THE GRAND CANAL (CANAL GRANDE)
The Grand Canal is the most important waterway of Venice. It stretches for about four kilometers, from North –West (starting from Roma Square) to South-East (in front of Giudecca’s Isle). It has a width included from 30 to 70 meters and a depth of 5,20 meters. It is named by Venetian people “Canalasso” and along its path you can find about 200 palaces built by the most influential noble families of Venice, nowadays for the most part converted in luxury hotels, museums and private or social organizations. The Grand Canal is crossed by three bridges: the Bridge of the Barefoot, the Academy Bridge and the Rialto Bridge that is, maybe, the most famous.
Among the most representative palaces you can find there are: the Golden House (Ca’ d’Oro), nowadays site of Franchetti Art Gallery; Grassi Palace, nowadays site of the most important travelling exhibitions; Pesaro House (Ca’ Pesaro), nowadays site of the Oriental Art Museum and the Modern Art Gallery; Foscari House (Ca’ Foscari), site of the main University of Venice; Rezzonico House (Ca’ Rezzonico), site of the Eighteenth Century Venetian Museum, where you can see works by Tiepolo, Canaletto, Longhi and Guardi; Moro Palace that inspired the “Othello” by Shakespeare; da Mosto House (Ca’ da Mosto), site of the most famous hotel of the city; Vendramin Calergi Palace, synthesis of Byzantine and Gothic architecture, nowadays site of the municipal Casino.