Venice > Sightseeing > Serra dei Giardini

Serra dei Giardini

Relax with a coffee or snack in a restored 19th Century greenhouse.

ABOVE: The Serra dei Giardini is on the Viale Giuseppe Garibaldi, slightly inland from Venice's waterfront near the Public Gardens and Biennale grounds.

By Durant Imboden

Tourists often talk of visiting places off the beaten path, but in a city like Venice (which attracts more than 20 million visitors per year), the path tends to be well-trodden--at least during the peak tourist months of April through October.

Still, there are a few quiet oases within the bustling city, and one--the Serra dei Giardini--is a delightful place to enjoy fresh air and a snack when you need a break from sightseeing.

The Serra dei Giardini was built as a greenhouse in 1894. Under its original name, the Serra Margherita or Margherita Greenhouse, it was used to house palm trees and other warm-weather plants. It was closed in the early 1990s and was on its way to oblivion when the city of Venice (which owned the greenhouse) undertook a major restoration project.

Today, the greenhouse is managed by a cooperative, Nonsoloverde, which sells plants, runs workshops, holds public events, and--of most interest to tourists--operates a delightful coffee bar that is open daily from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.

How to reach the Serra dei Giardini:

Walk east from the Piazza San Marco along the waterfront until you reach the Giardini vaporetto stop. (Or take the public water bus to Giardini.)

Turn left into a parklike street called the Viale Giuseppi Garibaldi (not to be confused with the Via Giuseppi Garibaldi) and walk a short distance. You'll see the greenhouse on your right, behind an iron fence and a patch of lawn. For a map, see the contacts page on the Serra dei Giardini's English-language Web site.

More photos of the Serra dei Giardini:

The Serra dei Giardini has a Victorian vibe with its handsome façade of glass and green-painted steel.

The greenhouse interior is especially welcoming on cool days from fall through spring, when the high glass walls admit the sun while industrial radiators (see below) keep the coffee bar and other interior spaces cozy and warm.

Your coffee, tea, or hot chocolate will be served with a biscuit, but if you're hungry, ask for a platter of mixed Venetian cookies. Juices, sandwiches, and other snacks are also available.

Tip: Take advantage of the restroom during your visit, since public toilets can be hard to find in Venice. The lavatory is in a short side corridor to the left of the tables in the coffee bar.

If you're lucky--or unlucky, depending on your point of view--you may be visited by the friendly resident cat, which wanders freely within the greenhouse. (We saw the cat walk under a young woman's table, rubbing against her as it continued to its destination.)

Need a takeaway cactus? The Serra dei Giardini is at your service.

Outside the building's north entrance (open doors above) are racks of flowers and other potted plants, for gardeners. The flower shop is open daily except Monday from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.

About the author:

Durant Imboden has written about Venice, Italy since 1996. He covered Venice and European travel at About.com for 4-1/2 years before launching Europe for Visitors (including Venice for Visitors) with Cheryl Imboden in 2001.

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