Venice Castello Self-Guided Audio Walk: Zanipolo, Palladio's San Francesco, Arsenale Gate and Giardini

What to bring

• Phone and audio: Bring a charged phone and earphones to listen to the self-guided audio tour.
• Connectivity: Use mobile data, or open the tour on Wi-Fi before you set off if you have no data.

What's not allowed

• Respectful conduct: Do not sit or lie on bridges, steps, monuments, wellheads, or eat sitting on the ground in public spaces.
• Sacred spaces: Do not visit churches or Santa Giustina while Mass or school activities are in progress.
• Restricted areas: Do not enter private courtyards, doorways, or the Navy-only Arsenale grounds.
• Memorial respect: Do not climb on the blocks or figure of the Monument to the Partisan Woman.

Accessibility

• Step-free access: This walk is not step-free; it crosses eleven bridges with steps and has no ramps or lifts on them.

Additional information

• Best time: Start on a weekday morning or early afternoon and walk in daylight for easier navigation.
• Church hours: Chorus churches such as San Zaccaria open Monday to Saturday 10:30 to 17:00 and close on Sundays; Santi Giovanni e Paolo opens 9:00 to 17:45, and from 12:00 on Sundays; the Scuola Dalmata is closed on Tuesdays.
• Biennale schedule: Biennale Arte runs until 22 November 2026, 10:00 to 18:00, and closes on Mondays except 16 November.
• High water: Check the Comune tide forecast and begin only after high water has dropped.
• Start location: Reach the start via vaporetto stop "S. Marco S. Zaccaria" on the Riva degli Schiavoni, about two minutes from Campo San Zaccaria.
• Vaporetto lines to start: Lines 1, 2, 4.1, 4.2, 5.1, 5.2, 14, and night line N stop at "S. Marco S. Zaccaria".
• End transport: From the final stop, reach Giardini and Giardini Biennale vaporetto pontoons in about one minute.
• Vaporetto lines from end: Line 1 and night line N serve Giardini; lines 4.1, 4.2, 5.1, 5.2, and 6 serve Giardini Biennale.
• Urban etiquette: Keep voices low in campi and calli, use headphones, and respect this lived-in district.
• Crowd safety: Watch for pickpockets near the Riva degli Schiavoni and Ruga Giuffa, and keep bags closed in front of you.
• Biennale venues: The Corderie and Giardini pavilions open only during the Biennale period.
• GPS behavior: Expect weak GPS in narrow calli and follow street signs, the nizioleti, when in doubt.
• Giardini access: If the Giardini gates are shut, use the Riva dei Partigiani waterfront path to reach the same endpoint.
• Memorial etiquette: Treat the Monument to the Partisan Woman as a memorial and move carefully around its setting.

• Please check your final voucher for the redemption details and specific instructions.
• Your voucher will be emailed to you shortly.