Canal Grande

This "Road of Water" is the main and most beautiful street in Venice. Float along the Grand Canal you will be surrounded by the most opulent architecture, the atmosphere is splended and unparalled illustrating the unique beauty of Venice. Gliding along the canal by gondola is literally a journey through Venetian history. A great way to see these marvelous buildings is to take the vaporetto along the Grand Canal. A trip from the Railway Station to the Riva degli Schiavoni will combine into a journey of art, history and architecture.

On the right side of the Canal Grande at the Natural History Museum in the Fondaco Dei Turchi. This building was initially used by Turkish merchants as a warehouse. Home of the composer Richard Wagner is closeby. He died in the Palazzo Vendramin Calergi. A marble sculpture of Wagner by Ettore Cadorin is in the garden.

Further down is Palazzo Pesaro which holds the last work Baldassare Longhena. He was Venice's greatest baroque architect of the 17th century. This huge building is now an International Gallery of Modern Art and Museum of Oriental Art.

Along Canal Grande near the Rialto bridge is the Fondaco dei Tedeschi (German Commodity Exchange.). This was the german commodity exchange where German merchants imported and exported merchandise. Today building's exterior frescoes are in ruins. Some painted by Giorgione da Castelfranco and Titian.

Ponte dell'Accademia, is a wooden bridge built in 1930 to replace the 19th century metal one. Close by is the former residence of Palazzo Venier dei Leoni. It is now a museum housing her collection of modern art. Also one cannot miss the delightful Palazzo Dario, recognisable by the multi-coloured marble façade and its many chimneys.

Back to the Top