Grand Canal
The main feature of Venice is its canals, which serve as the city's streets.
The Grand Canal is the main canal in Venice. Stretching for 4 kilometers in a distinctive inverted "S" shape, the Grand Canal divides the city into two parts.
The width of the canal varies from 30 to 70 meters, and its maximum depth is approximately 5 meters.
Exploring the Grand Canal
You can explore the Grand Canal by vaporetto (water bus), gondola, or on foot.
The vaporetto traverses the canal, making stops along both banks, offering a splendid view of the buildings and palaces that line its shores. Vaporetto Line 1 is the best line to travel along the Grand Canal as it allows for a more leisurely experience, and the journey takes about 40 minutes.
You can also walk along the Grand Canal by crossing four bridges:
- Rialto Bridge: the oldest and most charming bridge in Venice;
- Accademia Bridge: originally made of iron, replaced with wood in 1854;
- Scalzi Bridge: located near the Santa Lucia Railway Station, also known as the "Bridge of the Station" or "Bridge of the Railway";
- Constitution Bridge: the most modern bridge, connecting Piazzale Roma with Santa Lucia Station.
From the Grand Canal, approximately 45 canals branch out within the city, allowing for the natural continuous circulation of water. The Grand Canal is traversed daily by numerous boats. Consequently, one of the problems is the erosion of the canal banks caused by the waves generated by motorized boat traffic.
To address this issue, speed cameras are installed along the canal to prevent exceeding the speed limit. Only emergency vehicles are allowed to travel at high speeds on the Grand Canal.
Historical Regatta of Venice
Every first Sunday of September, the Historical Regatta takes place on the Grand Canal. It is a significant sporting event featuring a magnificent historical procession preceding the races. Dozens of 16th-century-style boats with gondoliers in costume, carrying the doge, the dogaressa, and all the highest officials of the Venetian Magistracy, represent the glorious past of one of the most powerful and influential Maritime Republics of the Mediterranean.
