Riva del Vin, Venice: the history of the quay where Terrazza Sommariva stands

Riva del Vin is the Grand Canal quayside running beside Rialto Bridge on the San Polo side. Its name tells a piece of Venice's trading history: for centuries, this is where wine arrived.

The wine boats. From the 11th century, boats laden with wine moored along this quay, in the commercial heart of Rialto. In the 13th century it housed the Uffizio del Dazio del Vin, the office that collected the duty on wine. Before taking its present name, the quay was known as Riva del Ferro.

A historic place of commerce. Terrazza Sommariva is listed in the Veneto Region's register of Historic Places of Commerce (Luoghi Storici del Commercio). Read more on our Riva del Vin page.

Today. The quay is one of the most photographed spots on the Grand Canal, with Rialto Bridge in the background and a constant flow of gondolas and vaporetti. Sitting here with a glass of wine is a way to experience a place tied to wine for centuries.