Lido Photos: General Scenes

As you approach the Lido by water from Venice Marco Polo Airport, you'll see the Tempio Votivo or War Memorial (left), several hotels, and (on right) the Lido Santa Maria Elisabetta waterbus station.

After you land on the Lido, you'll have a good view of Venice's historic center across the Lagoon (especially if you have a camera with a telephoto lens, as we did when we took this photo.)

From the ACTV boat station, you'll exit into the Piazzale Santa Maria Elisabetta, which is the Lido's main transit hub for water buses, airport boats, land buses, and taxis.

Walk straight ahead, and you'll enter the Gran Viale Santa Maria Elisabetta, the Lido's main shopping, restaurant, and hotel street. The Gran Viale runs straight across the island to the public beach, which is about 700 meters or slightly less than half a mile away.

You'll pass the Lido's largest supermarket (renamed Conad City since this photo was taken) on the left side of the street. 

Rizzo, on the right side of the Gran Viale, is an upscale pastry shop and delicatessen with a café.

In this photo, a boy waits by a quadracycle while his older sister buys treats in yet another bakery and pasticceria on the Gran Viale Santa Maria Elisabetta.

The Gran Viale is lined with benches and gelaterie: an ideal combination.

You'll also find toy shops, clothing boutiques, and other businesses.

When we took these photos in early May, the Gran Viale Santa Maria Elisabetta was awash in flowers and blossoming trees.

Do you prefer fauna to flora? Make friends with a cat as you stroll up the Gran Viale.

Dogs are also in plentiful supply. (Venetians--including residents of the Lido--love their cani.)

You may see this cane as you walk past a shop next to the Hotel Cristallo. The pup's owner works in the shop, and little Fido (pronounced "Feedo" in Italian) watches passersby while waiting for Mom to show up for a break or lunch.

Wander off the Gran Viale, and you'll see more animals--such as this watchcat, which was guarding a Lido resident's vehicle.

"Allontonati dalla macchina." ("Step away from the car.")

Not all of the Lido's cats are living. This bas-relief, which we saw on a house, shows Venice's traditional Winged Lion of St. Mark.

Like many places in Europe, the Lido is a great place to spot t-shirts with entertaining captions in English.

This altana or roof terrace on a villa near the Lido's beaches is reminiscent of the "widow's walks" on 19th Century houses along the East Coast of the United States.

We know of two Lido resort hotels, the Villa delle Palme and the Villa Gabriella, that have similar rooftop belvederes for guests.

Naturists may be frustrated by the Lido's lack of nudist facilities, but this doll found a solution: sunbathing on a boat.

On the Lido, even quadripeds ride bicycles.

We found this small waterfront park south of the Lido S.M.E. vaporetto stop, next to the Hotel Villa Laguna (which has rooms and a restaurant terrace overlooking the water).

With Cheryl's telephoto lens, the Campanile di San Marco and the Doge's Palace appeared to be within swimming distance.

Need more proof that pictures can be deceptive? This telephoto shot was taken from a bridge on the Lido, which is slightly more than 5 km or 3 miles from the Piazza San Marco.

Does false perspective give you a headache? Not to worry: You can always buy aspirin at a farmacia.

Near the beaches (see next page), you'll run across a number of outdoor bars and snack stands, including this repurposed double-deck bus on the Lungomare Gabriele D'Annunzio to the north of the public beach.