Grand Canal (Venice)

"Canal Grande" redirects here. For its Triestine counterpart, seeCanal Grande (Trieste).

"Venice Grand Canal" redirects here. For the shopping mall in the Philippines, seeVenice Grand Canal Mall.

Canal Grande
Canal
The Grand Canal looking south from Rialto Bridge
Location	Venice,Italy
Click the map for an interactive, fullscreen view.

TheGrand Canal(Italian:Canal Grande[kaˌnalˈɡrande],locally and informallyCanalazzo;Venetian:Canal Grando,locally usuallyCanałaso[kanaˈɰaso]) is the largestchannelinVenice,Italy,forming one of the major water-traffic corridors in the city.

One end of the canal leads into thelagoonnear theSanta Lucia railway stationand the other end leads into the basin atSan Marco;in between, it makes a large reverse-S shape through the central districts (sestieri) of Venice. It is 3.8 kilometres (2.4 mi) long, and 30 to 90 metres (98 to 295 ft) wide, with an average depth of 5 metres (16 feet).

Description

The banks of the Grand Canal are lined with more than 170 buildings, most of which date from the 13th to the 18th century, and demonstrate the welfare and art created by theRepublic of Venice.The noble Venetian families faced huge expenses to show off their richness in suitablepalazzos;this contest reveals the citizens’ pride and the deep bond with the lagoon. Amongst the many are thePalazzi Barbaro,Ca' Rezzonico,Ca' d'Oro,Palazzo Dario,Ca' Foscari,Palazzo Barbarigoand toPalazzo Venier dei Leoni,housing thePeggy Guggenheim Collection.The churches along the canal include the basilica ofSanta Maria della Salute.Centuries-old traditions, such as theHistorical Regatta,are perpetuated every year along the Canal.

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, theRialto Bridge.There are currently three more bridges, thePonte degli Scalzi,thePonte dell'Accademia,and the controversialPonte della Costituzionefrom 2008, designed bySantiago Calatrava,connecting the train station toPiazzale Roma,one of the few places in Venice where buses and cars can enter. As was usual in the past, people can still take a ferry ride across the canal at several points by standing up on the deck of a simplegondolacalled atraghetto,although this service is less common than even a decade ago.

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.

History

The first settlements

The Grand Canal probably follows the course of an ancient river (possibly a branch of theBrenta) flowing into the lagoon.Adriatic Venetigroups already lived beside the formerly-named "Rio Businiacus" before the Roman age. They lived instilt housesand relied on fishing and commerce (mainly salt). Under the rule of theRoman empireand later of theByzantine empirethe lagoon became populated and important, and in the early 9th century thedogemoved his seat fromMalamoccoto the safer "Rivoaltus".

Increasing trade followed the doge and found in the deep Grand Canal a safe and ship accessible canal-port.Drainagereveals that the city became more compact over time: at that time the Canal was wider and flowed between small,tide-subjected islands connected by wooden bridges.

"Fondaco" houses

TheFondaco dei Turchi

Along the Canal, the number of "fondaco" houses increased, buildings combining the warehouse and the merchant's residence.

Aportico(thecuria) covers the bank and facilitates the ships' unloading. From the portico a corridor flanked by storerooms reaches a posteriorcourtyard.Similarly, on the first floor aloggiaas large as the portico illuminates the hall into which open the merchant's rooms. The façade is thereby divided into an airy central part and two more solid sides. A lowmezzaninewith offices divides the two floors.

The fondaco house often had lateral defensive towers (torreselle), as in theFondaco dei Turchi(13th century, heavily restored in the 19th). With the German warehouse, theFondaco dei Tedeschi(which is also situated on the Grand Canal), it reflects the high number of foreign merchants working in Venice, where the republic supplied them with storerooms and lodging and simultaneously controlled their trading activity.

More public buildings were built along the Canal atRialto:palaces for commercial and financial Benches (Palazzo dei CamerlenghiandPalazzo dei Dieci Savi,rebuilt after 1514 fire) and amint.In 1181 Nicolò Barattieri constructed apontoon bridgeconnecting Rialto to Mercerie area, which was later replaced by a wooden bridge with shops on it. Warehouses for flour and salt were more peripheral.

The Venetian-Byzantine style

From the Byzantine empire, goods arrived together with sculptures,friezes,columnsandcapitalsto decorate the fondaco houses ofpatricianfamilies. TheByzantine artmerged with previous elements resulting in a Venetian-Byzantine style; in architecture, it was characterized by largeloggiaswith round or elongatedarchesand by polychrome marbles abundance.

Along the Grand Canal, these elements are well preserved inCa' Farsetti,Ca' Loredan(bothmunicipalseats) andCa' da Mosto,all dating back to the 12th or 13th century. During this period Rialto had an intense building development, determining the conformation of the Canal and surrounding areas. As a matter of fact, in Venice building materials are precious andfoundationsare usually kept: in the subsequent restorations, existing elements will be used again, mi xing the Venetian-Byzantine and the new styles (Ca' Sagredo,Palazzo Bembo). Polychromy, three-partitioned façades, loggias, diffuse openings, and rooms disposition formed a particular architectural taste that continued in the future.

TheFourth Crusade,with the loot obtained from thesack of Constantinople (1204),and other historical situations, gave Venice an Eastern influence until the late 14th century.

Venetian Gothic

Ca' d'Oro

Venetian Gothic architecturefound favor quite late, as a splendidflamboyant Gothic( "gotico fiorito" ) beginning with the southern façade of theDoge's Palace.The verticality and the illumination characterizing the Gothic style are found in the porticos and loggias of fondaco houses: columns get thinner, elongated arches are replaced by pointed orogeeor lobed ones. Porticos rise gently intertwining and drawing open marbles inquatrefoilsor similar figures. Façades wereplasteredin brilliant colors.

The open marble fascias, often called "laces",quickly diffused along the Grand Canal. Among the 15th-century palaces still showing the original appearance areCa' d'Oro,Palazzo Bernardo a San Polo,Ca' Foscari(now housing theUniversity of Venice),Palazzo Pisani Moretta,Palazzi Barbaro,Palazzo Cavalli-Franchetti.

Renaissance

By the start of the 15th century,Renaissance architecturemotifs appear in such buildings as thePalazzo Darioand thePalazzo Corner Spinelli;the latter was designed byMauro Codussi,pioneer of this style in Venice.Ca' Vendramin Calergi,another of his projects (now hosting theCasino), reveals a completed transition: the numerous and large windows with open marbles are round-arched and have columns in the threeclassical orders.

Classical architectureis more evident inJacopo Sansovino's projects, who arrived fromRomein 1527. Along the Canal, he designedPalazzo CornerandPalazzo Dolfin Manin,known for grandiosity, for the horizontal layout of the white façades and for the development around a central courtyard. Other Renaissance buildings arePalazzo PapadopoliandPalazzo Grimani di San Luca.Several palaces of this period had façades with frescoes by painters such asIl Pordenone,Tintoretto,Paolo Veronese,all of them unfortunately lost. Particularly noteworthy were the frescoes by Veronese andZelottionCa Cappello,overlooking the Grand Canal at the intersection with the Rio de S. Polo.

Venetian Baroque

Santa Maria della Salute

In 1582,Alessandro Vittoriabegan the construction ofPalazzo Balbi(now housing theGovernment of Veneto), in whichBaroqueelements can be recognized: fashionedcornices,brokenpediments,ornamental motifs.

The major Baroque architect in Venice wasBaldassarre Longhena.In 1631 he began to build the magnificentSanta Maria della Salutebasilica,one of the most beautiful churches in Venice and a symbol of Grand Canal. The classical layout of the façade features decorations and by many statues, the latter crowning also the refinedvolutessurrounding the majordome.

Longhena later designed two majestic palaces,Ca' PesaroandCa' Rezzonico(with manycarvingsandchiaroscuroeffects), andSanta Maria di Nazarethchurch (Chiesa degli Scalzi). For various reasons the great architect did not see any of these buildings finished, and the designs for all but Santa Maria Della Salute were modified after his death.

Longhena's themes recur in the two older façades ofPalazzo Labia,containing a famous fresco cycle byGiambattista Tiepolo.In the Longhenian school grewDomenico Rossi(San Stae's façade,Ca' Corner della Regina) andGiorgio Massari,who later completed Ca' Rezzonico.

The 16th and 17th centuries mark the beginning of the Republic's decline, but nevertheless, they saw the highest building activity on the Grand Canal. This can be partially explained by the increasing number of families (like the Labia) becoming patrician by the payment of an enormous sum to the Republic, which was then facing financial difficulties. Once these families had achieved this new status, they built themselves with impressive residences on the Canal, often inducing other families to renew theirs.

Neoclassical architecture

Neoclassical architectures along the Canal date to the 18th century: during the first half was builtSan Simeone Piccolo,with an impressivecorinthianportico, centralplanand a high copper-covered dome ending in acupolashaped as a temple. Date to the second half Massari'sPalazzo Grassi.

Modern era

The Pescheria atRialto

After thefall of the Republic of Venicein 1797, much of the palatial construction in Venice was suspended, as symbolized by the unfinishedSan MarcuolaandPalazzo Venier dei Leoni(housing thePeggy Guggenheim Collection). The Patrician families, bereft of their hereditary role in governance and sometimes persecuted by revolutionary forces, sought other residences. Several historical palaces were pulled down, but many found other uses, and some restorations have saved their 18th-century appearance. By the late 20th century, most of the more prominent palaces were owned by the city, state, or civic institutions.

Vaporetti (water buses) carry passengers through the Grand Canal

During the era of theNapoleonic Kingdom of Italy,theNapoleonicsuppression of the monasticreligious ordersvacated large sectors of real estate in the city. It also freed large amounts of furnishings and works of art into the antiquarian market or into the possession of the state. Large monasteries changed functions: theSanta Maria della Caritàcomplex became a museum, theGallerie dell'Accademia;the Santa Croce complex, was converted into the Papadopoli Gardens area; and the Santa Lucia complex (partially designed byPalladio) was razed for the establishment of theSanta Lucia Station.

TheKingdom of Italyaccession restored serenity in the city and stimulated construction along the Grand Canal respecting its beauty, often reproduced inGothic Revivalarchitectures like the Pescaria at Rialto.

Events

Gondolas on the Grand Canal

Historical Regatta

On the first Sunday of September theHistorical Regatta( "Regata Storica" ) takes place, a competition between Venetian boats watched by thousands of people from the banks or from floating stands.Competitions are preceded by a historical procession ( "Corteo Storico" ) remembering the entrance of theQueen of CyprusCatherine Cornaroafter abdication in 1489: gondoliers in costumes sail in typical 16th century boats following theBucentaur,doge's stategalley.

The Feast-day of the Madonna della Salute

On November 21, Venetians thank theVirgin Maryfor salvation from theplague epidemic in 1630-38with a pilgrimage toSanta Maria della Salute.Pilgrims cross the Grand Canal on a temporary pontoon bridge from Campo Santa Maria del Giglio, and enjoy stalls and traditional dishes.

Panorama of the Grand Canal

Panorama of the Grand Canal

Gallery

• 
  Two gondoliers pull out with clients on board from a row of gondolas on the Grand Canal near theRialto Bridge
• 
  The Grand Canal fromPonte dell'Accademia;in the foregroundPalazzo Cavalli-Franchetti,in the distanceSanta Maria della Salute
• 
  The Grand Canal in Venice, Italy, shot at night from Rialto Bridge
• 
  The Grand Canal in Venice from Palazzo Flangini to Campo San Marcuola,Canaletto, about 1738.The J. Paul Getty Museum,Los Angeles
• 
  Ocean ship entering Grand Canal

See also

• List of buildings and structures in Venice
• Republic of Venice
• Grand Canal (Venice) architecturefor listing and identification of buildings along the canal

References

Sources

• A. Zorzi, P. MartonI Palazzi Veneziani– Magnus Ed., Udine 1989;ISBN88-7057-083-5
• M. BruseganLa grande guida dei monumenti di Venezia- Newton & Compton Ed., Roma 2005;ISBN88-541-0475-2.
• E. e W. EleodoriIl Canal Grande. Palazzi no– Corbo e Fiore Editori, II ed., Venezia 2007;ISBN88-7086-057-4.
• Guida d'Italia – Venezia.3^aed. Milano, Touring Editore, 2007.ISBN978-88-365-4347-2.
• Alvise Zorzi, P. Marton.I Palazzi Veneziani.Udine, Magnus, 1989.ISBN88-7057-083-5.
• Venezia e provincia.Milano, Touring Editore, 2004.ISBN88-365-2918-6.
• Raffaella Russo.Palazzi di Venezia.Venezia, Arsenale Ed., 1998.ISBN88-7743-185-7.
• Umberto Franzoi, Mark Smith.Canal Grande.Venezia, Arsenale Ed., 1993.ISBN88-7743-131-8.
• Giuseppe Mazzariol (a cura di).I Palazzi del Canal Grande.Novara, Istituto Geografico De Agostini, 1989.
• Gianjacopo Fontana.Venezia monumentale - I Palazzi.Venezia, Filippi Ed., 1967.
• Andrea Fasolo, Mark Smith.Palazzi di Venezia.Venezia, Arsenale Ed., 2003.ISBN88-7743-295-0.
• The Art and Architecture of Venice
• Terisio Pignatti (a cura di).Le scuole di Venezia.Milano, Electa, 1981.
• Silvia Gramigna, Annalisa Perissa.Scuole di Arti, Mestieri e Devozione a Venezia.Venezia, Arsenale Coop
• Giuseppe Tassini.Curiosità Veneziane.Venezia, Filippi Ed., 2001.

External links

Template:Attached KML/Grand Canal (Venice)

KML is from Wikidata

Template:Attached KML/Grand Canal (Venice)

KML is from Wikidata

Preceded by Gallerie dell'Accademia

Venice landmarks Grand Canal

Succeeded by Piazza San Marco