If you think Venice is too touristy, try Chioggia. Sitting at the southern end of the Venetian lagoon, this compact fishing town has canals, bridges, and colourful buildings that echo Venice, but without the crowds and the inflated prices. Chioggia is a real working town, and its identity revolves around its fish market, one of the most important on the Adriatic.
The main street, Corso del Popolo, runs the length of the town and is lined with cafes and shops. Narrow calli branch off on either side, crossing small canals where fishing boats are moored. The Piazzetta Vigo at the southern end has a column topped by a lion of Saint Mark, a reminder of centuries under Venetian rule. The Chiesa di San Domenico, on its own small island, contains a painting attributed to Carpaccio.
Chioggia's fish market, held every morning except Sunday near the Ponte Vigo, is a spectacle in itself -- enormous displays of lagoon fish, crabs, clams, and whatever the boats brought in overnight. The restaurants nearby serve some of the freshest and best-value seafood in the Veneto. Try the moleche (soft-shell crabs) when they are in season, or the sarde in saor, sardines marinated in onions and vinegar. Chioggia is easily reached by bus from Venice or by car from Padua, and the nearby Sottomarina beach adds a seaside dimension that Venice itself cannot offer.