Venice is one of my favourite cities in the world and I am extremely lucky to live so close. It takes me about three hours to get from my home to Saint Mark’s square. I have photographed the classic photo locations many times with my clients on photo workshops. But I also explored Venice on my own a lot. In this post I am sharing my favourite five Venice photo spots that are not on top of the list when visiting the city for the first time. You might like the idea to step away from the busy places for a little bit different experience!
Here is my list of five different photo locations in Venice. You will find more information how and when to get there in PhotoHound guide, along with many more Venice photo spots.
1) Photo spot – Traghetto Vecchio
This photo spot is probably my favourite of all. The view on Canal Grande and the Basilica di Santa Maria della Salute is nicely complemented with docked gondolas. Essential Venice, but still very different from the popular blurred gondolas shot near St Mark’s square.
The trick here is to come early in the morning. There is only room for a couple of tripods and there are constant boat deliveries on this pier. Can be frustrating but very rewarding when you get the shot. Extreme wide angle or a pano shot works the best.
2) Photo spot – Campanile di San Giorgio Maggiore
When you stand at the waterfront near St Mark’s square, San Giorgio Maggiore church is the one you see across the canal. Since it takes some effort and time to get there it receives less visitors than the Basilica of St Mark and there is usually little to no waiting to get to the belltower. The views from the top are simply amazing.
A good time to go is just before closing time in the evening. And unlike many other churches in Venice, you can photograph the interior here!
3) Photo spot – T Fondaco dei Tedeschi Terrace
This newly renovated building is located near the Rialto bridge. The building is a multi-storey shopping mall with a cafeteria in the courtyard and a sightseeing platform on the roof. The 360 views from the roof are well worth visiting – ideally when the sun is getting low, creating soft light.
One can visit the shopping mall and cafeteria anytime. In order to get to the rooftop terrace one needs to reserve a ticket online – off season this is not strict but when busy they will not let you in without one.
4) Photo spot – Rio Della Veste
This is a hard-to-find photo spot even if it is located just behind the famous Teatro la Fenice. A nice layout of canals, bridges and buildings offer many possibilities for composition and if you come in the morning there will be hardly any people around.
5) Photo spot – Rio de San Pantalon
Located in the Dorsoduro district of Venetian historical core, this location is off the usual tourist tracks. It seems more laid back, more authentic with the old houses reflecting in the canals. Worth exploring around the area and there are also some more prominent buildings nearby, the church and the school of San Rocco and the amazing Basilica dei Frari.
So, these are nice alternatives to the classic photo locations when photographing Venice. You will find a lot of pleasure going to these places and on the way, more photos as well. If you like this article, please share it with your friends and check out more photo spots in Italy on PhotoHound. You are also welcome to browse through my journal for more travel photography articles.
