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Visit Chioggia

Chioggia is located in the Po River Delta, close to Padua and about 25 km (by boat) from Venice. Chioggia is located on two islands about 900 meters long and 200 wide, separated by the so-called 'Channel Vena'. Chioggia retains its traditional role as a fishing and port city, with tourism now also an important part of the local economy.

A visit to Chioggia will usually start from the north of the town where tourists arrive on the public boats. On arriving you will encounter the arcaded Piazzetta Vigo with the Vigo Bridge and its characteristic steps, and, in the centre of the square, the high column with the Lion of St. Mark (late eighteenth century).

Continuing, you find the Church of St. Andrew and its bell tower of the twelfth century, and then the neoclassical style Palazzo Comunalerebuilt in the mid-nineteenth century. Not far from here is the 14th century Palace of the 'Granaio Pubblico' (Public Barn), a neo-Gothic style building, very beautiful, with windows with pointed arches. Behind the palace is the fish market, a Chioggia landmark, where you can find fresh fish of various species (sole, sea bass, sea breams and scallops).

The next square, the Piazzetta XX September', is also attractive with the Church of the Philippines (second half of the eighteenth century), which houses paintings of the 17th and 18th centuries by Paolo Pellesina, Antonio Vianello and Giacomo Casa. See also the Holy Trinity Church, rebuilt in the early eighteenth century, with important paintings by Palma il Giovane and Andrea Vicentino. Finally, the 16th century 'Loggia dei Bardi', from where the laws of the city were read aloud to the public: in fact, the 'Bard' was a 'public poet'.

Continuing along the quarter called the Perettolo you can visit the 14th century Church of San Martino which contains a very beautiful work by Paolo Veneziano. On your right and worthy of note is the 11th century Cathedral, rebuilt by Baldassarre Longhena in the second half of the seventeenth century. Inside the Cathedral, you can admire some paintings by Giambattista Tiepolo and Alessandro Tremignon. See also the Palazzo Grassi, built in the eighteenth century by Andrea Tirali. Near the Cathedral is a tall Romanesque style bell tower.

Continuing towards the south you find the 13th century church of St. Dominic which includes a 16th c. painting by Vittore Carpaccio; a Crucifix attributed to Jacopo Comin (aka Tintoretto); 'Deposition' by Leandro Bassano; and 'Prayer in the Garden' by Alvise Benfatto (aka Dal Friso).

Moving on you can admire the view offered by the boats of Chioggia. Towards the end of the Canal Vena, in Campo Marconi is the Civic Museum on the South Lagoon, which contains archaeological finds dating from the Roman and Renaissance ages. Also very important is the Museum in the Bishop's Palace, which contains works by Palma il Vecchio (1480-1528) and Cima da Conegliano (1459 c.-1518 c.).

Places to visit near Chioggia

Chioggia is also one of the most famous seaside resorts overlooking the Adriatic Sea, equipped with a beach of about ten kilometres.

Naturalists can also make pleasant excursions among channels, marshes, woods and nature reserves.

Chioggia cuisine

In Chioggia, the fishing town par excellence, the fish market is always active, and local dishes are for gourmets. A very wide range of local specialities based on seafood are available, including: the 'granseole' (crab meat with olive oil, lemon and spices); 'bigoli in salsa' (spaghetti with garlic sauce, oil, onion, parsley and anchovy fillets); 'gnocchi with onions'; clams and 'radicchio' (chicory) of Chioggia; the so-called 'black cuttlefish' (squid cut and boiled in a sauté onion, garlic, white wine and tomatoes).

The famous 'Festival of Salt-water fishes" also takes place in Chioggia, during the first ten days of July, where among other local products you can drink a few glasses of Merlot and Cabernet, Prosecco, Soave...

Related article: learn the history of Chioggia