Neighborhoods
Venice is located on a number of low, canal-incised islands in a shallow lagoon in the northern Adriatic. The Grand Canal cuts Venice into two ying-and-yang-like halves; these halves are further cut into six sestieri (districts). On the northern half is San Marco, the traditional heart of the city, with the cathedral of San Marco and the Ducal Palace. East of San Marco, toward the open sea, is Castello, the old shipyard and site of the art Biennial, while to the west is the Cannaregio, a quiet residential area that was once the Jewish ghetto.South of the Grand Canal are two other quiet, largely residential districts, called San Polo and Santa Croce. The island narrows and reaches its tip—with the impressive Santa Maria della Salute guarding the end of the Grand Canal—in the district of the Dorsoduro. Here, too, are art museums, including the Guggenheim Collection and the foremost museum of Venetian art, the Accademia.
Venetian addresses require explanation. Each of the districts has its own numbering system, and often street names are repeated from district to district. When looking for an address, make sure you know what district the street is in. Address numbers don't follow any logical order, often spiraling around canals and alleys in a haphazard fashion. Don't be afraid to ask for help, because even the locals know it's confusing finding your way around the maze of streets and canals.
Also, in Venice only the square in front of San Marco is called a piazza; all other plazas are referred to in addresses as campo.