Riva degli Schiavoni
Riva degli Schiavoni is a historic waterfront in Venice, in the Castello district, running along the San Marco basin from the Ponte della Paglia near the Doge’s Palace to the rio di Ca’ di Dio. Construction began in the 9th century, and around 1060 the area was expanded after draining a marsh. The shore was paved for the first time in 1324 with terracotta. Originally much narrower, the riva was widened to its current size in a project decided in 1780 and finished in 1782.
It is named after the Slavic merchants from Dalmatia (the Schiavoni) who traded here, landing their ships and selling goods along the shore. The riva was an important part of Venice’s commercial port and its proximity to Piazza San Marco made it central to political power. Other places named for the Slav merchants include Palazzo Schiavoni and Scuola di San Giorgio degli Schiavoni, and there was a Slav mercenary group called the Oltremarini (uskoks) who joined Venice. The surname Schiavone is common in Italy, and schiavona is a type of basket-hilted sword.
A notable event occurred in 1172 when Marco Cassolo stabbed Doge Vitale II Michiel on the Riva; Cassolo’s house was razed and a ban on stone construction at that spot was kept until 1948, when the wooden houses were replaced by part of the Hotel Danieli. During Austrian rule, a plan in 1851 proposed widening the bank and adding a second row of buildings and bridges, but this idea was rejected in 1854.
Today the Riva degli Schiavoni is a popular promenade and one of Venice’s most famous streets. Along the shore, historic buildings face the water as you move from the Palazzo Ducale toward the arsenal.
This page was last edited on 3 February 2026, at 01:57 (CET).