Chioggia Italy: How to Visit the Beautiful "Little Venice"

Chioggia, Italy is a charming coastal town that's known as "Little Venice". It's one of the most beautiful places in Italy that you need to visit if you're traveling to Venice. Located on the southern side of the Venetian Lagoon and not too far from the "City of Canals", Chioggia is the perfect day trip from Venice.

Why should you travel to Chioggia? It's like visiting Venice, but without the crowds! You won't encounter many tourists here by comparison. There are lively markets, bridges crossing calm canals, and quaint alleyways with laundry hanging from the buildings. There's a nearby beach at Sottomarina featuring idyllic seaside resorts, too.

About Chioggia, Italy

Chioggia, Italy is a small fishing village on the southernmost side of the Venetian Lagoon on the Adriatic Sea. Though smaller than Venice, it's very similar to the highly visited and famous place in Italy. There are a series of small islands and canals, connected by bridges to one another and the mainland.

Did you know that Chioggia is actually older than Venice? For this reason, the locals don't think of Chioggia as "Little Venice", but rather Venice as "Big Chioggia"! According to legend, it was founded by Clodius around the year 2000 BC, although the most ancient documents about Chioggia date from the 6th century AD when it was part of the Byzantine Empire. Over the years, Chioggia has also been called Clodia, Cluza, Clugia, Chiozza, Chiozzo and Chioggio.

In the 9th century, Chioggia was destroyed by King Pippin of Italy, but it was rebuilt due to its natural salt pans. Salt was supplied from Chioggia to those living in the Venetian Republic and it became known as the ancient salt capital of the Mediterranean. Unfortunately, its rich salt pans gradually disappeared over time and eventually became depleted.

In the 18th century, Chioggia reinvented itself once again and became known for its fishing activities. It grew to have one of the largest fishing economies in Italy and the most established fish market in the region. Nowadays and for the last 80 years, Chioggia hosts its annual Sagra del Pesce di Chioggia, or Chioggia Fish Festival, for 10 consecutive evenings where you can dine beneath the stars.

Fun Facts About Chioggia

Interested in learning a few more things about Chioggia? Here are a few more fun facts about this intriguing place:

• Like the island of Burano, the town is known for its lace-making. However, unlike Burano, this lace is made using bobbins.
• A classic Italian play by Carlo Goldoni, Le baruffe chiozzotte, was named for a loud brawl in Chioggia. In early August each year, a local theater company presents this play in the city streets and tickets sell out fast. Chioggiotti take pride in being fiery, authentic, and a little rough around the edges by comparison to Venetians.
• During the third week of July, Palio della Marciliana takes place. This is a festival that depicts life in the Middle Ages here with a crossbow tournament, banquets, song and dance, and historical reconstructions.
• Chioggia has two twin cities or sister cities: Lamia, Greece and Saint-Tropez, France.

Getting to Chioggia Italy From Venice

The easiest way to get to Chioggia is by car. You can rent a car in Venice or at the Venice Airport and drive to Chioggia. There are many parking lots outside the town, so you can leave your car and go exploring. Another direct way to reach Chioggia by booking a transfer from the Venice airport to the town.

You can use public transportation to travel between Venice and Chioggia, which is the most inexpensive way and it's not terribly difficult to figure out. You'll travel by water taxi or ferry. In the summer (between June and September), there is a direct vaporetto between St. Mark's Square and Chioggia.

Not visiting between June and September? No worries, you can still get there during all other times of the year. First, you need to travel by vaporetto to the island of Lido (take the #1 vaporetto from Venice to Lido). From Lido S.M.E., board the number 11 bus and ride it straight to the end of Lido.

Then, your number 11 bus drives onto the ferry at Alberoni. The ferry docks in Pellestrina, but you can stay on the bus until you reach the Pellestrina Cimitero stop. Then, you'll get off the bus and board a small passenger ferry to Chioggia. It takes approximately 1 hour and 15 minutes to reach Chioggia from Lido.

I suggest visiting Pellestrina for a short while first. Get off at the Pellestrina Sant'Antonio stop and spend an hour or two on the island. Here's our guide to visiting Pellestrina, Italy. On our Italian river cruise, we docked in Pellestrina for the night and spent the following morning in Chioggia.

Bragozzo Ulysses Boat Excursion

We took a small traditional boat, Bragozzis Ulysses, from Pellestrina to Chioggia on a private tour. It may be possible for you to arrange pickup in Pellestrina by the Bragozzis Ulysses for a fun and unique adventure. Allow me to go into more detail about possible boat excursions in Chioggia or between Pellestrina and Chioggia.

For an authentic experience in Chioggia, tourists can take a boat tour on a traditional boat called a bragozzo. There are several boat excursions you can take aboard the Bragozzo Ulysses. This was the same iconic red boat that transported us from Pellestrina to Chioggia with some sightseeing stops along the way.

A few of their boat tours include a short ride around Chioggia (45 minutes), the Caroman Excursion (60 minutes) and the Pellestrina Excursion (90 minutes). You'll view all of these stunning locations from the water.

On a tour around Chioggia, you might be able to see the island of San Domenico, the lagoon of Chioggia, the canals of Sottomarina, and the little Madonna of Chioggia. There's also a shuttle service between the Thursday morning market in Chioggia and Sottomarina, a direct connection that avoids a lengthy walk between the two.

There doesn't appear to be any way to book the tour directly on their website. I'd send them an email to inquire into any tours or excursions to ensure you get to ride aboard the bragozzo. You also might be able to book your trip directly at the dock. It's a really unique experience!

The Canals of Chioggia Italy

Chioggia, Italy is located at the southern end of the Venetian lagoon in Veneto. The Adriatic Sea is to the east and the Delta of the Po and Po River are to the south. The town of Chioggia is made up of a collection of islets separated by canals and connected by bridges, much like Venice.

The canals of Chioggia serve as a link between the Venetian lagoon and the Adriatic Sea. They are both historically and culturally significant in addition to providing a beautiful and classic Italian landscape. There are three canals which divide the historic town center: the Vena canal, the Lombard canal and the San Domenico canal. There's also a fourth smaller canal that's partially buried, the Perottolo canal.

At one end of the Perottolo canal, you'll see the Refugium Peccatorum. This is a marble statue of the Virgin Mary and the baby Jesus, surrounded by a group of sculptures. It's right by the Cathedral of Santa Maria Assunta. Back in the day, those condemned to die would pray in front of the statue before being executed. The statue also became a place where wives and family members of fishermen would pray if their loved ones were in danger at sea, as churches were not always open.

Ponte di Vigo in Chioggia, Italy

We arrived at Piazzetta Vigo by boat, a small piazza on the northernmost side of Chioggia that overlooks the Venetian lagoon. In Piazzetta Vigo, you'll also see a tall column with a small lion statue on top. The lion is the city's symbol. The lion of Chioggia is mocked by Venetians who call it "el gato" (the cat) because it is smaller by comparison to the lion of Venice.

A total of nine bridges cross the Vena canal (Vigo, Caneva, Sant'Andrea, della Pescheria, dei Filippini, San Giacomo, Scarpa, Zitelle, della Cuccagna). Out of all the bridges, the Ponte di Vigo is a must visit place in Chioggia and it's located in Piazzetta Vigo. Ponte di Vigo is a stone bridge from 1685 that crosses the Vena canal. There are statues of lions on either side of the bridge, as well as a red lion on the bridge itself.

Visit the Fish Market in Chioggia, Italy

Mercato Ittico al Minuto (Pescheria) is the famous fish market of Chioggia Italy. It's located alongside the Vena canal across the Ponte della Pescheria. There's a very ornate, sculpted entranceway. Inside the market, you'll see big red tents that house dozens of stalls selling fish and seafood. It's the largest fish market in Italy.

While I must admit that I'm not the biggest fan of fish markets as someone who doesn't eat fish, it's a historic part of the town that's worth checking out, at least for the impressive entranceway outside the market. The market only operates in the mornings, so visit as soon as you arrive to avoid disappointment.

Go Shopping on Corso del Popolo

Corso del Popolo is the main shopping street in Chioggia, Italy. This long street stretches from north to south across one of the main islands, from the Santa Maria Gate to the Vigo dock. You can find souvenir shops and stalls along the street, as well as many restaurants and cafes.

Enjoy a meal on one of the patios on a warm day. Poke your head down the narrow alleyways off Corso del Popolo as they're all so quaint and lovely.

Much like Venice, this is one big pedestrian zone where you can wander around freely and take in all the sights. While you may hear a few people speaking English in the streets, you'll notice that it isn't at all touristy like Venice. There's a very relaxed atmosphere. Soak up the unspoiled local culture as you wander up and down Corso del Popolo and the nearby streets.

Cathedral of Santa Maria Assunta

The Chioggia Cathedral, also known as the Duomo di Santa Maria Assunta is the main place of worship here. This church dates back to 1627, although it was built on the site of an ancient church most likely from the 8th century.

In the square beside the cathedral, there's an old bell tower from 1347. Inside the cathedral, you'll find many ornate decorations and works of art. The church is only open in the morning between 09:30 and 11:15 and it is free to enter.

Museo della Torre dell'Orologio

Chioggia claims to have the world's oldest clock and you'll find it at the town's Clock Tower Museum. The museum is inside the Sant' Andrea Church, and the clock itself sits at the top of the Campanile di Sant' Andrea (Sant' Andrea Clock Tower). The clock tower dates to 1386.

The Clock Tower Museum is a vertical museum across seven floors, dedicated to religion and history. You can admire the clock itself on the fifth floor. Please note that the Clock Tower Museum has very restricted opening hours on Sundays from 9:15am to 12:30pm and again from 4:30pm to 7:00pm. It may also open on holidays.

Beach Day at Sottomarina

Between the Venice lagoon and the Adriatic Sea, you'll discover a long stretch of beach at Sottomarina. It's nearly 10km long and 300 metres wide, so you'll have no problem finding a place to relax in the sunshine. Go for a walk along the waterfront or spend a day at the beach. There are special areas of the beach that are dog-friendly, too.

Also, you can stop at a local beachfront restaurant or rent watersports gear. This is also a destination for scuba diving as you can discover the most important natural reef in the Adriatic, built by red limestone algae. This area is a Biological Protection Area where you might spot colorful schools of fish, sea sponges, eels, lobsters and hermit crabs.

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