Venice's jewish ghetto, established in 1516, was an area where Jewish people were forced to live. They were not permitted to leave from sunset to dawn. The quarter, which existed for two and a half centuries, was enclosed by guarded gates. Jews were only allowed to work as doctors, money lenders and merchants. When Napoleon conquered Venice in 1797, he had the gates taken away, enabling the Jews to live freely in other areas of the city.
The views of San Michelle and Murano from La Sacca della Misericordia are worth seeing. La Sacca della Misericordia is located on the north side of Venice in the Cannaregio district.
The Ca' d'Oro is a stunning example of gothic architecture. It is said that the facade gleamed with gold at one time. Built between 1420 and 1434, this celebrated building, or "palazzo", now houses a small art museum. The Ca' d'Oro is definitely worth visiting. It is a great opportunity, not only to see the splendid collection of art, but the building itself. Don't forget to stop and enjoy the picturesque canal view from the third floor balcony. The entrance is in the tiny street betwen the Ca' d'Oro water bus stop and the Strada Nova.
In the 18th century, the Labias, a family of wealthy Catalan merchants, commissioned the building of this palace. The inside is decorated with frescoes by Tiepolo. The main room where Tiepolo painted scenes of the life of Cleopatra is particularly interesting. In one of these scenes, there is a self-portrait by the great painter. The palace is now headquarters of the Italian State Television.
Campo dei Mori
Campo dei Mori is an elongated square which gets its name from the three statues of Arabian-style "Moors". The moors were not from North Africa, nor were they muslim. They were
silk merchants from the Mastelli Family of
Morea Greece. They settled in Venice in 1112 and built the Palazzo Mastelli, famous because of the decorative relief depicting a camel loaded with merchandise which adorns the facade.
The house where Jacopo Robusti, better known as Tintoretto, lived until his death in 1594 and the Church of Madonna dell'Orto where he was buried are also located near the square.
This gothic-style church exhibits three of Tiepolo's paintings, including La flagellazione and Cristo incoronato di spine (1738-40), and a later work, La salita di Cristo al Calvario (post 1740).
Built around 1482 from a design by Pietro Lombardo, the church of Santa Maria dei Miracoli provides a good example of Reinassance architecture. The church is unique as it is decorated with polychrome marble and bas-reliefs of sirens and tritons, which are unusual decorations for a church.
The Casino
The Casino is housed in a grand Renaissance palace, called Ca' Vendramin Calergi. There is a free boat shuttle from Piazzale Roma to the casino.
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