Best Things to To in Venice’s Grand Canal

Venice's Grand Canal has been the city's most important trade route since its foundation. Throughout history, this historic site has been the site of some of the city's most important architectural works that have given shape, life and served as the backdrop for important events. Eager to tour the Grand Canal? Here are some of the things you can see and do during a gondola ride along its waters.

The best way to appreciate Venice's rich architecture and history is to take a quick trip along the city's main thoroughfare: the Grand Canal. In Venice you will find several transportation alternatives ranging from a guided tour or excursion to the city's floating public transport known as vaporetto; which moves at high speed along the canal.

A cruise on the Grand Canal with an expert guide is the best alternative. This person will be able to point out each of the palaces and sites of historical and political interest; in addition, the tours include several stops to get close to the most emblematic buildings and get perfect views.

Please note that Venice's architectural wealth is unique in its kind. At the time of the commercial and economic growth of this beautiful city, the construction of palaces and stately homes along the Grand Canal was considered one of the greatest signs of wealth and opulence. Today along the canal you can see and appreciate a varied collection of architectural styles ranging from the 12th century to the end of the 18th century.

Piazzetta is an Italian term that could be translated as "small square". Located right in front of the Doge's Palace, it is a square of small proportions or considered by many as an extension of St. Mark's Square.

Because of its strategic location, it serves several functions: it serves as a connecting element or access point to the iconic square from the lagoon, it serves as an outlet space for the Palace and it serves to communicate the surrounding buildings with Jacopo Sansovino's Library. The Piazzeta San Marco is easily visible from the east approach of the Grand Canal and offers fabulous views of the St. Mark's complex.

Santa Maria della Salute is a monumental baroque church located at the mouth of the Grand Canal in Venice; its construction was ordered in 1630 as a way of thanking providence for taking away the plague that at that time struck little Venice and killed about a hundred thousand Venetians. The work was carried out by the architect Baldassare Longhena who, in order to support the great weight of the building, ordered more than a million beams to be nailed to the firm ground of the lagoon.

The church is one of the most important landmarks of Venice and one of the most important works of the baroque movement in Italy. The most striking feature is its imposing dome, which takes the form of a crown and on top of which is the statue of the Virgin Mary, protector of the city. On your tour of the Interior, do not miss the architectural jewel:

• The Madonna della Salute: a famous medieval painting located above the high altar.
• The marble floor: which stands out for its beautiful inlays in various geometric shapes.
• The Sacristy: where works of the famous artists Tiziano and Tintoretto, such as "The Wedding at Cana'', have been placed.

You certainly can't leave Venice without visiting one of its most iconic monuments: the Palazzo Ducale. Located in St. Mark's Square itself, the Palace is considered the very symbol of the city. It is a gothic-renaissance style building made of pink marble, it was for more than 1000 years the official home of the rulers of Venice, the Doges. The beautiful building suffered a great fire in 1677, after which it was rebuilt to shine with greater splendour. Inside the Doge's Palace you will find a fabulous collection of Renaissance and Venetian art from all periods.

One example is the painting known as the largest oil painting in the world called Il Paradiso by Tintoretto. Other highlights of a tour of the Doge's Palace include:

• Tour of the magnificent Golden Staircase, considered to be one of the most richly decorated staircases in the world.
• Visit the Congress Hall to admire the famous frescoed ceiling and other architectural details.
• Cross the Bridge of Sighs, where, through a small window, condemned prisoners took a last look outside before being condemned.

Located in the Cannaregio district of Venice, near the Ponte degli Scalzi bridge and the Santa Lucia station is another magnificent work of Venetian baroque. The design of Santa Maria di Nazareth was commissioned in 1962 to the architect Baldassare Longhena by the order of the Discalced Carmelites, which is one of the reasons why the church is popularly known as Gli Scalzi.

Its beautiful façade, clad entirely in marble, is where its beautiful columns and the statues of the saints, each one placed in independent niches, stand out. The interior, also richly decorated in the purest baroque style, is also full of coloured marble columns, spiral forms, gilded flourishes and exquisite frescoes.

In the second chapel, located to the right of the structure, you will find the famous fresco by Tiepolo called The Glory of Saint Teresa. In the third chapel, located to the left of the structure, is the fresco Christ Orlando in the Garden of Gethsemane.

On a visit to the Grand Canal in Venice it is worthwhile to see one of the few green lungs of the city. Giardinetti Realiis located between St. Mark's Square and St. Mark's Pond. Because of its proximity to such important architectural landmarks of Venice, it is the place to relax and take a leisurely stroll after your visit to St. Mark's Basilica or the Doge's Palace.

The Garden was ordered to be built by Emperor Napoleon in the early 19th century and contains within it a variety of trees and flowers complemented by narrow paths and lounging seats that give it an air of intimacy. It is not uncommon to see locals and tourists sitting in the sun in this beautiful spot.

Located in the Dorsoduro neighbourhood, just past Santa Maria della Salutte is the Peggy Guggenheim Museum, a must-see for all lovers of late 20th century art. The museum houses the treasures of the American-born art collector Peggy Guggenheim, including cubist, abstract and surrealist sculptures by important figures of modern art such as Pablo Picasso, Vassily Kandinsky, Joan Miro, Salvador Dalí, Alexander Calder and many more.

About the history of the museum, this space was destined to become the Palace of the Garnier family for what the works were initiated in 1749; the work was never completed, so in 1949 the only one became the museum that we know today.

The Rialto Fish Market was established in 1907 and soon became an obligatory stop on a gastronomic tour of Venice. The fresh Venetian seafood on sale here can be smelled in the distance as you ride the vaporetto or gondola on the waters of the Grand Canal.

Although it is much less ancient than other buildings, the façade has beautiful elements characteristic of Gothic architecture, combining exposed brick, pointed arches and carefully carved capitals. Its construction followed the traditional method used in Venice since ancient times: 18,000 larch wood piles were buried to raise the foundations of this structure.

As the Grand Canal of Venice has been and still is the most important thorough fare of the city, along the route you will find numerous Venetian houses and palaces that will help you to understand a little of the culture and history of this impressive city. Touring inside some of these is one of the best things to do in Venice, whether you're in Venice for three days or four days. Here's a list of the Venetian palaces you can admire from the Grand Canal.

Palazzo Esquina della Ca' Grande

Located just across the street from the Guggenheim, this palace was built in 1545 by architect Jacopo Sansovino for the Corronodo family, one of the traditional Venetian families. Its architecture , totally inspired by classical Rome, makes it a more Renaissance-style building rather than the Byzantine style characteristic of Venice. To notice this, look closely at its Doric, Ionic and Corinthian columns, strategically placed on each of the small balconies that serve as exits to each of the large windows on the second and third levels.

Palazzo Grassi

Located in San Marco, Palazzo Grassi was designed by Giorgio Massari in the 18th century. In recent decades it has come back into the public eye after being acquired by the Fiat company and transformed into an exhibition hall. The building has both baroque and classical styles, with an architectural plan rather atypical of Venetian architecture, consisting of four three-storey wings set around a central rectangular courtyard. Some of Venice's most important events and fairs are held in this building.

Ca' Rezzonico

Ca' Rezzonico is a large building that today houses the Museum of 18th century Venice, a must for anyone who enjoys classical art. The museum's collection provides an accurate insight into Venetian life during the Rococo period. It is a museum in situ with admirable and rather peculiar aesthetic characteristics, where almost all the art on display was created specifically for this museum. Its design and construction was carried out in two stages, the first by the most influential architect in Renaissance Venice: Baldasare Longhena in 1660; the second by Giorgio Massair himself almost a century later.

Ca' Foscari

Considered one of the most important and beautiful buildings in Venice, the great Ca' Foscari click here rises imposingly from the waters displaying a beautifully executed late Gothic architectural style. At the time of its construction it brought important innovations to Venetian architecture being the first four-storey building along the canal. The Foscari family was expelled from Venice, so the building was put to various uses. Today it serves as the administrative headquarters of the Ca' Foscari University.

Ca' da Mosto

Although it does not exhibit one of the most impressive façades among the palaces on the Grand Canal of Venice, Ca'da Mosto carries enormous historical weight as the oldest palace on the canal, erected in the 13th century. Its façade does not exhibit the level of ornamentation, detail and symmetry of other buildings; on the contrary, the three entrance arches, one wider than the others and placed not in the centre but at the side of the building at water level, are striking. The interior is currently in ruins, but a restoration is being contemplated to convert it into a luxury hotel.

Ca' d'Oro

The Palazzo de Santa Sofia is affectionately nicknamed by the Venetians the Golden House or Ca' d' Oro. This marvellous 15th century palace could easily qualify as the most beautiful palace in all of Venice, making it an obligatory stop on any trip along the Grand Canal. Its construction was ordered by the Contarini family and it is said that the imposing façade was once completely covered in gold leaf; although it no longer exists today, the Venetian Gothic-style architecture of the place remains just as impressive with its delicate lines and succulent decoration. Today it houses the Giorgio Franchetti Gallery.

Ca' Pesaro

Another spectacular Venetian Ca' can be found in the Santa Croce area; this building serves as Venice's International Gallery of Modern Art and although its collection is a little less impressive than that of the Peggy Guggenheim Museum, it's certainly worth a visit.

One of the most important elements of Venice are its many bridges, which function as the connecting arteries between the small islands. Along the Grand Canal you will find 4 large, beautiful and imposing bridges.

Ponte di Rialto (Rialto Bridge)

The first bridge to be erected in this location was a wooden bridge in 1118; almost 150 years later in 1588, the Rialto Bridge that we know today was erected with its 22 metres of total height and is supported at its base by approximately 6,000 wooden piles at each end. Besides being the oldest, Ponte di Rialto is considered the most interesting and holds all kinds of stories and secrets.

Ponte dell'Accademia and the Academy of Fine Arts

With the Austrian invasion of Venice a second bridge was built in 1815 to connect the two banks of the Grand Canal. In 1932 the bridge was replaced by a beautiful wooden bridge initially intended to make way for the final construction of a stone bridge. However, the structure won the affection of the Venetians who, years later, did not accept its replacement.

Ponte della Costituzione (Constitution Bridge)

The Constitution Bridge is one of the modern additions to classic Venice. Ordered to be built in 2007, the bridge was designed by the talented Spanish architect Santiago Calatrava. The intention was to have, at the end of the Grand Canal, a new connecting element between the two banks. Calatrava's design does not seek to imitate the more traditional Venetian styles, but rather, a design in keeping with our times, is characterised by a curved and elegant line that takes shape thanks to the concrete structure. The bridge is clad entirely in a combination of marble and glass.

Ponte degli Scalzi (Barefoot Bridge)

The architect Eugenio Miozzi was commissioned to build a new connecting element at the exit of the Santa Lucia station, the intention being to replace an old stone bridge built on the same site in 1858. For the Ponte degli Scalizi, Miozzi chose a stone design for his work.