There is one Venice. Tiny little streets full of people, singing oarsmen in gondolas, Rialto Bridge and San Marco Square. The Venice you already love.

And then, there is Giudecca. The Venice that will steal your heart.

Giudecca is part of the sestiere of Dorsoduro and lies immediately south of the central islands of Venice, separated by the Canal bearing its namesake. You may have heard its fame due to the Redentore Fest: one of the most famous and heartfelt festivals for Venetian residents and tourists from all around the world. Especially for the festival, the island is reached by a bridge built of barges laid end to end across the canal. For the rest of the year, a ferry from San Marco or Piazzale Roma is the best way to land there.

It was anciently known as Spinalonga (Long Thorn) due to its unique form and stable foundation. Once an area of large palaces and gardens, the island changed into an industrial area in the early XXth century. By the end of the WWII, it had transformed into a quiet residential area of largely working-class housing.

What does it look like now? We took a long walk to find out.