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Venice is the city of canals and Cannaregio is where the waterfront charm is at its best. The northernmost of Venice's six historic districts, it's defined by the waters of the Cannaregio Canal and Grand Canal. While sublime palaces and famous attractions line the canals, when visitors explore deeper into Cannaregio they find a sense of local Venice, with morning markets, cute cafes, and hidden churches.

Most visitors explore the southern facade of Cannaregio and the regal buildings that line the Grand Canal. The main route is from Venezia Santa Lucia train station to Rialto Bridge in neighbouring San Polo. Venice's grand buildings were built along the canal and palaces like Labia and Ca' Vendramin Calergi are a wonderful reflection of the city's history. However, journey into the heart of Cannaregio and visitors will find a very local experience, especially when the morning markets are in full swing. Expect dozens of ornate churches and a sense of Venice without the crowds with various cafes offering a perfect place to watch Venice roll by.

Cannaregio can be explored by foot or by water. Cruising down the Grand Canal, passing Cannaregio's palaces, is the most popular of any private water taxi route. Public water buses are a cheaper way to traverse the same route from the train station. The district's winding streets lead into the Venetian Ghetto, another popular tourist attractions. From here it's easy to discard the map and explore at leisure, knowing that the canals are never more than a turn away.

Cannaregio was traditionally the working class area of Venice and was where the Venetian Ghetto was situated. This ghetto was enclosed by guarded gates that were locked from sunset to sunrise. Exploring the interior of the district gives a true sense of how wealthy Venice used to be, as the medieval buildings exude an old-world glamour that nobody would expect from housing that was built for the poor.