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Strolling Through The Venice Rialto Market

Venice is known for its canals and bridges but there are some hidden gems here that are also worth exploring including the Rialto Market or Mercato del Rialto. We were at the Rialto Bridge which is one of Venice’s famous attraction and photo spot. The bridge is always a bustle of activity with all the souvenir stands. A few yards away from the bridge is the market with the fresh produce and seafood. We love outdoor markets so it was a treat to visit. See why the locals and tourists flock here.

Venice Grand Canal

The Rialto district was one of the first parts that was developed in Venice. The squares and entryways were built around the 16th century. Venetians have been buying their food at the fruit and vegetable market and the nearby fish market for centuries here.

This is a centerpiece to many of the Venetian’s daily lives. Many of the restaurant chefs also shop here for the freshest produce and seafood for lower prices.

Rialto Market Venice

It was alongside the Grand Canal so a few steps took us to an area where we could watch the gondoliers and see the small traghetto transport people across the canal. This was a cheaper way to travel the canal but it also meant standing for the duration of the ride.

Venetian gondolier

We got here around 10 AM on a Thursday in late November. There were still quite a number of people and many of the merchants haven’t packed up yet. Though, I can imagine this is much busier in the early morning hours and especially during the weekends.

We enjoyed seeing many of the locals with their shopping trolleys and interacting with the vendors. My curious kids were more interested in trying to get a peek of what was in their baskets.

Rialto Fish Market Venice

We saw the Erberia or fruit and vegetable market first. Rows and rows of colorful stalls filled with a variety of fresh produce under covered tents met us. It was so lively as camera touting tourists, like us, mingled with locals who were food shopping for their meals and provisions.

Rialto Market Vegetables

These vibrant chile peppers immediately caught our eyes. It looked very similar to the chile strings that we’ve seen hanging all over the place in New Mexico. I love these and wish I could have taken one home.

Rialto Market chile pepper

It was so interesting to wander around and see how much familiar fruits and vegetables cost at this part of the world. We loved looking to see what familiar produce was called here. My daughter loved spotting fruits and vegetables that were unfamiliar to us. I’ve never seen those spiny looking vegetable before. I’d appreciate it if anyone can tell us what they are.

Venice Rialto market vegetable

Many of the fresh fruits and vegetables here come from the nearby Isola di Sant’Erasmo (St. Erasmus island). Sant’Erasmo was the Venetian lagoon’s largest island and its agricultural hub.

Their artichokes are one of the most popular produce. Some had labels to show which part of the region the produce came from. As expected, they all came here by boats. It made me appreciate looking at all of these fresh produce even more knowing it took quite a bit of effort to get them here.

Venice Rialto Market produce

We couldn’t resist and bought these perfect looking of what we know as persimmons. We were so used to picking our own produce at the grocery stores and even at farmer’s markets here that we didn’t think not to touch them.

We were lightly admonished not to touch the produce. The lady asked us in English to tell her which ones we’d like and she’ll get it. We pointed and she bagged them. So, take note when you’re here, don’t touch anything without asking for permission first.

Venice Rialto Market persimmon

The Pescheria or the fish market was next to the produce market. It was located in a large Neo-Gothic hall with columns. It’s hard to miss with a flying banner like this one. I’m glad this was a covered building or the seagulls and pigeons would have a field day here.

Venice Rialto Fish Market

The fish market was an even more fascinating place to walk around. I love seafood so it was a delight to see so much variety here as expected. We were staying at a hotel and a stroll through here made me almost wish we had a kitchen to try out some of the fresh catch here. We made up for it by mostly ordering pasta with seafood for our meals.

Rialto Fish Market

The market wasn’t very big but it was quite charming. We liked that it was in an open space and where the fresh air could offset any of the seafood odor. That’s always a good thing for those who are sensitive to any fishy smell (like my kids).

Fresh seafood ranged from octopus, squid, crab, eel and shrimp that were caught from the Venetian lagoon and nearby waters. My husband and I thought some of the seafood prices were a bit higher than what we were used to even with the Euro exchange rate.

Rialto Fish Market shellfish

Of course, there were loads of fish cooling off above layers of ice. It’s been a long time since I’ve visited a fish market with this much selection and so much freshness. The fish scales were luminous and the eyes all bright and clear.

Venice Rialto Market fish

We saw a couple of stalls with huge fish and one with this very large swordfish. I wonder how many people they were able to feed with that creature.

Rialto Market sword fish

The kids were captivated with watching the fishmongers skillfully slice the fish with ease and speed. I really liked that this market was also relatively clean, laid out well and was easy to move around.

Venice Rialto Fish market fishmonger

I don’t know what these clams were called but they looked wonderful. I was ready to buy one if they had any cooked ones.

Venice Rialto Fish market shells

We had these shrimp in the neighboring and colorful island of Burano for lunch the following day. It was so delicious that we had to order seconds. There was a sweetness to it and unlike any other shrimp we’ve tasted before.

Venice Rialto Market scampi

The market itself didn’t sell ready made food. But, walk a few steps and there were a variety of stores and restaurants around the area. Looking at all this freshness is bound to make anyone hungry. We found stores filled with pasta, cheese and meats that would have made a great picnic basket.

Rialto Market pasta

In hindsight, this would have been a much better experience if we did a tour of this market with a local foodie or as a part of a cooking tour. I’m not sure my kids would have been too keen on that though. But, it would have been nice to find out some insider information on produce and seafood we weren’t familiar with or what they were used for. We’re definitely doing a tour next time!

The Rialto Market may not be on many tourists’ radar when visiting Venice. But, if you have time and are in the Rialto Bridge area, we recommend a stop here especially before 10 AM. One can really get a sense of how the locals shop and what Venice had to offer. It was a cultural experience just wandering around the lively and colorful stalls here.

Rialto Market Venice

Tips for Visiting the Venice Rialto Market

  • The markets are open in the mornings from Monday to Saturday except the fish market is closed on Mondays.
  • Go early to see the market at its liveliest times. Stalls close by 1 PM.
  • Getting Here: The markets are located along the Grand Canal northwest of the Rialto Bridge which is on the opposite bank of San Marco. Go past the souvenir stands and towards the right side following the canal.
  • By water: On weekdays, take the vaporetto Line #1 and stop at Rialto Mercato. One can also take the Line #2 to the Rialto station and walk across the bridge. There was also a gondola traghetto that goes across the canal to Campo Santa Sofia on Strada Nova.
  • No ready-made foods are sold at the market other than the fruits you can munch on. Check the stores and cafes around the alleys. Look for neighborhood bars too that will cook your fish with a glass of wine.
  • There are no readymade foods at the market, so have a snack in a bar in one of the alleys nearby.
  • Try to visit the market with a cook or a local to get the best perspective and insight or through one of the foodie or culinary tours.

Do you visit markets like this one during your travels?

32 thoughts on “Strolling Through The Venice Rialto Market”

  1. I love markets and always check out markets wherever we are – its a real insight into the food culture of a place. I think those spiky vegetables are romanesco broccoli.

  2. What a wonderful market. Like you, I love going to food markets and checking out the variety and local items. I love the bright red chili photos. We walked across the Rialto bridge, but missed the market. Too bad. Thanks for linking up at Weekend Travel Inspiration.

  3. Mary, I love a produce or a fish market. Never heard of the ‘no touch’ rule before…Those persimmons are so much different than the Asian variety. I suggest everyone who is in Europe in the fall and winter try them…delicious!

  4. eileen @ FamiliesGo!

    we visited this market. it is a lot of fun. it made us wish we had a kitchen, but we didn’t. Once we got away from the tourist area around St. Mark’s, we did manage to eat well in venice though. great photos!

  5. The Rialto Market is fantastic, as you photos go to prove. The spiny cabbage is called romanesco – at least in Italian – and it tastes like a crossover between broccoli and cauliflower.

  6. What a fantastic market. I’m very surprised to see so many chiles – and such a great shot.
    I have yet to set foot in Venice and sure love the thought of exploring in depth.

    Where will your kids not have traveled to by the time they hit university? I’m so impressed.

  7. I have never thought of going to tour a food market since the ones we have in Nairobi are so crowded that even I don’t go shopping there. The Rialto market looks clean, well organized and worth a visit.

  8. Wow! What a fabulous profusion of colors there – the fresh vegetables in the market remind me of my own visit to the Queen Vic Market in Melbourne. I agree, a market is one of the best ways to talk and mingle with the locals!

  9. Ahhhhhh Venice, what a place (and smell). Loved it here and can totally see why you loved it. I never knew about such a tour, what a shame, looks awesome.

  10. I love visiting markets when I’m traveling. I always try to pick up some fruit because I definitely don’t eat enough of it when busy exploring!

  11. It looks like a visual treat! I don’t think I made it there. I remember just going round and round Venice on foot, getting lost again and again as I navigated my way in small alleys off the tourist trail. I loved it! Wish I could have been to the Rialto Market though. I love taking pictures of local markets when I travel.

  12. Hi Mary, thanks for taking me back to this market. It’s such a feast to the senses and you captured it well. Whoa, that swordfish! I don’t think I’ve seen a live one and now I know what it is called such:) Ha! Ha! I can imagine your kids peeking into people’s basket. Such an adorable curiosity. Oh, that clams you wanted to buy are actually scallops:)

  13. Visiting markets when we travel is one of my favourite things. And always a lot of fun for kids. Although we visited the Rialto Bridge, we didn’t see the fish market. Sounds like a great adventure!

  14. They have so much varied fruits and vegetables. And the freshness and care of their seafood is truly amazing. I hope to visit Venice one day. I wasn’t aware of the no touching rule in their local market, but I guess it makes sense, perhaps that’s one of the reasons that they look so picture perfect all the time?

  15. Hi, Mary. Thanks for your great idea about taking a foodie tour of the markets; that would be a fabulous way to learn more about the local cuisine…not to mention that it’s the easiest way to learn market etiquette (like that hands-off rule). Those shellfish you asked about are scallops, look closely and you’ll see that they are the same shell that Shell Oil uses for its logo.

  16. I noticed No Touch signs on the produce stalls in Sorrento. I wonder if it’s a typical Italian rule or if it’s just in the tourist areas where people photograph and handle the produce but don’t buy it. That broccoli is incredible looking. I love how it’s a beautiful example of finding fractals in nature.

  17. Damn – just looking at all those pictures makes me hungry, lol!
    Venice is one of my favorite cities in the world – the food is one of the reasons. Have you tried the traditional sandwiches?

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