The Grand Canal is Venice’s crowning glory, so flag down a gondola and get ready for one of the most beautiful boat trips in the world.
Winding through the ancient city like a glittering ribbon, the Grand Canal offers unrivalled views of Venice’s most famous sights. The waterway, with its colourful river craft carrying eager visitors past the majestic buildings that line its banks, is one of the best ways to experience the romance of La Serenissima.Gondolas have been plying the waters of the Grand Canal for centuries, and this is still the traditional mode of transport along its four-kilometre stretch. If you prefer speed and convenience over history and heritage, the vaporettos (water buses) also offer regular services. Locals and others simply needing to get from A to B are more likely to stand for the short journey on a traghetto (ferry). But for the authentic Grand Canal experience, there’s no better way than lying back on a plump cushion and sipping a cooling drink as your very own gondolier sweeps you back in time.Look out for some of the most famous landmarks of the Gothic, Baroque and Renaissance periods, such as the Ca’ d’Oro palace, the Palazzo Dario and the Basilica di Santa Maria della Salute. Pass under the Rialto Bridge, the oldest of the Grand Canal crossings and one of Venice’s architectural icons, before making up your mind about the controversial modern Constitution (or Calatrava) Bridge, which sharply divided opinion at its 2008 opening.Other ways to explore the Grand Canal include joining a guided tour with commentary, or hiring a private gondola to make your own agenda. Don’t be afraid to barter with the gondoliers over price – they expect it! Catch a glimpse of Venice as it was in Canaletto’s day at the annual Regata Storica on the first Sunday in September when the canal teems with beautifully decorated boats and the local dress code is strictly 16th century!
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