Canale Grande
Canale Grande (The Grand Canal) forms one of the major water-traffic corridors in the city. One end of the canal leads into the lagoon near the Stazione di Venezia Santa Lucia (Santa Lucia railway station), and the other end leads into the basin at San Marco; in between, it makes a large reverse-S shape through the central districts (sestieri) of Venice.
The banks of the Canale Grande are lined with buildings dating from the 13th to the 18th century, which demonstrate the welfare and art created by the Republic of Venice.
Because most of the city's traffic goes along the Canal rather than across it, only one bridge crossed the canal until the 19th century, the Rialto Bridge. There are currently three more bridges. Most of the palaces emerge from water without pavement. Consequently, one can only tour past the fronts of the buildings on the grand canal by boat.
The Feast-day of the Madonna della Salute: on Nov. 21, Venetians thank the Virgin Mary for salvation from the plague epidemic in 1630-38 with a pilgrimage to Santa Maria della Salute. Pilgrims cross Grand Canal on a temporary pontoon bridge from Campo Santa Maria Zobenigo, and enjoy stalls and traditional dishes.
Scene in JOJO: Giorno and Mista's car rushed into the canal, and Mista and Ghiaccio (White Album) battled in the water. In the early morning of the next day, Narancia sailed to pick up the Giorno and Mista. They passed the Rialto Bridge as they drove on the canal.
Timing:
You'll find crowds on the vaporetto at almost any hour, but it's best to avoid morning and evening commuting hours, as well as the lunch rush between noon and 2pm.Vaporetto Ticket:
The ride along the Canale Grande is the most expensive in Venice, but it's included in any of the day or longer transit passes.
More transportation information .Attractions along the Canale Grande:
Basilica di Santa Maria della Salute
Peggy Guggenheim Collection
Palazzo Corner della Ca' Granda
Gallerie dell'Accademia
Ca' Rezzonico (the Museum of 18th-Century Venice)
Grassi Palace
Ponte di Rialto (Rialto Bridge)
Fondaco dei Tedeschi (German Commodity Exchange)
Fish Market
Ca' d'Oro (Art museum)
Fondamenta Turchi (the Natural History Museum)
Ponte della Costituzione (Constitution Bridge)
