The other lagoon
Poveglia and the Southern Lagoon — a Private Boat Tour
An abandoned island seen only from the water, and the fishing village of Pellestrina — no tourists
The lagoon has a second half that almost no tourist sees — the south. No Murano with its buses, no Burano with its crowds; here are quiet water, fishing villages and an island Venetians won't name above a whisper. Poveglia is closed to landing and visible only from the water — which means you can approach it only by private boat. A route for those who want not the postcard Venice but its underside: an abandoned island, a swim in an empty lagoon and lunch in a fishing village the tours don't reach.
In short
- The southern lagoon — the untouristed half: fishing villages, quiet water, no crowd.
- Poveglia — an abandoned island closed to landing; visible only from the water and only by private boat.
- Pellestrina — a living fishing village on a narrow spit, with a swim in the lagoon.
- The Lido from the water, lunch in a local restaurant (optional), return to Venice.
- The route with Pellestrina carries a surcharge for the longer crossing; for those who want the underside, not the icons.
The programme
- The Lido from the water. We head south past the Lido — the long beach-island where "Death in Venice" was filmed and where the film festival is still held. Optionally, breakfast overlooking the beach at a historic hotel.
- Poveglia — the abandoned island. Between Venice and the Lido lies a small island the Italian state keeps closed: landing is forbidden, and you can see it only from the water. We approach Poveglia and circle it — overgrown walls, empty windows, a bell tower above the trees. I tell the island's true story: in the 18th–19th centuries it was a lazaretto, a quarantine for ships arriving with epidemics, later a psychiatric hospital closed in 1968, after which the island was abandoned. Its reputation as "the most cursed place" grew not from proven hauntings but from this heavy history of isolation and oblivion — and from the water it is felt more than any legend.
- Pellestrina — the living lagoon. The counterpoint to Poveglia: a narrow spit with a fishing village where boats matter more than cars and life goes on as it did a century ago. A walk along the waterfront, a swim in the lagoon, a seafood lunch in a local restaurant (optional).
- Return to Venice. We head back across the southern lagoon, past mudflats and the fort, when the light has softened and the water has emptied.
Boat and guide
As standard, the skipper, water, prosecco and wine are aboard. For this route with a swim a roomy open-deck boat suits best; choose in our boat fleet. On request our licensed art-historian guide comes along — it's he who turns passing Poveglia from a "tourist ghost story" into an accurate account of plague, quarantine and the lagoon's memory.
What's included
- A private boat with skipper for the whole route
- Water, prosecco and wine aboard, snacks
- The approach to Poveglia from the water and a walk on Pellestrina
Paid separately
- Our licensed guide aboard (optional)
- Breakfast on the Lido and lunch on Pellestrina
- The surcharge for the longer crossing with Pellestrina (+20%)
The price is for the whole boat. For 1–3 guests at the price shown; for four or more, quoted on request.
Good to know
- You cannot land on Poveglia — the island is closed by the state, landing is forbidden by law and unsafe. We approach and circle it from the water only; this is the only legal way to see it.
- The route is a long one: the crossing of the southern lagoon takes time, so it's longer than the island route.
- In strong wind the open southern lagoon closes to small craft — the route is rescheduled.
FAQ
Can you get onto Poveglia island?
No. Poveglia is state property closed to the public; landing is forbidden by law and unsafe. The island can be seen only from the water, and that's exactly what we do — approach and circle it by private boat.
Why is Poveglia closed and abandoned?
In the 18th–19th centuries it was a plague quarantine (lazaretto), then a psychiatric hospital closed in 1968. After that the island was abandoned, and the state keeps it closed on safety grounds.
Is Poveglia really "cursed"?
It's called "the most cursed island", but there's no proven haunting. The reputation grew from a real, heavy history — plague, isolation, oblivion. We tell the facts, not the legends — and from the water they impress more.
What is Pellestrina?
A narrow spit with a fishing village in the southern lagoon, far from the tourist routes. People swim in the lagoon here and eat seafood as the locals do.
How much is the route?
From €1,130 for a private boat. The route with Pellestrina carries a surcharge for the longer crossing (+20%). The price is for the whole boat, not per person; guide and lunch optional.
Can we swim?
Yes, Pellestrina has spots to swim in the lagoon — bring swimwear. Swimming depends on the weather and season.
The southern lagoon is Venice without an audience: an abandoned island kept under lock, quiet water and a fishing life unchanged in a century. You can approach Poveglia only by private boat — and only with the account that separates truth from legend. Write to us with your dates and we'll build your day in the southern lagoon.
Available dates and a quote for your party — in reply to a short message.
Get in touchOther lagoon routes
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The Northern Lagoon of Venice — a Full Day by Private Boat
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