The Porte del Cavallino are a set of navigation locks where the Sile River meets the Casson canal, at the northern edge of the Cavallino-Treporti peninsula. The Venetian Senate had them built in 1632 to move cargo boats between the river and the lagoon, and to collect tolls on the goods they carried.
Almost 400 years later, the gates still open for boats, and the old toll house beside them is now a hotel and restaurant.
In this guide, you’ll learn how the locks worked, how to reach them from Jesolo, Cavallino or Venice, what to see nearby and which cycling and walking routes start from the gates.
What are the Porte del Cavallino, and why do they matter?
The Porte del Cavallino are navigation locks where the Casson canal meets the Sile river, at the north-eastern entrance to the Cavallino-Treporti peninsula. “Porte” simply means gates.
They let boats move between the river and the lagoon, which sit at different water levels, and they still carry leisure traffic along the Litoranea Veneta, an inland waterway of about 127 km running parallel to the Adriatic coast.
- Built: 1632, by order of the Venetian Senate
- Waterways: the Sile on one side, the Casson canal and the northern lagoon on the other
- Municipality: technically Jesolo, although the name and history belong to Cavallino
- Today: working locks, a footbridge for cyclists and walkers, and a historic inn
How the Porte del Cavallino locks worked for the Venetian Republic
Silt was a constant threat to Venice. Rivers such as the Piave and the Brenta washed sediment into the lagoon, and a shallower lagoon meant blocked shipping channels and weaker defences for the city. During the 17th century, the Republic responded by diverting several rivers so they emptied straight into the sea. The Sile was redirected into the Piave’s old channel, which is why its mouth is still known as Piave Vecchia, or “old Piave”.
However, this diversion created a new problem: the river and the lagoon now sat at different water levels, and boats needed a way to cross between them. The Porte del Cavallino solved this. Cargo heading for Venice came down the Sile, passed through the locks, then crossed the lagoon to the city.
The process inside a lock is straightforward:
- A boat enters the chamber through the first set of gates.
- The gates close behind it.
- Water is let in or drained out until the level matches the other side.
- The second set of gates opens, and the boat continues on its way.
Getting to the Porte del Cavallino from Jesolo, Cavallino and Venice
The locks are located where the peninsula joins the mainland, so how you get there depends on where you start.
| Starting point | Best option | What to expect |
|---|---|---|
| Lido di Jesolo | Bike or car | Head west towards Cavallino and the bridge over the Sile |
| Cavallino village | Bike | A short, flat ride north-east along the canals |
| Punta Sabbioni | ATVO bus | The Jesolo to Punta Sabbioni line passes through Cavallino; the full run takes about 50 minutes |
| Venice | Boat, then bus or bike | ACTV line 14 or 15 from San Zaccaria to the Punta Sabbioni terminal in 25 to 35 minutes |
| A4 motorway | Car | Exit for Venice, follow signs for “Mare” and Jesolo, then Cavallino |
Pro Tip: the bridge across the locks is for cyclists and pedestrians only. If you’re driving, park nearby and walk the last stretch. Coming from Venice, it’s a long journey for a short stop, so pair it with a beach afternoon on Marina di Venezia on the way back.
Places worth seeing near the Porte del Cavallino
Visiting the locks themselves takes half an hour, so it makes sense to build a longer day around them. These are the stops most worth your time, starting closest to the gates.
| Place | Why go | How far |
|---|---|---|
| Locanda alle Porte 1632 | Lunch beside the Sile in the original toll house | Right next to the locks |
| Oratorio del Cristo Re | Small 17th-century chapel and a Venetian boundary stone | Walk along the Sile |
| Faro di Piave Vecchia | 48-metre striped lighthouse at the river mouth | Short ride |
| Forte Vecchio | The Austrian fortress near Treporti, built 1845 to 1851 | Longer ride south |
| Lio Piccolo | A tiny farming hamlet in the lagoon with Roman roots | Half-day ride |
| The beaches | About 15 km of Blue Flag sand, from Ca’ Pasquali southwards | Short ride |
To see more of the peninsula’s villages, carry on to Treporti, where small islands are linked by bridges around a 17th-century church.
Cycling and walking routes around the Porte del Cavallino
This is flat, open country of riverbanks, canals and fishing valleys, and the locks are a natural starting point.
There is a shared path of about 2.3 km that runs past the gates, partly paved and partly on stone, before turning into quiet gravel roads. The 8.5 km Three Waters Park route begins here and follows the Casson canal down to the mouth of the Sile.
Heading north instead, the Via Cristo Re runs for more than 7 km along the Sile embankment. Further north, beyond Jesolo Paese, the Via Lio Maggiore covers about 7 km past fishing valleys such as Dragojesolo and Grassabò, some of the best spots for herons and egrets in the Laguna Nord. A separate 3.5 km track leads to the ruins of the Torre del Caligo, a tower thought to date from the early Middle Ages.
Must-do checklist:
- Find the 1632 customs plaque on the inn
- Wait for a boat to pass through the Porte del Cavallino
- Ride the Via Cristo Re to the chapel
- Bring binoculars for the fishing valleys
- Pack water, sun cream and insect repellent
For something longer, there are plenty of bike touring routes along the Veneto coast, and riding east past Jesolo brings you to the present-day mouth of the Piave, where Venice moved the river.
Visit the Porte del Cavallino on your next stay with Agenzia Lampo
The Porte del Cavallino Venezia locks are a small place, but a must-see. Enjoy the river and nearly 400 years of boats moving between the Sile and the lagoon.
Agenzia Lampo has holiday apartments in Lido di Jesolo, a short ride from the locks, with the cycle paths, the lagoon and the beaches all close by. Choose your dates and book your stay today.
