Dorsoduro — "hard back", referring to the firm ground on which it was built — is the southernmost of Venice's sestieri, containing some of the city's best art and most liveable streets. The Gallerie dell'Accademia and the Peggy Guggenheim Collection are both here, as is the church of Santa Maria della Salute and the Punta della Dogana contemporary art space.
The neighbourhood has a student character thanks to the Ca' Foscari university, which is based here. Campo Santa Margherita is the social hub — a large, irregular square with cafes and market stalls that feels more like a real neighbourhood piazza than anywhere else in Venice. The Zattere, a long waterfront promenade on the southern edge, offers wide views across to the Giudecca and is good for a late-afternoon walk. Dorsoduro has some of the best small restaurants and wine bars in Venice.