The Grand canal of Venice
It is the main water route of Venice, the Venetian call it the canalazzo. The Canal is four miles long and divides the city from northwest to southeast. In some places it has 90 meters wide and in others 30 meters. It has 5 meters of depth. Along this we can find buildings from 13th to 18th century which demonstrate the welfare and art created by the Republic of Venice.Ancient, the Grand Canal was used as a trade route; they used to build fondaco houses (market complex) over the Canal. Rich families from the city were pride and deep bond with the lake for that reason they elegantly decorated their palaces.
The oldest part of the Grand Canal is the Rialto, because there was the loading and unloading point for merchant ships that supplied the city. This Canal was made to allow entry of these ships and then articulate the city life. It was a noble place that the powerful chose to build their palaces and mansions and offers a unique collection of architecture.
In Grand Canal of Venice we can find different styles of architecture: Byzantine, Gothic, Renaissance, Baroque and Neoclassical. On the first Sunday of September takes place the Historical Regatta ("Regata Storica"), a competition between Venetian boats watched by thousands of people from the banks or from floating stands.
It has not many bridges, at least four (Rialto bridge, Ponte degli Scalzi, Ponte dell'Accademia and Ponte della Costituzione) most of the buildings emerge from water without pavement, for that reason one can only tour past the fronts of the buildings on the grand canal by boat as góndolas, Vaporetti or water taxi. Most of the city's traffic goes along the Canal.Venetian has a feast day on November the 21st, the day of the Madonna Della Salute. They thank Virgin Mary for saving them from the plague with a pilgrimage.
