Sant'Elena, Venice

Sant’Elena is a small island at the eastern tip of Venice in the Castello sestiere, known for its public park and waterfront open spaces. It sits at the lagoon edge opposite the main island cluster and is one of the city’s greener, less built-up areas.

The island offers tree-lined promenades, a public park and sports areas, a small square called Campo Sant’Elena and waterfront views across the lagoon. It is commonly used for strolling, picnics and local recreation rather than large-scale tourist visits.

Historically the area around Sant’Elena was peripheral to Venice’s naval and commercial core and has been adapted over time into public green space and residential use. Small churches and civic structures on and near the island reflect its role as part of Venice’s extended urban fabric rather than a medieval commercial centre.

Sant’Elena lies at the far east of the city proper, adjacent to the Giardini della Biennale and not far from the Arsenale area. It is served by the city’s vaporetto network and is a short water-taxi or boat ride from central Venice.

• Access: Reachable by vaporetto at the Sant'Elena stop, making it easy to combine with visits to the nearby Biennale gardens.
• Why go: Good for quiet waterfront views and picnics away from the busiest central canals.