Cannaregio

Development began in the eleventh century as the area was drained and parallel canals were dredged.

Although elegant palazzos were built facing the Grand Canal, the area grew primarily with working class housing and manufacturing.

However, Jews held successful positions in the city such as merchants, physicians, money lenders, and other trades.

Restrictions on daily Jewish life continued for more than 270 years, until Napoleon Bonaparte conquered the Venetian Republic in 1797.

Today, the areas of the district along the Grand Canal from the train station to the Rialto Bridge are packed with tourists, but the rest of Cannaregio is residential and relatively peaceful, with morning markets, neighborhood shops, and small cafés.