Maybe it's because I just got back from Disney World, where that's always the question I ask before going. And I know that "new" and Venice, just don't sound right together, but we're going again in May (couldn't resist a 467 pp rt fare) and I would kind of like a quest for something I haven't seen before. As an example, my husband and I love Paris and while it's always nice to just stroll and sit in sidewalk cafes in familiar places, I always make it a point to see something I've never seen before and I keep a list of sorts for "new" places to see.

I'm hoping that some of you who have been there recently or who live there or who have traveled there often will be able to direct me to some spots that we might not have seen on previous trips. I guess this boils down to the standard question--where are the "off the beaten track" places to see in Venice?

Thanks for your recommendations.

Hello Julie

Have you visited the Naval Maritime Museum?
http://www.marina.difesa.it/venezia/index.asp
(Site is only in Italian, but go to the virtual visit links, primo, piano, secondo floors you'll get a good idea of what's in store.)

Venice is all about the water and ships, and this museum does not disappoint. It gives a history, lots of old maps, canons, weapons, etc. But the highlight for me was the beautiful ship of the doge (which some say makes Cleopatra's ship look like an oil barge).

Truly an off-the-beaten-path find in Venice.

Happy travels!

What have you seen and what haven't you seen?

Here's a list of enjoyable and even beautiful venues I only rarely see talked about in trip reports:

The three major scuolae

The interior (the choir) and campanille of San Giorgio Maggiore

Art gallery window shopping in the Dorsoduro (wander around behind the area of the Ca'Rezzonico)

And while it's not gorgeous, I think the down-to-earth household goods shopping along the Strada Nuova is a nice change of pace from all those touristy shops, but then again, I live here, so it's tempting to buy cutlery and drive it back home, and maybe you won't be so intrigued, especially if you just do carry on. (Can't bring knives into the cabin.)

Some things I plan to do on my next visit to Venezia:

Go to several different places where "smalta" is made/sold (Those are the little glass pieces used to make mosaics.)

Go to Murano (where I've never been) and get off the tourist track and wander the town and window shop, visiting the art glass makers

Go to the Museo Fortuny

Take a day trip (or probably longer) to Treviso

Swisshiker, thank you for reminding me of the Maritime Museum. We were there once but could stand to repeat it. Our visit was made even more memorable by the opportunity to witness a Venetian funeral. The congregation accompanied the coffin to a funeral barge onto which they loaded the coffin, and several large standing sprays of flowers, before it pushed off, presumably for the burial island of St. Michele.

And thank you Zeppole for suggesting a tour of the scuolae. I'm sure we've walked by but never entered so truly concentrating on them will be interesting. In a somewhat similar vein, we're thinking to try to make a conscious effort to explore the place Siestre by Siestre and to try to stop at the various campos within them.
Household goods shopping on the Strada Nuovo is also a fun idea. As is a trip to the Museo Fortuny, another place I'm sure I've seen mentioned in guidebooks, but never paid much attention to before. Thanks.

The scuolae are among the most fantastic art sites in Venice -- and that's saying a lot.

San Rocco and Carmini are far more spectacular than San Giovanni Evangelisti, so be sure to see those if you haven't got time for the rest.

Thought I'd give you the website for Fortuny -- and this one says its closed for restoration. Double check.

http://www.italytraveller.com/en/c/museo-fortuny

However, the official museum's website of Venice doens't mention any closure, as it does for the lace museum:

http://www.museiciviciveneziani.it/main.asp?lin=en

Julie, if you haven't, stroll the courtyard of the old ghetto, drop into one of the four ancient sinagogas. A major element of Venetian history before your eyes...you'd almost expect Shakepspeare's Shylock or Portia to appear before you.

stu tower

Thanks Stu, no I haven't before, and Yes, now I intend to. Thanks.

Definately the Scuolo of San Giovanni Evangelista - the paintings are really humorous.
I'd be inclined to read Venice by Jan Morris - it's full of quirky details that are not on the regurar tourist beat.
An exercise - find No 1 for each sestier. I'm told that No 1 San Marco is the Doges Palace, and No 1 Castello is a fair walk.