Venice Grand Canal Size report

Venice, an enchanting and imaginative place, ancient and romantic, known as the "Pearl of the Adriatic Sea," is the world's famous water city; Venice Grand Canal has been regarded as the "Champs Elysees in the water." When you visit the Grand Canal, there are many sights you shouldn't miss.

The Grand Canal (Canale Grande in Italian) is the main waterway in Venice, Italy. Along the natural waterway from San Marco Basilica to Santa Chiara Church is an inverse S shape, dividing the city into two parts and connecting with many small canals. Much of the city's traffic travels through these waterways.

There are palaces, churches, hotels, and other magnificent buildings on both sides of the Grand Canal, including Romanesque, Gothic, and Renaissance. Three bridges are built on the river; the center is the famous Rialto Bridge. This post will introduce more interesting facts about the Venice Grand Canal.

History of the Grand Canal

The ancient city of Venice was built in AD 452. At that time, residents along the coast were forced to move to Venice Lake to settle down to escape the persecution of other ethnic groups. Due to its geographical location, Venice had become one of the largest trading centers in the Mediterranean by the end of the 14th century. Near the Rialto Bridge, it is the most famous business district in Venice, known as Venice's "Wall Street in the water." The shape of the Grand Canal resembles an inverted "S," which in the Middle Ages represented wonder and mystery. Over the centuries, the Grand Canal has indeed witnessed countless stories.

Major events in Venetian history are celebrated on the Grand Canal in the form of cruises when the river is filled with boats of all shapes and sizes. After the decline of Venice in the 18th century, many homeowners sold their houses to settle on the other land. Most of these riverside houses were converted into hotels, and mysterious Venice began to become a tourist destination for many European rich and famous.

Introduction of the Grand Canal

The buildings in Venice are uniquely constructed, and their foundations are submerged in water as if they were drilled out of the water. Venice's Grand Canal is called the "Champs Elysees in the water." There are various ancient buildings scattered on both sides of the canal. During the Renaissance, many great artists left immortal frescoes and oil paintings in these churches, which still attracted countless tourists and artists from all over the world. In addition, the shops, markets, and banks on both sides of the canal also add infinite vitality to this water metropolis.

Venice Grand Canal Size

Venice has a main canal that is slightly more than 4 kilometers (2 miles) long and between 30 and 70 meters (100 and 225 feet) wide; the Grand Canal has an average depth of 5 meters (17 feet) and connects various points with 177 tributaries. The city consists of 118 small islands with more than 2,300 water lanes. These waterways carry the bulk of Venetian transportation, as automobiles are banned throughout much of the city.

Transportation

There are many different modes of transport to visit the Grand Canal. The most popular vehicle is the traditional poled gondolas. You can see them chained to colorful gateposts along both sides of the canal. In the past, troubadours used this ancient and noble vehicle to cruise along the Grand Canal, singing Neapolitan love songs as they rowed. The most convenient way is to take the water buses (vaporetti) and private water taxis. "Water buses" are a unique feature of Venice's Grand Canal, small and colorful but usually crowded.

Siren-equipped boats belonging to the police, fire, and emergency medical services traverse the Grand Canal at high speed, and barges are responsible for delivering goods throughout the city. The connection between Venetians and their city's main thoroughfare does not end at the grave: funeral barges can be seen transporting the dead to Isola di San Michele, an island northeast of the city that has been the site of Venice's largest cemetery since the early 19th century.

Final Words

You can find incredible architecture, beautiful scenery, and historic bridges on each side of the canal. The Grand Canal is also considered the main "street" of Venice. Every day, there is a lot of traffic here, including traditional gondolas, busy water taxis, ferry speedboats, and working barges. The canal banks are lined with magnificent palaces, built from the 12th century to the early 18th century, which is a sight in themselves. Whether you prefer exploring the Grand Canal by boat or on foot, you will be blown away by the city's views and beauty.