Forte Marghera is a 19th-century fortress southwest of Mestre, about five kilometers from the historic center of Venice. The fort was part of the lagoon defense system. Location is a wetland on the edge of the lagoon, traversed by a labyrinth of canals and moats. Of particular strategic importance was the fourteenth-century Canale Salso, which served as the exit point for the port of Mestre, at the time the main connection between Venice and the mainland.
The old fortifications are mostly dilapidated. Some extant buildings now house showrooms. The restaurants Il Gatto Rosso, Il Bagolaro and La Dispensa del Forte take care of the physical well-being of the fortress, which is a popular destination especially at weekends.