Did You Know?

Did you know that Venice experiences an annual phenomenon called "Acqua Alta"? During certain times of the year, particularly in winter, high tides cause flooding in some parts of the city. Wooden walkways, known as "pontoon" bridges, are temporarily set up to allow pedestrians to navigate through the flooded areas.

Did you know that Venice is home to the world's oldest operating casino? The Casino di Venezia, located in the Palazzo Vendramin-Calergi, opened in 1638 and continues to welcome visitors to try their luck at various games of chance in a historic setting.

Venice, Italy is built on more than 100 small islands and has over 400 bridges connecting them all together. The city has no roads, only canals and footpaths.

Did you know that Venice has over 400 footbridges? These bridges play a crucial role in connecting different parts of the city, spanning the canals and allowing pedestrians to move around. The most famous and iconic bridge in Venice is the Rialto Bridge, which dates back to the late 16th century.

Did you know that Venice is known as the "Floating City" or "City of Water"? This nickname is due to the absence of roads and cars within the historic center of Venice. Instead, transportation is primarily conducted by boats and water taxis, making it a truly distinctive and charming city to explore.

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View The Grand Canal: One Of The Most Popular Things To Do In Venice

Scenic view of the Grand Canal with historical buildings and boats

The Grand Canal in Venice is indeed grand; it is wide and deep enough to take ocean-going vessels, but these have become a local issue as the Grand Canal is busy with smaller traffic in its role as the main water thoroughfare in the city. Curved in a reverse “S” configuration, the Grand Canal is just under 4km (2.4mi) long, and varies in width from 30 to 90 metres (98-295 feet).

Its depth, at an average of 5 metres (16 feet), is sufficient to support hulls of varying sizes, but as aforementioned, cruise ships are a testy matter with residents (55,000 people live in the core of Venice), causing too much wake and noise, and dumping tens of thousands of tourists at once, more than the contained area can manage.

This is the main and central water traffic corridor in Venice, with floating water-buses, gondolas and small personal craft, motorized and not. It runs from the basin at San Marco, through the centre of town to the Venetian Lagoon near Santa Lucia Railway Station. It’s a conduit, flanked with residences, restaurants and shops, and dotted with bridges, the most famous being Rialto, which itself is lined with boutiques and kiosks.

Visitors who opt for a ride along the canal will view the classic Italian-Byzantine architecture of Venice and get a real sense of the layout of the city’s core. It is especially lovely at sunset with lights reflecting off the water. Watch for the annual regatta held on the Grand Canal; it’s a popular event!