Property for Sale in Venice, Veneto
Venice is built on more than a hundred small islands in a lagoon at the northern end of the Adriatic, and it is the capital of the Veneto and of the Province of Venice. Buying here usually means an apartment in a historic building, reached on foot or by boat, in a city where there are no cars and almost every address has a view of a canal, a campo or the rooftops.
The Historic City
The historic centre is divided into six sestieri: San Marco, Castello, Cannaregio, San Polo, Santa Croce and Dorsoduro. Each has its own character, from the busy streets around the Rialto and Piazza San Marco to the quieter residential corners of eastern Castello and northern Cannaregio. Dorsoduro, home to the Accademia galleries and the Zattere waterfront, and San Polo, around the Rialto market, are both well represented among the listings.
Many of the apartments for sale are in former palazzi, often with high beamed or painted ceilings and terrazzo floors, and some have an altana, the wooden roof terrace typical of the city.
The Lido and the Lagoon
The comune also includes the islands of the lagoon and a large area on the mainland around Mestre. The Lido, a long barrier island between the lagoon and the open sea, has sandy beaches, early twentieth-century villas and streets where cars are allowed, and it hosts the Venice Film Festival each year. Murano, known for glass, and Burano, with its painted houses, are reached by vaporetto.
Along the coast to the north-east, Lido di Jesolo is a large beach resort with apartments and holiday homes.
Property for Sale in Venice
Apartments make up nearly all of the listings, from compact flats to top-floor homes with terraces and apartments in historic palazzi, with the occasional house or villa. Prices are high: most listings are above €1 million, and the most expensive reach several million.
Everyday Life and Getting There
Daily life is lived on foot and by water. The vaporetto network links the sestieri with the Lido, the islands and the mainland, and shops, markets and services are spread through the neighbourhoods. Many residents prefer homes away from the busiest tourist routes.
Santa Lucia station has fast trains to Milan, Florence, Rome and other cities, and Piazzale Roma is the terminus for cars and buses. Venice Marco Polo airport is on the mainland across the lagoon, with water and road connections to the city, and Treviso airport is an alternative.
Buying in Venice
High tides, the acqua alta, can flood ground floors and lower parts of the city, although the MOSE barriers now protect the lagoon from the highest ones. Rising damp and salt are constant issues in older buildings, so ask about recent work on walls, foundations and roofs. Most buildings are protected, and changes need consent from the heritage authorities as well as the comune.
Consider practicalities such as stairs, lifts, deliveries and access for builders. Before signing, engage a geometra or architect with Venetian experience to verify that the apartment, its terraces and any altana are recorded correctly at the land registry and were built with the right permits.