Venice Italy Attractions - Parks & Gardens

As far as little known Venice attractions go Venice's parks have to be right up there near the top of the list.

Greenery and nature tends to be largely absent from Venice, at least on first glance.

Take a closer look and you'll find, hidden away in secret corners, some really lovely parks and gardens.

Make time for a little peace and quiet away from the maddening crowds in these green havens, loved by Venetians for centuries.

They are listed from the ones I like best to those I like least (I still like them though).

The Giardinetti Reali (Royal Gardens)

Napoleon got this park off the ground when he wanted a view of some greenery from his office. Perhaps he wanted something to remind him of the great parks of Paris and the style is definitely French.

The park is just a short walk away from St Marks square. From the square walk down towards the water. Once you reach the water turn right and it is just near the Piazza San Marco vaporetto stop. The photo above was taken in the park.

Parco delle Rimembranze (Gardens of Remembrance)

The place where Venetian families come on the weekend to picnic. On summer weekends it is full of families enjoying a day out, kids playing ball games and young, and not so young, lovers strolling arm in arm.

Originally created as a garden to remember soldiers who fell in the Second World War, the park still hosts commemorative events of those times.

Getting to the park requires a fairly long walk from St Marks square along the Riva degli Schiavoni. The walk should take about an hour but it is a very pleasant walk along the canal, a great way to pass the time and a chance to see some Venice Italy attractions that you might otherwise miss.

Chiostro San Francesco della Vigna - Castello, Venice

I wasn’t sure whether to put this park second or even first. In the end I settled for third place only because it is not very big and is more a garden than a park. Situated at the top of the Castello district this is the perfect place to find a moment of peace and in that respect it beats all the others easily: in all the many times I've visited, even in July, I've never seen another soul around.

The gardens are the cloister gardens of the San Francesco della Vigna church – itself one of the most impressive works by the great architect Palladio.

Campo Santa Margherita - Dorsoduro, Venice Italy

Situated in Dorsoduro, the Campo Santa Margherita is a pleasant place. Often full of students from the nearby university the park has a vibrant and colorful atmosphere.

The hustle and bustle of a morning at the park’s fresh produce market can be followed by an afternoon relaxing, eating ice cream or having lunch at one of the good restaurants in the Dorsoduro district on the edge of the park. The restaurants around here are often reasonably priced compared to the other more touristy parts of Venice.