Meeting Venice | ECO-FRIENDLY ITINERARY IN THE LIDO ISLAND (S.M.E

The Lido of Venice is a long island which has the function of natural barrier between the Lagoon and the Adriatic Sea. It is a little island just a few minutes away from Venice city center. It will conquer you thanks to the relaxing atmosphere and the green areas, together with its beauty from an artistic, naturalistic and architectural point of view.
It is the ideal place for taking a break from the most crowded calli of Venice and, at the same time, enjoying a charming view of the city.

Our itinerary starts from Piazzale Santa Maria Elisabetta, the Lido’s public transportation hub. From this point, the Gran Viale crosses the island perpendicularly up to the sea side. Along this street, you will find shops, cafés, ice-cream parlors, hotels and so on. Here you can also rent a bike: it is a eco-friendly choice for your transfer and the most practical and quicker way to explore the island.
Once you get to Piazzale Bucintoro, the other far end of Gran Viale, take your right and follow Lungomare d’Annunzio. Along this street you can admire two of the most important hotels in Lido, built at the beginning of the XX Century to accommodate the European aristocracy who used to spend here the whole summer, in the popular beach resorts. They are Grand Hotel Des Bains and Excelsior: the first was inaugurated in 1900 and characterized by a sober Liberty style. Unfortunately, today it is closed but still fascinating and majestic. The second one, inaugurated in 1908, has been built in a Moorish style, with domes and arches, facing directly the sea with its giant size. In 1932, the first edition of the Venice Film Festival was held in its wide terrace.

Proceeding through the Lungomare, just before the bend that reconnects with Via Sandro Gallo, you can take a narrow unpaved trail that will take you to the Murazzi. It is a long Istrian stone construction built to prevent the erosion caused by the sea. It runs the sea side of the island up to Alberoni. Biking through the Murazzi you will be able to breathe a fresh sea breeze and admire an unusual landscape, where the sea is interrupted by various structures called dighe. The dighe are the inhabitants favorite places to rest and sunbathe during the hottest months of the year.

Once you get to Alberoni, return to the main road and continue until you reach Faro Rocchetta, extreme point of the island and departure point of the ferry going to Pellestrina island. Here you will find the Alberoni lighthouse: you can enjoy an evocative ride along the Diga or decide to park your bike and take a walk in this beautiful path located in the middle of the sea. Otherwise, if you love nature and biodiversity, you can take the Strada dei bagni and enjoy a walk in the Oasis of the Dunes or in the Pinewood.

At this point, turn around and get back to Malamocco, a very characteristic village that reminds Venice for its calli, campielli, canals and the houses in the typical Venetian style. Going towards Malamocco from Alberoni, you can stop for lunch at the Agriturismo Le Garzette. This is the perfect place for people who love lunching in the middle of a green area and farm-to-table food. For further information you can visit the website www.legarzette.it. Otherwise, when you arrive at Piazzetta Malamocco, you can enjoy a traditional meal in the Locanda Da Scarso where Hugo Pratt used to meet his friends. It is characterized by a typical Corto Maltese atmosphere. For the lovers of a more convivial and rustic spirit, another option can be the Trattoria Al Ponte di Borgo (da Mauretto), located in Calle della Merceria. Here you can taste excellent fish dishes such as the moeche, a soft kind of fried crab typical of the months of May and October. After your lunch break, we suggest you to discover the Borgo Antico and get lost among the calli exploring this evocative part of the island which is the ancient Roman Metamaucum. Particularly interesting are the Santa Maria Assunta Church, dating back to the XII Century, and the Palazzo Pretorio, seat of a permanent archaeological exhibition.

Then, the itinerary goes back to the main street and continues straight until reaching the circle near the Galoppatoio. Here you can take the street on the left that will lead you to the Quattro Fontane Bridge offering you a beautiful view of the lagoon.
Once you are in Via Sandro Gallo, continue up to Piazzale Santa Maria Elisabetta where you can turn your bicycle in and enjoy a walk among the Gran Viale shops admiring some beautiful Liberty style buildings such as the majestic Grande Albergo Ausonia & Hungaria.

End your day with style in the Lounge-bar on the Villa Laguna panoramic terrace: here you can sit and relax while sipping a delicious cocktail and enjoying an amazing view of Venice and San Mark’s basin.