from Venice and in summer, when there is a direct ferry service, it is a good base for exploring Venice, as its hotels, restaurants, and bars are generally less expensive than those in Venice. Chioggia is on a small island in the southern part of the Venetian lagoon. It is in the Veneto region, on the east coast of Italy, about 25 km south of Venice (50 km by road).
Where to stay
The Grande Hotel Italia is in an ideal location, right next to the port and Piazzetta Vigo. The Caldin’s Hotel is a 1-star hotel in the historic center. Most of the hotels are located in the Sottomarina beach area.
Transport Chioggia to Venice
There is a summer tourist boat that runs between Chioggia and St. Mark’s Square in Venice, from the beginning of June to the end of September. The rest of the year, it is possible to make the trip by taking a vaporetto to Pellestrina, then transferring to a bus and finally taking the number 1 vaporetto in Lido to reach St. Mark’s Square.
Other options are a bus from Chioggia to Piazzale Roma in Venice or the train, which changes at Rovigo and takes more than two hours. Chioggia is on a small railway line that runs from Rovigo, between Padua and Ferrara. The train station is a bit out of town. During the summer, there are several buses a day from Venice airport to the beach hotels in Sottomarina. Buses go to Chioggia from Padua and Venice.
What to see and do
- Corso del Popolo , the wide main street that runs through the heart of the historic center, is a good place to stroll, shop, or enjoy a drink at an outdoor table (where there is not a huge price increase for outdoor seating free).
- Piazzetta Vigo and Bridge Piazzetta Vigo are at the end of Corso del Popolo next to the port. Here you will find a bar, ice cream parlor, hotel, souvenir shops and sometimes entertainment. From the square, a picturesque white marble bridge crosses the Canal Vena to the Church of San Domenico. Around the corner, to the left of the square, is the port where the vaporetto (bus) and the tourist piers dock.
- Fish Market – Chioggia has a great fresh fish market in the weekday mornings. Many restaurants serve fantastic seafood meals for less than what you would pay in Venice.
- The Clock Tower and the Clock Museum, in Corso del Popolo, can be visited on Sundays and holidays.
- The Duomo , or cathedral, is at the opposite end of Corso del Popolo from the port. It was converted to a cathedral in 1110 but was rebuilt after a fire in 1623. The cathedral has a marble pulpit with a gold canopy and a decorated 17th century altar. There is a nice stained glass window from the 19th century. Next to the Duomo there is a 14th century bell tower.
- The Museum of Sacred Art is near the Duomo. Contains church items and religious paintings, but has limited hours.
- The Museo de la Laguna Sur is in a building that was once a monastery. It houses artifacts and images related to the southern lagoon, including boat models, agricultural equipment, and some paintings. There is an old stone city gate near the museum.
- Sottomarina is lined with fine sand beaches and there is a pedestrian street that runs along the sea. The city is modern and has several hotels.
