34 Hidden College Campuses That Feel More Like Vacation Resorts

26. Università Ca’ Foscari – Venice’s Floating Campus

Attending Ca’ Foscari is like living inside a Venetian painting. Housed in a 15th-century Gothic palace along the Grand Canal, this historic university places students at the crossroads of culture, art, and water. Lecture halls overlook gondolas gliding past sunlit stone façades, while libraries open up to views of Renaissance rooftops and church domes. The campus is woven into the very fabric of Venice, requiring students to walk across picturesque bridges and narrow canals to reach different departments scattered throughout the city’s historic quarters. Study breaks happen in sun-drenched piazzas with cappuccinos in hand, and art students draw inspiration from nearby galleries and centuries-old architecture. Whether navigating ancient alleyways or attending events during the Venice Biennale, students here experience a daily immersion in history, beauty, and intellectual curiosity that turns every day into a dreamlike academic adventure.