Venice Lido, the beach and the cinema

Published on June 19, 2024 at 4:00 pm

Very much in vogue in the 19th century, when the sea bathing craze took off, the Lido offers a completely different face to that of Venice: here, the buildings are not very old, cars are making a reappearance, bicycles are replacing the gondolas, and the beach is taking precedence over visits to monuments.

The Lido, a long island closing off the Venetian lagoon** from the Adriatic Sea, is the seaside counterpart of the Serenissima: attractive in fine weather, it's the perfect opportunity to get in the water and relax on a deckchair, summer holiday style. All this just twenty minutes from Venice.

The Lido also reminds us of the long-standing links between Venice and the cinema. It's here that the Mostra di Venezia, one of the world's most prestigious film festivals, is held every year: it's a must for film buffs.

Beach at Venice Lido

Summary

The Lido, Venice's seaside resort
The Venice Film Festival at the Lido: Venice and the cinema
A day at the Lido: practical information

The Lido, Venice's seaside resort

A long stretch of coastline closes off the Venetian lagoon, protecting it from the onslaught of the Adriatic Sea: various canals allow the sea to recede during the tides, as well as allowing large ships to enter and leave this vast protected body of water. The island of Lido, which is 12 km long and no more than 4 km wide, is framed by two of these canals, to the north and south.

Venice Lido

For centuries, interest in the Lido was limited to the construction of defensive structures to protect the entrance to the lagoon and the interests of the Serenissima. As a result, the island is virtually devoid of ancient heritage today.

Le Grand Hôtel Excelsior

The Lido's time came with the emergence of the seaside resort craze in the 19th century. Lido's long sandy beaches and dunes, bordered by the Adriatic Sea, were very much in vogue: ideal conditions for swimming! Beautiful residences and gleaming villas in the neo-Gothic, neo-Byzantine or Liberty styles- the art nouveau movement that was so popular during the Italian Belle Epoque- sprang up all over the island.

A fine example is the Grand Hôtel Excelsior, with its striking neo-Moorish architecture on the beachfront, which still stands today in the heart of the Lido, or the venerable Grand Hôtel des Bains, currently awaiting conversion.

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Hotel Excelsior Venice

Hotel Excelsior Venice 5*, on the beach of Venice Lido

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The myth of the Lido took shape, benefiting from Venice's aura of romanticism... in the 1930s, the Casino and the Palais du Cinéma appeared, forging a link between the 7th Art, the Lido and Venice that has never been broken since.

The Venice Film Festival at the Lido: Venice and the cinema

The Venice Film Festival, initially the International Festival of Cinematographic Art, was inaugurated in 1932 at the Hotel Excelsior on the Lido. The Palazzo del Cinema, built in 1937 on the Lungomare Marconi, has been the venue for the award ceremonies of this cutting-edge film festival ever since: the famous Golden Lion, inspired by the Lion of St Mark, the emblem of Venice, is a much sought-after prize!

The Palais du Cinéma at the Lido

Since its creation, the Mostra has maintained its influence on the world of cinema, a festival as prestigious as Cannes (and its Palme d'Or) or Berlin (and its Golden Bear). Every year, the Mostra takes place on the Lido in September, with its procession of actresses and actors, directors and film buffs from all over the world flocking to the lagoon.

Venice is an extremely photogenic setting, making it an ideal backdrop for telling a great story. And yet, bringing Venice to the big screen has not always been a success. Among the great classics set in Venice are Visconti's Death in Venice (1971) and Fellini's Casanova (1976). The English Patient, set in Cairo, was filmed in the Grand Hotel des Bains du Lido.

A day at the Lido: practical information

🚌 How do I get to the Lido?

The easiest way is to take the vaporetto. Several lines serve the Lido, including line 1, which follows the entire Grand Canal, and line 2 (fewer stops). The journey from Piazza San Marco takes around 20 minutes.

Lines 5.1 and 6. 1 are quicker if you leave from Piazzale Roma, passing through the Canal della Giudecca.

👛 What ticket do I need to get to the Lido?

A vaporetto ticket costs €9.50. A pass from ACTV, the transport company, can quickly be worth it if you make many return trips (available online with the Venezia Unica pass).

🚌 How do I get around the Lido?

The best plan for enjoying the Lido is to hire a bike as soon as you arrive at the pier, and tour the island on two wheels. A thin coastal strip, the Lido is completely flat and presents no difficulties: the 12km long stretch will be covered quickly.

📍 The Lido beaches

Don't forget your swimming costume at the Lido: the whole island is lined with a long, uninterrupted sandy beach, with a gently sloping bottom.

Be warned, however: most of the beaches on the Lido are private, and therefore subject to a charge (for deckchairs and parasols)!

If you refuse to pay, choose Bluemoon beach, which is central and very popular, San Nicoletto beach and its lighthouse to the very north, or the wildest, Alberoni beach, to the very south.

👉 What are the dates of the Venice Film Festival?

The Mostra is one of the major cultural events of the Venice Biennale. It is held every year over a ten-day period at the beginning of September: beware, this is a very busy period!

For the dates of the next edition and the programme, visit the Venice Biennale website.

by Jude JONES