Sant'Erasmo is an island in the

Venetian Lagoon The Venetian Lagoon (; ) is an enclosed bay of the Adriatic Sea, in northern Italy, in which the city of Venice is situated. Its name in the Italian and Venetian languages, ' (cognate of Latin ' ), has provided the English name for an enclosed, ...

lying north-east of the

Lido Lido may refer to: Geography * Lido (Belgrade), a river beach on the Danube in Belgrade, Serbia * Venice Lido, an 11-kilometre-long barrier island in the Venetian Lagoon, Venice, Italy * Ruislip Lido, a reservoir and artificial beach in Ruisl ...

island and east of

Venice Venice ( ; ; , formerly ) is a city in northeastern Italy and the capital of the Veneto Regions of Italy, region. It is built on a group of 118 islands that are separated by expanses of open water and by canals; portions of the city are li ...

Italy Italy, officially the Italian Republic, is a country in Southern Europe, Southern and Western Europe, Western Europe. It consists of Italian Peninsula, a peninsula that extends into the Mediterranean Sea, with the Alps on its northern land b ...

History

The island was a

port A port is a maritime facility comprising one or more wharves or loading areas, where ships load and discharge cargo and passengers. Although usually situated on a sea coast or estuary, ports can also be found far inland, such as Hamburg, Manch ...

attached to

Murano Murano is a series of islands linked by bridges in the Venetian Lagoon, northern Italy. It lies about north of Venice and measures about across with a population of just over 5,000 (2004 figures). It is famous for its glass making. It was o ...

in the 8th century, but is now known for

market garden A market garden is the relatively small-scale production of fruits, vegetables and flowers as cash crops, frequently sold directly to consumers and restaurants. The diversity of crops grown on a small area of land, typically from under to s ...

ing. In the 14th century, a shipping canal next to the island habitually caused

silting Siltation is water pollution caused by particulate Terrestrial ecoregion, terrestrial Clastic rock, clastic material, with a particle size dominated by silt or clay. It refers both to the increased concentration of suspended sediments and to the i ...

to the lagoon. Ruined fortifications, including the so-called ''Torre Massimiliana'' (Tower of Maximilian), ring the isle. Forts existed in the island as early as the 16th century. After the fall of the

Republic of Venice The Republic of Venice, officially the Most Serene Republic of Venice and traditionally known as La Serenissima, was a sovereign state and Maritime republics, maritime republic with its capital in Venice. Founded, according to tradition, in 697 ...

, the

French French may refer to: * Something of, from, or related to France ** French language, which originated in France ** French people, a nation and ethnic group ** French cuisine, cooking traditions and practices Arts and media * The French (band), ...

built here a stronghold in 1811–1814. After Napoleon's defeat, the

Austrian Austrian may refer to: * Austrians, someone from Austria or of Austrian descent ** Someone who is considered an Austrian citizen * Austrian German dialect * Something associated with the country Austria, for example: ** Austria-Hungary ** Austria ...

Archduke Maximilian of Austria-Este Archduke Maximilian Joseph of Austria-Este (July 14, 1782 – June 1, 1863), the fourth son of Archduke Ferdinand of Austria-Este and younger brother of Francis IV, Duke of Modena. He was Hochmeister, grand master of the Teutonic Knights from 1 ...

had a tower built here in 1843–1844, and also found here refuge during a revolt. The tower has a polygonal base of 25 m and is surrounded by a ditch. On the upper floor up to 13 cannons could be housed. It was used by the Italian Army as late as World War I.

Today

An annual boat race takes place during the summer. Sant'Erasmo is also known for the

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s on

sand bank In oceanography, geomorphology, and geoscience, a shoal is a natural submerged ridge, bank, or bar that consists of, or is covered by, sand or other unconsolidated material, and rises from the bed of a body of water close to the surface or ...

s in the lagoon surrounding it. The beach on the island's Southernmost point, the

Spiaggia del Bacan The Bacan Beach ("spiaggia del bacan") is a beach that stretches out on the island of Sant'Erasmo, on the Northern Venetian Lagoon. It is a popular summer destination for local Venetians and can be reached only by vaporetto The vaporetto is a V ...

, is a popular summer destination with local Venetians. There is a 20th century church, a few restaurants and a guesthouse. The island is accessed on

Actv Actv S.p.A. (Azienda del Consorzio Trasporti Veneziano) is a public company responsible for public transportation in Venice and Chioggia municipalities and for interurban bus services in province of Venice. ACTV is not responsible for Venice Pe ...

waterbus line 13 (Fondamente Nove-

Vignole Vignole (also Le Vignole) is an island in the Venetian Lagoon, northern Italy, with an area of . It is located north-east of Venice, between the islands of Sant'Erasmo and La Certosa. Location Vignole consists of two islands which are connect ...

-Lazzaretto Nuovo-Sant'Erasmo- Treporti) and is also served by a night service.

Gallery

Venise église de San Erasmo.JPG, Church Isola di Sant'Erasmo - Torre Massimiliana.JPG, Fort Sant'Erasmo (island) Via delle Motte 45.458036, 12.407726.jpg, Brown and narrow canals of the island Sant'Erasmo (island) Via delle Motte 45.455718, 12.402925.jpg, Artichoke plantations. Sant'Erasmo (island) South end of the island.jpg, Beach, south end of the island of Sant'Erasmo.

History

Today

Gallery

See also

References

Further reading