The Castello district, named for the presence of a fortification around which the Castello area developed, is one of the city’s largest and oldest sestieri.

The main attraction is the Arsenale, a huge military structure that houses the Naval History Museum of Venice, with an extensive collection of historic ships and maritime objects, as well as telling the story of the arsenal itself. Campo San Giovanni e Paolo is one of the largest in Venice and offers the majestic Church of San Giovanni e Paolo with artwork and funerary monuments.

In the Castello district, you’ll find the Giardini della Biennale, a beautiful green oasis near the Arsenale, famous for the art and architecture exhibitions of the Venice Biennale. Via Garibaldi is a lively street frequented mainly by locals, with typical Venetian stores, cafes and restaurants, giving an authentic experience of local life.