Hotels near Sant'Erasmo

Sant'Erasmo is one of the largest islands in the Venetian lagoon, yet few visitors set foot on it. Known as the vegetable garden of Venice, it is covered in fields and orchards that supply the Rialto market, most famously with castraure, the small purple artichokes of spring. In autumn the harvest turns to pumpkins, grapes and late vegetables.

The island traditionally celebrates the new wine with the Festa del Mosto in early October, but it rewards a visit throughout the month. Rent a bicycle near the vaporetto stop and ride the flat lanes between fields and vineyards to the Torre Massimiliana, a 19th-century Austrian fort used for exhibitions, and the small beach facing the Lido. Beyond a few farm vehicles there is no traffic, and very few tourists.

Pro Tip: Check that bike rental and the island's trattoria are open before you go, as hours shrink in autumn, and buy vegetables straight from farm stalls to take back to the city.