Lido di Venezia, Barrier island in Venice Lagoon, Italy.
Lido di Venezia is an island roughly 11 kilometers long, separating the Venice Lagoon from the open Adriatic Sea. Sandy beaches line the eastern shore, while the western side features canals and low-rise buildings.
The island formed a defensive line for Venice during medieval times and hosted the settlement of Metamaucum, which emerged in the Roman period and served as the second ducal seat. Growth as a seaside resort began in 1857, when the first bathing establishments opened along the shore.
The island became a seaside resort for wealthy European families in the late 19th century, who stayed in grand hotels still visible along Lungomare Marconi. Many buildings show Art Nouveau and Belle Époque architecture, reflecting the days when the area was a fashionable meeting place.
The vaporetto connects the island to Venice several times daily, with the crossing taking around 15 minutes. Head to the northern tip for free beaches or stay near the center for the staffed sections with loungers and umbrellas.
The neoclassical oratory of Santa Maria Elisabetta near the landing pier shows a plain exterior, but inside you find votive plaques and ship models from fishing families. On the cemetery island of San Michele, visible halfway from Venice, composers like Igor Stravinsky and poets like Ezra Pound rest.
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