The name of this embankment literally translates as “the shore of slaves.” This may surprise you, but in the Middle Ages not only food, silk, or gunpowder were delivered to this shore of Venice, but slaves as well. Yes, yes, the trade in people flourished back then not only in the Middle East, but also in what seemed to be civilized Europe.
However, nowadays, apart from the name, there are no reminders left on this embankment of those “dark” times. Today, Riva degli Schiavoni is a wide promenade bordered on one side by a string of luxurious hotels, shops, and souvenir stalls, and on the other by a magnificent panorama of the Grand Canal and the other islands of Venice. When you come here, be sure to turn on our audio guide dedicated to the waters of San Marco. This embankment offers an excellent view of the San Giorgio monastery and the church of Santa Maria della Salute, about which we are ready to tell you many fascinating stories!
