Venice’s Grand Canal, a major tourist destination in its own right, is also a vital link to many other tourist sites. It’s Venice’s main thoroughfare, curving back in a reverse S through the city’s center, as well as its bustling marketplace, packed with traffic including anything from gondolas to barges transporting vegetables.
Anyone of importance in Venice had to have a palace overlooking the Grand Canal, and palazzi from all throughout the city exhibit many architectural styles, including those from the 12th to early 18th centuries.
To view and appreciate all the magnificent palaces properly, the best approach is from the canal itself, since their facades are turned toward the water. One of the best things to do in Venice at night is taking in the opulence of these palaces when the lights are turned on. Starting at San Marco, these sites are organized by the order you’ll view them as you go from Ponte Della Costituzione (the opposite end of the Grand Canal) to the Rialto Bridge. You won’t miss a single thing while navigating the Grand Canal with our helpful guide.
Also, note that some companies may be closed because of current worldwide health and safety concerns.
Traghetti
The Ca’ Rezzonico and San Samuel landing on the Grand Canal are linked by the Traghetti, a kind of boat service. Traghetto boats are a specific kind of gondola without any of the beautiful trappings or seats. The boats have short benches so Venetians may stand, which they prefer over sitting since they can use the traghetto to traverse the Grand Canal.
While you may walk to a bridge if you want, a Traghetti is a more affordable and shorter option. The Fish Market, San Marcuola, and Piazza San Marco stations all have a stop in between, as do the San Angelo and San Toma stops.
Palazzo Grassi
Palazzo Grassi, located on the opposite side, is an example of combining Baroque and Classical architectural elements. Venice’s final palazzo erected before the fall of the Venetian Republic in 1797 was built from the designs of Giorgio Massari, who utilized a ground plan with four wings surrounding a rectangular courtyard, which was out of the ordinary for the city.
After the castle was purchased by Fiat Motor Company, a major restoration effort was undertaken. It included the courtyard, and the palace was turned into a showroom. For its mix of traditional Neoclassical and contemporary architectural forms, the building is a treat.
Ca’ Foscari
In the 15th century, when Doge Francesco Foscari ordered its construction, Ca’ Foscari possessed an astounding feature: It had four storeys. Venice’s Late Gothic structures are still very important, and now the palace remains one of the most significant of them all.
After Doge Francesco Foscari was forced to relinquish the Eastern Mediterranean to the Turks in 1454, and his son Jacopo was subsequently exiled from Venice, the Foscari family’s status flipped. France’s King Henry III lived at the mansion in 1574.
Ca’ Rezzonico and the Museum of 18th-Century Venice
Just beyond the beginning of the canal’s lengthy turn to the right, Ca’ Rezzonico is the work of two architects known for their other notable projects. Completed almost a century after its start in 1660 by Baldassare Longhena, the finest Baroque architect in Venice, it was begun by Giorgio Massari.
The Museum of 18th-century Venice is now located there, and it offers a fascinating look at the culture of Venetian Rococo times. The building’s 40 rooms have lavish decoration, including Chinoiserie and lacquered furniture, which was so fashionable at the time. A wide range of items is on display, including Venetian porcelain, pottery, bronze sculptures, puppets, and authentic 18th-century Venetian costumes. The historic pharmacy is rebuilt with careful attention to detail, and there is a theater on the third level.
Ca’ Rezzonico station, designated as the vaporetto stop, is not situated near the palace. To reach the Fondamenta Rezzonico, you will need to walk from Campo San Barnaba to the Calle Traghetto, and then cross the bridge.
Ponte di Rialto (Rialto Bridge)
Looking ahead, the distinct shape of Rialto Bridge, which is beginning to straighten once more, dominates the picture. However, it’s hard to tear your eyes away from the palaces that line each side. The bridge was originally constructed here in 1180, after which it was rebuilt as a drawbridge in 1225, but the latter collapsed in 1444, when a huge gathering assembled on it to witness a boat parade.
Around 150 years after its construction, in 1588, the Venetians constructed this stone bridge, the design of which was overseen by Antonio de Ponte. The roadway is supported by 6,000 piles of wood beneath either side of the 22-meter bridge. The most recommended attraction in the San Polo district is Rialto, and of course, the renowned bridge itself.