THE CHARACTERISTIC AREA OF VENICE: THE HERB and FISH MARKETS

                                                                                                                                                                       The current layout of the area reflects the way in which, centuries ago, specific urban criteria were brought to bear in organising the herb and fish markets. The area closest to the Grand Canal is used for depositing goods and for bulk selling, while retail selling, from the largest goods to the smallest and most precious, takes place in the area that goes from the Grand Canal to the many stalls and shops in the main Rialto district. The administrative-commercial activities are all concetrated in the area around the market, in Campo di Rialto. The Erbaria, or herb and vegetable market, is contained within a triangle defined by Palazzo dei Camerlenghi, the Fabbriche Vecchie and Campo di Rialto and a part of the Fabbriche Nuove.

The large Calle Naranzaria ( or Orangerie – used for moving shipments of citrus fruits) links the market area with Ruga degli Oresi. This is where the general retail market begins, with its cornucopia of fruit and vegetable stalls, distributed along Calle dei Oresi, Cordaria, Casaria, along the Fabbrica Nuova right up to Campo della Pescheria ( or the fish market). Campo della Pescheria was paved as early as 1531, and was in part given over to fruit and vegetable stalls while the fishmongers occupied the shops on the ground floor of the nearby buildings. Fishmongers, in fact, are now mainly concetrated in the area that goes from Rio de le Beccarie, under the porticoes of the 20th building, right up to the buildings in Calle de le Beccarie. It must be borne in mind that up to the end of the 18th century there were onli 150 fishmongers.

This is explained by the fact that the only people allowed to sell fish were fishermen from the islands of San Nicolò and Poveglia who were at least 50 years old and had worked for at last 20. This was seen a short of reward for anyone who had suffered the hard lot reserved for fishermen of the period.

The part of the new building giving onto the Grand Canal is now used exclusively for the delivery of goods, as it its not generally thought appropriate for stalls. In fact, there is a little rhyme that can be heard in the markets about the new building: “massa alta i la gà fata, se se bagna col stravento, manco mal che semo in centro e no ne toca gnanca el sol” (“they’ve built it too high, and you get wet when its rains and the wind blows – thank God where here in the centre of town, and we don’t even get a ray of sunshine”).

JUST FRONT THIS AREA THERE IS A CHARMING APARTMENT FOR YOUR HOLIDAYS:

The apartment, situated on the second floor (third floor American) of a small building, faces one of the most picturesque places in Venice, Campo delle Beccherie, where the Rialto Market begins.  The market sells fruit, vegetables, and seafood and is often utilized by cinematographers to film scenes that epitomize the Venetian ambience.  The location also allows the tourist to reach all principal destinations and attractions in the city easily.

Besides being close to the market, the area is also rich with stores and shops of every kind, restaurants and osterie where you can try the famous “cicchetti” (small tapas-style appetizers), bars, markets, butchers and bakeries as well as internet points.

The apartment is about 70 square meters.  It has an independent entrance that crosses through an inner courtyard.  The apartment and the building have recently been radically restored.  The property is characterized by exposed wooden ceiling beams and stone door  with a secured door and double-glassed windows that look onto the Campo delle Beccherie and slightly to the side, the Grand Canal.

The apartment is composed of:

A small entrance

A spacious and bright living room with a kitchen corner complete with electric oven, stove, refrigerator and freezer, etc.

A master bedroom

A single bedroom
A bathroom with toilet, bidet, and ample shower

Carefully and tastefully furnished  with hardwood pieces, this apartment can be easily reached by the vaporetto ACTV number 1 by getting off at the “Rialto-Mercato” stop

FOR INFORMATION PLEASE SEND EMAIL AT THE ADDRESS:

info@venice-holidays.com
www.venice-holidays.com
San Marco 4307- Venice
ITALY