Sant'Erasmo — Canaletto di Sant'Erasmo
Isola di Sant'Erasmo · Venice vegetable island · Canal Sant'Erasmo
45°27.7'N 12°24.6'E
Depth
2–4m
Bottom
mud
Alarm Radius
50m
Holding
Excellent holding
Recommended Anchor Alarm Radius
50m
50m is ample in this sheltered lagoon anchorage — excellent mud holding means minimal drag risk. The shallow, protected location means even strong winds rarely produce problematic conditions. Reduce to 40m if swinging toward the marked channel to avoid impeding lagoon traffic.
About This Anchorage
Sant'Erasmo is Venice's 'kitchen garden' — a flat, rural island of market gardens and vineyards in the northern lagoon, growing the artichokes, asparagus, and tomatoes that supply Venice's restaurants and the Rialto market. The island has no cars, just agricultural tracks and cycling paths. The anchorage off the southwest shore is one of the most tranquil in the lagoon — birdsong, the smell of earth, and the distant silhouette of Venice's campanili. A completely different experience from crowded Venice, 6km away by water. Access to Venice is by the vaporetto line 13 from the Sant'Erasmo stop (less than 1 hour to Fondamente Nove).
Protected From
N · NE · E · NW · W
Exposed To
S · SW
Setting Your Anchor
Anchoring on Posidonia oceanica meadows is prohibited throughout Italian waters under the EU Habitats Directive and is actively enforced — fines range from €500–€3,000. In the Venice Lagoon, always navigate within marked channels (bricole); mud banks outside channels can be as shallow as 0.3m. In AMP zones throughout Italy, check for Zone A/B/C designations before anchoring.
Anchoring Rules
- Anchoring fee
- Free
- Maximum stay
- 3 days
- Permit required
- No
Restrictions: Follow marked lagoon channels at all times — depth outside channels may be <1m at MLWS. Speed limit 5 km/h in all lagoon channels. Do not block the vaporetto channel near the island ferry stop.
Hazards
- !Shoaling outside channels: The lagoon between Sant'Erasmo and the mainland has extensive areas of <1m depth at MLWS — never deviate from the bricole-marked channels
- !Tidal range: 0.5–1.2m tidal range means anchorage depth changes significantly — set anchor at LW to check minimum depth; re-verify swing room at HW
- !Acqua Alta: In extreme acqua alta events (>140cm), the surrounding marshes flood and navigation references may become confused; monitor forecasts from comune.venezia.it
- !Vaporetto wash: The vaporetto (water bus) creates significant wash as it passes the island stop — secure all gear and dinghies accordingly
Skipper's Tips
- →Cycle Sant'Erasmo's agricultural tracks — hire bikes locally (informal hire near the ferry stop) and explore the artichoke fields and lagoon viewpoints
- →The vaporetto line 13 from Sant'Erasmo to Fondamente Nove (Venice) takes approximately 45 minutes — use it for a Venice day trip while your boat stays safely anchored
- →Try the local carciofi violetti (violet artichokes) — they are the finest in Italy and only available fresh here March–May
- →Night at anchor here is exceptionally peaceful — the distant lights of Venice on the horizon make for a memorable experience unavailable to any hotel guest
Facilities
One small osteria (trattoria-style restaurant) on the island — very local, excellent home cooking. Limited hours — check locally. Provisions very limited; provision fully in Venice/Burano before arriving.
Nearest provisions: Burano island (vaporetto) (3nm)
Best Months & Season
May, June, September, October
April–June is ideal for the vegetable growing season and calm lagoon conditions. September–October for warm evenings and harvest. Summer (July–August) is manageable. Avoid November–March: cold, frequent Bora, acqua alta.
Recommended Anchor Types
Nearby Anchorages
Set Your Anchor Alarm to 50m
In the Northern Adriatic, the Bora can build from calm to 60+ km/h while you sleep. Safety Anchor Alarm monitors your GPS position continuously — alerting you the moment your anchor starts to drag.
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