Distance from Nearest Airport: The nearest airport from Lido di Venezia is Marco Polo International Airport, which is 27.8 KM away.
History of Lido Di Venezia
The island of Lido was originally a military base because of its strategic location by the lido inlet. This inlet is the widest point of entry of the lagoon and is closest to Venice. During the 12th century, the island was a site of a number of confrontations, and as the island’s importance grew, military settlements were also built here for the first time.
Over time, particularly in the 18th century, the establishment of new ferry routes to connect the rest of Venice with the island were commercially established here. A group by the name of Società Civile dei Bagni di Lido (the Lido Bathing Resort Society) planned a number of resorts here to exploit the island’s tourism potential. This island was a favorite haunt of the aristocracy and the greatest of artists and is now accessible to the public. It has become the site of major tourist activity, and the globetrotters from all across the world visit this island. It is also the site of the Venice Film Festival, which is the oldest International Film Festival in the world.
The Venice Film Festival
The Venice International Film Festival is one of the biggest three international film festivals. It is also the oldest International Film Festival in the world and is held around the end of August and the first week of September every year at Lido di Venezia.
This festival is part of the Venice Biennale, which was formed by the Venice City Council. The film festival of the Biennale was born out of the pure Italian love for movies that proliferated from the 1930s to celebrate Italian Culture. Today screenings of various movies happen in this film festival at the historic Palazzo del Cinema on the Lungomare Marconi.
This festival has deep ties with the political economy of Italy. For instance, right until 1942, the highest honor a film could receive was the Mussolini Cup, named after Italian dictator Benito Mussolini. Similarly, this link is also exhibited by the fact that the presence of the festival was pretty much non-existent between 1968 and 1978 because of political unrest in Italy. The festival has gone through immense closures and criticisms, but it is still one of the most prestigious film festivals that are held in the entire world.
Hotels on the Lido's main street
The main street of Lido beach is a major shopping and eating attraction on the island of Lido di Venezia. There are a number of great hotels lined up across the length of the street. Some notable ones are:
1. Villa Laguna: This is the best option for all those travelers who wish to have a grand stay. The rooms are quite spacious and well decorated. It also has a private parking area, 24 hours desk service, and a concierge is also available.
2. Hotel Villa Pannonia: This hotel used to be a summer retreat of the royal families of Europe. Today, the hotel is open to the public, and you can have an enchanting stay over here. The eclectic design of the premises and the furnishing and fabrications on the walls of the rooms are quite scintillating. The rooms are quite grand and are equipped with all the basic amenities like coffee making machine, sofa set, king-size bed, and microwave.
3. Hotel Panorama: This is a traditionally styled hotel that has been built in the eighteenth-century building. The rooms are furnished with warm and inviting colors, and you also get convenient services like free breakfast and free parking spaces here.
Restaurants at Lido Di Venezia
Venice, in general, offers great food, and Lido di Venezia is no exception to that. There are some great restaurants dotted across this beautiful island. Some notable ones are:
1. Pasticceria Da Bonifacio: This is a great place to grab a great breakfast, or indulge in some hearty snacks. The bakery here is absolutely phenomenal, and people regularly rave about the coffee of this place. The best part, however, is that this joint is a favorite of the locals, and so there is always the possibility of striking up interesting conversations here.
2. Vecia Gina: This is one of the local joints that every resident would recommend without a second thought. The pizza of this joint is considered to be the best in Venice. The staff is really polite and sincere, and you can come here to have a fun chat with your friends or to hang around while sipping some coffee.
3. Trattoria Andri: This is an incredible value for money restaurant. They have a fixed fish menu every day that lures the visitors to visit this eating joint. They also serve great Italian and Mediterranean food.
Shopping at Lido Di Venezia
Here is the list of the most interesting places where you can have a great shopping experience in Lido:
1. Gran Viale Santa Maria Elisabetta: This is the main street of the Lido di Venezia, and it is lined up with a number of great boutiques. You can also find here some of the best souvenir shops where you can buy gifts for your friends and family. There are also a number of great food joints over here where you can have the best food.
2. Il Farmers’ Market: Colloquially known as Mercato del Contadino, this is an outdoor market that remains open on Fridays from 7:30 AM to 1 PM. This market is located on the Lagoon side of Lido. There is also a small weekly market that operates at this spot from 7 AM to 2 PM, on Tuesdays that offer tons of items that you can buy.
3. Rizzo: Rizzo is a deli and a bakery complex where you can head for a sweet rush. It offers the best cakes, pastries and brownies in Lido and is known for its exceptional quality. You can also grab some food gifts from here.
Beaches and Recreation at Lido Di Venezia
The island is famous for its beaches and other recreational activities. Some notable activities that you can indulge in here are:
1. Beaches: The entire stretch from the dunes behind San Nicolò on the north to Bagni Alberoni is interspersed with beaches. The beach in front of the main street is the most famous one and seems to be bustling with the crowd at all times. You can also witness here a number of other beaches that are less frequented and are therefore less crowded. You can choose to visit any of the beaches according to your priorities to enjoy the sand, sun, and surf.
2. Bicycling: Owing to the less traffic in Lido, a number of shops have cropped up where you can rent a bicycle for an eventful trip of Lido. The best thing about a bicycle tour in Lido is that you can enjoy the ethereal beauty of this place without any traffic jams as you jet set on your bicycle.
3. Helicopter Tour: The helicopter tour of the island can be the most adventurous activity of your life. The tour can be anywhere from six minutes to thirty minutes, depending on the package you choose. The helicopter tour offers a 360-degree bird’s eye view of the beautiful island of Lido.
4. Museums, monuments, and architecture: There are a number of great historical monuments in Lido that should be a must-visit in your bucket list. Palazzo del Podestà Malamocco is one such iconic site that showcases the permanent exhibition of cultural and archæological exhibits in Venice. Some other notable places to visit in Lido are the Ancient Jewish Cemetery and the Lido War Memorial.
