The Dogana di Mare is located at the Punta della Dogana on the tip of Dorsoduro, where the Grand Canal reaches its greatest width (231 feet or 70 meters) as it merges with St. Mark's Basin.

Venice may be built on more than 100 islands and millions of wooden pilings, but its real foundation has always been international trade and tourism. For centuries, the Serene Republic of Venice was the meeting place of East and West, with ships ferrying goods between Europe and ports from the Holy Land to the Far East.

Arriving cargo ships were inspected by customs officials at the Punta della Dogana, or Customs Point. This wedge of land is at the entrance to the Grand Canal, across the water and a few hundred yards to the west of St. Mark's Square. It offers one of Venice's most beautiful views--from an ancient mariner's perspective, no less.

The original 14th-Century customs tower was replaced by a handsome colonnaded building named the Dogana di Mare, or Sea Customs Post, in the late 1600s.