Hidden in the very northern corner of Venice’s Island, Parco Groggia is one of the few publicly accessible green areas of the city. I like coming here at spring when the weather starts to be nice, in order to spend some time breathing fresh air in a fascinating environment, reading a book on a bench, playing with dogs and children on the background. It is also nice spending time here in autumn, as there are ancient ruins and headstones are spread all over the garden that create a peculiar and scenographic atmosphere.

This little park is surrounded (and somehow “protected”) by walls and buildings, and I feel this makes the whole place cozier. Another reason why I like this city corner is that it represents an important venue for the citizens of Cannaregio district. Inside the park there is a toy library (“ludoteca”), which is a place where children gather after school and in summer for playing and learning, a small theater (Teatrino Groggia), and two sports associations: the Sant’Alvise swimming pool and gym, and the rowing association of Cannaregio. Once you are there, you can try spotting the rowers training in the northern lagoon in their rowing boats from the nearby waterbus stop Sant’Alvise.