Campo San Giacomo dall'Orio, Venice

Campo San Giacomo dall'Orio is a broad Venetian campo gathered around an old church, with the feel of a lived-in neighbourhood rather than a formal monument. Benches beneath the trees invite conversation, and the open ground remains part of daily life: children play around the porch and send footballs against the church walls. The church itself reaches back to the ninth century and was rebuilt in 1225.

It gives the campo its name, while the origin of “Orio” remains unknown. As you take in the surrounding façades and the church porch, the character of this place is easy to read: residents use it as a social meeting ground, and children use it as an informal playground. That mixture of local routine and deep history is what makes this square memorable.