Chioggia, Italy - Welcome to Little Venice!

It is not difficult to understand why Chioggia in Italy is called Little Venice. Like Venice, Chioggia is a city of canals, bridges and boats. Here you can wander around medieval houses in charming neighbourhoods, but without the crowds of tourists that Venice has.

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From Negroes to Chioggia in Italy

The Italian town of Chioggia is located in the province of Venice, just south of the city of Venice. Since the city is often called Little Venice, we were naturally curious, and chose to head here after we had done our homework. wine buying in Valpolicella.

Motorhome parking in Chioggia

The old part of Chioggia is located on a small island, which is connected to the mainland Sottomarina. A long sandy beach runs along Sottomarina and there are lots of hotels and campsites here. On the English-language Wikipedia we read that there are about 60 hotels and 17 campsites here.

There are also several pitches for motorhomes. We chose a site called Parcheggio del Padoan, on Via San Felice 10, which had a good location to both the beach and the town. The price here was 17 euros per night.

The beach in Chioggia

It was incredibly hot when we arrived, so we immediately decided to go down and swim. It was the first real beach hangout in a long time! The sand is fine-grained and it is shallow. It was hardly possible to lie in the sun, but it was nice to lie in the water!

Walk to town

The walk from the car park to the centre of Chioggia takes just under half an hour. You go back a little way from where you came from, and then turn off to take the three bridges into town. Here we saw lots of fishing boats, and there were also houseboats for rent (no licence required)!

Husbåtar för uthyrning i Chioggia i Italien — Houseboats for rent in Chioggia, Italy

READ MORE: 10 tips for visiting Venice
READ MORE: Umbria in Italy - olive groves in the green heart of Italy

Little Venice

As soon as you enter Chioggia, you realise why this city is called Little Venice. The whole town is built around canals, over which there are countless bridges. Many of the houses stand right in the water, and next to the houses are small boats tied to ancient wooden poles. What a wonderfully charming city!

Chioggia has a long history and is mentioned in documents from the 5th century, when it was part of the Byzantine Empire. The city was destroyed by King Pippin of Italy in the 9th century, but was rebuilt around the time of the salt industry. In the 14th century, the city played a significant role in the 'War of Chioggia' between Genoa and Venice, when it was captured first by Genoa and then by Venice.

Fishing is a major industry in Chioggia, as is tourism. Many people combine sun holidays on the beaches of Sottomarina with visits to the charming little town, which feels like a miniature version of Venice. There are several canals, including the Vena Canal, and several medieval churches. And, of course, there are plenty of restaurants and cafés.

READ MORE: By motorhome in Liguria - the flowery coast of Italy
READ MORE: What to do in Rome - tips for sights and activities

Mussels for dinner

While we were thinking about which restaurant to choose for dinner, we found the co-operative Sciabicawhich served seafood as fast food, which could then be enjoyed at simple long tables. Absolutely perfect! We each bought a portion of mussels along with chips and a litre of beer (served in a litre measure!) to share. Tasty and nice! The bill was also affordable, and ended up at around SEK 270 for two people.

Evening in Chioggia

Finally, an evening photo and a film from this super cosy city. Maybe you've been here too? Did you know that there is a town called Little Venice, just south of Venice?

Video from 'Chioggia'

26 July 2018 6:00

Italy

Motorhome holidays in Italy, campervan trip2018, car park, metropolis

Helena

Administrator

34 Comments

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Britt-Marie Lundgren says:

We had Venice as an option on our return journey from Croatia, but we have never heard of this gem. An incredibly cosy city it looks like and mussels on an outdoor terrace, yum!
It's so much fun when you start planning and solving for a trip that you find so many incredible gems.
You are really "raising the bar" for those of us who may be planning to go to these parts.

26 July 2018 - 6:31

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- Comment by post author
  
  Helena says:
  
  Surely there are many gems in Europe! This city is much smaller than Venice, but incredibly charming and cosy! 🙂
  
  26 July 2018 - 11:06
  
  Reply
  - Mr Ingvar Ingemansson says:
    
    Chioggia has become one of our favourite destinations in Italy. Camping Adriatico can be recommended, small and cosy and close to the beach. Tip: take the boat to Venice and have a wonderful sea journey. Enjoy!
    
    09 October 2020 - 18:35
    
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Mr Nils-Åke Hansson says:

Wow, what you show off. What a cosy place

26 July 2018 - 9:02

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- Comment by post author
  
  Helena says:
  
  Super cosy indeed!
  
  26 July 2018 - 11:51
  
  Reply
B-G says:

Thanks for the tip! Agree with Britt-Marie L you are setting the stage for our future trip!

26 July 2018 - 9:03

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- Comment by post author
  
  Helena says:
  
  Fun if we can recommend nice places! 🙂
  
  26 July 2018 - 11:51
  
  Reply
  - Lena Lundqvist-Unger says:
    
    Incredibly cosy . We ourselves are on our way home after sailing in Croatia and googled and found this gem. We live in the middle of the old quarters in a B a B really cosy.
    
    19 July 2020 - 18:36
    
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Solan says:

Yes, but then we were five minutes from the city. Simple pitch with plastic palm trees and fun lighting. My sister recommended Mini-Venice, she lived in Padova at the time. Another beautiful city near Venice.
Fun to follow in Freedom's footsteps ?

26 July 2018 - 9:12

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- Comment by post author
  
  Helena says:
  
  Aha, so now found a pitch even closer! Clever! 🙂 Padova we have not checked out, thanks for the tips!
  
  26 July 2018 - 11:53
  
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4000mil says:

Great tip. Near the "big attraction" there is almost always a similar, but completely unknown attraction. 🙂

26 July 2018 - 9:18

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- Comment by post author
  
  Helena says:
  
  I think you wrote about just that, to find the "other similar" sights? Very nice to tourist where not ALL others are. (There are tourists in Chioggia, but can not be compared to Venice ;))
  
  26 July 2018 - 12:45
  
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Across the board says:

Yes, we visited Chioggia in 2004 for the first time. Then you have been a few more times. Then there were no pitches but only campsites. It seems to be the same otherwise.

26 July 2018 - 9:49

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- Comment by post author
  
  Helena says:
  
  Glad you have been here several times! 🙂 Now there were several pitches, so it develops well 😉 .
  
  26 July 2018 - 12:46
  
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Ama de casa says:

Had no idea that this beautiful city existed. On the other hand, we have looked at renting a houseboat in the area, but it seemed a bit boring because there are hardly any locks in the area and it belongs to locking when travelling on the canals 🙂.

Mmm... Moules frites, now I've got the drool in my keyboard again 😀.

26 July 2018 - 9:51

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- Comment by post author
  
  Helena says:
  
  Locks seem a bit cool iofs to go through, I can agree with that! (Although I think houseboat is cosy anyway;))
  
  26 July 2018 - 12:47
  
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Mr Steve says:

Chioggia, what a gem!
I am beginning to see you more and more as explorers. You find places that are completely unknown, at least to me.
A lovely film again, as always well made.

26 July 2018 - 10:18

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- Comment by post author
  
  Helena says:
  
  Sometimes it's fun to get to the big, famous places, but we think it's even more fun to find little gems that aren't known to everyone 😉.
  
  26 July 2018 - 12:47
  
  Reply
Emma, sun like sun? says:

I've heard Little Venice but isn't it a restaurant too? A quick google says that there is not only one but several Little Venice. 🙂
Besides, you live in the Venice of the North.

Seems like a charming city. Love how the mussels are served as if they were a hamburger! 🙂

26 July 2018 - 12:19

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- Comment by post author
  
  Helena says:
  
  Yes, it seems there are many who want to call their restaurant for example Little Venice! There also seems to be another city fighting for the name 😉 This city really reminded us of Venice! And we also liked the fast food mussels 😉.
  
  26 July 2018 - 17:51
  
  Reply
Ann-Louise says:

But oh so cosy. I had no idea this city existed. Immediately put it on my bucket list. There are so many places to discover in Italy!

26 July 2018 - 12:24

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- Comment by post author
  
  Helena says:
  
  There are so many great places to discover! This was a little gem! 🙂
  
  26 July 2018 - 17:52
  
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BP says:

I have never heard of Chioggia, but what a very cosy town. I really like it! I have never been particularly fond of Venice, mostly because of the smell and the price, but I like Chioggia.
Oh so good with the first beach hangout. I guess you were looking forward to it, because you like the sun and swimming. Enjoy!

26 July 2018 - 12:58

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- Comment by post author
  
  Helena says:
  
  Super cosy! More cosy than Venice I would say (although Venice has more classic sights of course). And yes, we like sun and swimming! But we actually got a little "saturated" during the European trip in 2015, so it has not attracted so much. But now it was nice! 🙂
  
  26 July 2018 - 18:53
  
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Lennart says:

Looks nice!

26 July 2018 - 14:44

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- Comment by post author
  
  Helena says:
  
  Very nice 🙂
  
  26 July 2018 - 18:54
  
  Reply
Matts Torebring says:

Even though I don't like Italy (or rather the Italians), it looked nice.

26 July 2018 - 18:46

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- Comment by post author
  
  Helena says:
  
  Most countries have good and bad sides 😉 .
  
  26 July 2018 - 18:54
  
  Reply
- Mr Ingvar Ingemansson says:
  
  Why don't you like Italians! We have learnt Italian and how much fun we have when we spend time with them!
  
  09 October 2020 - 18:41
  
  Reply
Anette says:

What a beautiful city!
We will definitely visit it.

26 July 2018 - 21:35

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- Comment by post author
  
  Helena says:
  
  That's really a tip! Cosy city 🙂
  
  31 August 2018 - 16:11
  
  Reply
Lena - good for the soul says:

I had no idea that this city existed. But it looks at least as cosy as I remember Venice.

Hug Lena

01 August 2018 - 22:06

Reply
- Comment by post author
  
  Helena says:
  
  It's a little less grand than Venice, but just as cosy 🙂.
  
  31 August 2018 - 16:11
  
  Reply
Lasse Wirmark says:

hello
Was there in summer 2017.
I'm going there again on my train trip starting this Wednesday, 20 March.
Chioggia is a great place.
Tip, take the boat from Chioggia to Pellestrina - lovely island!

14 March 2019 - 13:31

Reply

Chioggia, Italy - Welcome to Little Venice!

From Negroes to Chioggia in Italy

Motorhome parking in Chioggia

The beach in Chioggia

Walk to town

Little Venice

Mussels for dinner

Evening in Chioggia

Video from 'Chioggia'

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34 Comments

Britt-Marie Lundgren says:

Helena says:

Mr Ingvar Ingemansson says:

Mr Nils-Åke Hansson says:

Helena says:

B-G says:

Helena says:

Lena Lundqvist-Unger says:

Solan says:

Helena says:

4000mil says:

Helena says:

Across the board says:

Helena says:

Ama de casa says:

Helena says:

Mr Steve says:

Helena says:

Emma, sun like sun? says:

Helena says:

Ann-Louise says:

Helena says:

BP says:

Helena says:

Lennart says:

Helena says:

Matts Torebring says:

Helena says:

Mr Ingvar Ingemansson says:

Anette says:

Helena says:

Lena - good for the soul says:

Helena says:

Lasse Wirmark says:

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