thumb|right|Location of Dorsoduro within Venice
thumb|Shady canal in Dorsoduro, Venice
thumb|The Watercolorist in the Campo San Gregorio.
Dorsoduro is one of the six historic sestieri (districts) of Venice, Italy, located in the southern part of the city and known for its relatively firm terrain that earned it the name meaning "hard back" or "hard ridge" in Italian, distinguishing it from the more marshy areas of the lagoon. It stretches from the Grand Canal in the north to the Giudecca Canal in the south, encompassing waterfront promenades like the Zattere, the Punta della Dogana viewpoint, and occasionally including the nearby Giudecca island.