Chioggia: A day trip to the southern end of the lagoon

“Venetians were never fishermen,” explains Nicoletta Fornaro at Naturally Epicurean -- “they could have been Capitan da Mar (Sea Capitans) or sailors, [but] definitely not fishermen.” In fact, Venice’s fishermen reside on the island of Burano in the northern lagoon, the barrier island of Pellestrina, just south of Lido, and in Chioggia.    

Chioggia is “the second most important city on the Venetian Lagoon and the busiest fishing port in the region,” write Durant and Cheryl Imboden at Europe for Visitors. “Commercial fishing boats are moored along the waterfront, shellfish farms dot the neighboring waters of the lagoon, and the city’s fish market is a popular tourist attraction.” It’s well worth a day trip or even an over-night trip, they suggest, before explaining the easiest way to reach it by water. At the heart of Choggia’s historic centre is Corso del Popolo, the wide main street “lined with shops and bars that's the scene of a lively evening passeggiata,” notes Tripsavvy, and the Sottomarina area, 2 km from the port,“has good sandy beaches.”  

Chioggia was known as “the pantry of Venice,” says Italian Notes. “This is a working class area, where many people still work out in the open, mending nets and ropes or cleaning their small blue boats after a trip around the lagoon … a smell of tomato sauce, motor oil, fish and onion permeates the air.” Fifty years ago “there were nearly as many farmers in Chioggia as there were fishermen.” Today Chioggia is “one of the most important fishing ports on the Adriatic,” where you can experience “one of the liveliest fish markets in Italy.”