Grand Canal – Venice (Photo credit: pacafl)

The Grand Canal

The Grand Canal (Italian: Canal Grande, Venetian: Canałasso) is a canal in Venice, Italy. It forms one of the major water-traffic corridors in the city. Public transport is provided by water buses (Italian: vaporetti) and private water taxis, and many tourists explore the canal by gondola.

At one end the canal leads into the lagoon near Santa Lucia railway station and the other end leads into Saint Mark Basin: in between it makes a large S-shape through the central districts (sestieri) of Venice. It is 3,800 m long, 30–90 m wide, with an average depth of five meters (16.5 ft).

Grand Canal 4 – Pseudo HDR (Photo credit: alcinababe)

venice-hdr (Photo credit: MadeByMark)

Hotel Ca’ Sagredo – Grand Canal – Venice Italy Venezia – photo by gnuckx and HDR processing by Mike G. K. (Photo credit: gnuckx)

Historical Regatta

On the first Sunday of September takes place the Historical Regatta ("Regata Storica"), a competition between Venetian boats watched by thousands of people from the banks or from floating stands. Competitions are preceded by a historical procession ("Corteo Storico") remembering the entrance of the Queen of Cyprus Catherine Cornaroafter abdication in 1489: gondoliers in costumes sail in typical 16th century boats following the Bucentaur, doge's state galley.

[edit]The Feast-day of the Madonna della Salute

On November 21, Venetians thank the Virgin Mary for saving from the plague epidemic in 1630-38 with a pilgrimage to Santa Maria della Salute. Pilgrims cross Grand Canal on a temporary pontoon bridge from Campo Santa Maria Zobenigo, and enjoy stalls and traditional dishes.

Hotel Ca’ Sagredo – Grand Canal – Venice Italy Venezia – photo by gnuckx and HDR processing by Mike G. K. (Photo credit: gnuckx)

“Incredible”

The grand canal is Venice. I almost cried going down it. So many views you recognise from art. Simply beautiful at any time. Go on number 1or 2 water bus, go early morning and at night, to see the canal at best and quietest. It is amazing to see in the morning with all the deliveries being made by boat before the hubbub of tourists. A unique and spectular place to enjoy.

“Busy and beautiful”

So wonderful to sit with a coffee and watch the world pass by on the water. We took a gondola from outside the Hotel Danieli, agreed the price beforehand, advised by our hotel what was reasonable. Having watched other tourists during the heat of the day - we selected early evening (prior to 7pm, as it gets more expensive then). A wonderful experience, although not cheap.