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Venice secrets: Scala Contarini del Bovolo
A Spiral Surprise in Venice: Scala Contarini del Bovolo
Venice is full of hidden places, and Scala Contarini del Bovolo is one of the most charming. It's easy to walk past it — the entrance is small and easy to miss — but don't skip it. Behind a quiet courtyard, there’s a beautiful spiral staircase that looks like something from a fairy tale.
The word “bovolo” means snail in the Venetian dialect, and when you see the staircase, you’ll understand why. It curves gently upward in a perfect spiral. The staircase was built at the end of the 15th century for the powerful Contarini family, one of the richest families in Venice. At that time, staircases like this were a way to show wealth and style.
Climbing the stairs is not too difficult, and at the top you get a lovely view over the rooftops of Venice. You won’t see canals from here, but you’ll see church towers, red roofs, and a quieter side of the city. This place feels calm and a bit magical — and it’s definitely underrated compared to the big tourist attractions.
Another interesting fact: the staircase mixes Gothic and Renaissance styles, which makes it even more special. It feels elegant but also playful, just like Venice itself.
How to Get There from Venice Santa Lucia Train Station
From Venezia Santa Lucia train station, you have a couple of easy options. You can take a vaporetto along the Grand Canal and get off near Rialto, then walk for about 5–10 minutes. Just follow signs toward Campo Manin.
If you enjoy walking, you can also go on foot from the station. It takes about 30 minutes, and you’ll cross beautiful bridges and small streets along the way.
Venice is full of hidden places, and Scala Contarini del Bovolo is one of the most charming. It's easy to walk past it — the entrance is small and easy to miss — but don't skip it. Behind a quiet courtyard, there’s a beautiful spiral staircase that looks like something from a fairy tale.
The word “bovolo” means snail in the Venetian dialect, and when you see the staircase, you’ll understand why. It curves gently upward in a perfect spiral. The staircase was built at the end of the 15th century for the powerful Contarini family, one of the richest families in Venice. At that time, staircases like this were a way to show wealth and style.
Climbing the stairs is not too difficult, and at the top you get a lovely view over the rooftops of Venice. You won’t see canals from here, but you’ll see church towers, red roofs, and a quieter side of the city. This place feels calm and a bit magical — and it’s definitely underrated compared to the big tourist attractions.
Another interesting fact: the staircase mixes Gothic and Renaissance styles, which makes it even more special. It feels elegant but also playful, just like Venice itself.
How to Get There from Venice Santa Lucia Train Station
From Venezia Santa Lucia train station, you have a couple of easy options. You can take a vaporetto along the Grand Canal and get off near Rialto, then walk for about 5–10 minutes. Just follow signs toward Campo Manin.
If you enjoy walking, you can also go on foot from the station. It takes about 30 minutes, and you’ll cross beautiful bridges and small streets along the way.
Vocabulary
- A courtyard - is an open space surrounded by buildings.
Example phrase:
The staircase is hidden inside a small courtyard.внутренний двор - A staircase - is a set of stairs inside or outside a building.
Example phrase:
We climbed the spiral staircase to the top.лестница - A snail - is a small animal with a round shell that moves very slowly.
Example phrase:
The staircase is shaped like a snail.улитка - Underrated - means not as popular or appreciated as it should be.
Example phrase:
This place is underrated, but very beautiful.недооценённый
Vocabulary for the video
- Overlooked - means not noticed or ignored by many people.
Example phrase:
The entrance is small and often overlooked by tourists.незамеченный, упущенный - Essentially - means basically or in a simple way.
Example phrase:
The staircase is essentially a symbol of the family’s wealth.по сути, в основном - A detour - is a longer or different way to go, not the direct route.
Example phrase:
It’s worth taking a small detour to see this place.объезд, обходной путь
True or False
Scala Contarini del Bovolo is easy to see from the street and very hard to miss.
The word bovolo comes from the Venetian dialect and means “snail.”
The staircase was built in the 15th century for the Contarini family.
From the top of the staircase, visitors can see canals and boats.
Great work! Well done!
Tilda Publishing
Questions to discuss with your teacher:
- In China they even use escalators to get to the top of the mountains, what do you prefer? Staircases or escalators?
- Overlooked places or famous tourist attractions? Why?
- Do you get upset if you have to make a detour? Why?