Venice Quarter S.Croce and S.Polo

The district of Santa Croce takes its name from the monastery and church of the cross (which is no longer in existence). The area was rich with convents and was populated by a heterogeneous group of people devoted to varied activities. The S.Polo district takes its name from the dedication of the church of the apostle Paolo, who covered the famous Rialto zone and was the economic and merchant center of the city. It also includes the Banco Giro, la Scurtà (maritime association), and is where the central market still exists today.

They occupy the Southwest and Northeast part of Venice. Within the geographical area, to the South lies Dorsoduro and to the West, the canal Scomenzera, and the other boundary is the Grand Canal. From the Rialto Bridge, you enter the district of S. Polo through an area of Rialto which has interesting and characteristic structures. According to tradition, it is one of the first places which was inhabited by Venetians. This was the most central place for settlements. It became the central business district and general marketplace in 1097. From 1097, it was the highest point above sea level, and the reason it became the central area for merchants and commercial trade. Later on, because of it’s functional characteristics, other commercial activities were attracted to the area, i.e., shops dealing in gold, spices and textiles; financial institutions such as banks; and public administrative companies like maritime insurance and stock exchange. Today, it remains an active and central marketplace.