Venice Canals

Venice canals are one of the most distinguishing characteristics of this ancient city in northern Italy. Venice is located among over 100 islands in the Venetian Lagoon, all of them interconnected with a series of waterways. The canals of Venice Italy are much like roads in any other conventional town or city. Venice is the largest urban zone in all of Europe wherein the use of cars is prohibited (and pretty much impossible anyway). This adds to the distinctive and romantic charm of the city. No loud cars are buzzing by and beeping their horns. Rather, the hum of the motorized vaporettos will barely distract you from checking out the amazing attractions and enjoying your vacation in one of the most beautiful cities in the world.

There are some 150 Venice canals and a stunning 450 bridges, some tiny footpaths, others larger crossings. Of all the most picturesque canals in Venice, the Grand Canal stands head and shoulders above the rest. It is in a sense the main thoroughfare in Venice and is approximately two-and-a-half miles long. At one end it spills into the Saint Mark Basin, and at the other in empties into the lagoon by the Santa Lucia Railway Station. The Grand Canal has the advantage, along with being among the most picturesque canals in Venice, of being located nearby many of the most popular things to do. The Church of Santa Maria della Salute, the Academy Gallery, the Peggy Guggenheim Museum, and St Mark's Square are just a few of the main destinations that tourists frequently step out of the boat on the Grand Canal to see. There are over 170 buildings along the Grand Canal, many of which date all the way back to the thirteenth century. Having the ability to visit all of these attractions via the canals of Venice Italy is an added bonus that makes any vacation to this particular city even more enchanting and memorable than you may have originally thought possible.

There are a number of different ways to get around using the Venice canals. Although many people imagine that the gondola is still the primary means of getting around the waterways in Venice, there are now many more options that suit virtually any occasion. Gondolas are largely used in the canals of Venice Italy for ceremonial purposes and tourists. Many people are more than happy to pay the 80 to 100 Euros for around a 45-minute ride. Still many others prefer more cost effective modes of public transport such as the waterbuses (vaporettos) or crafts known as traghetti, which are essentially gondolas that you stand up in. These are used in most cases for people who need to cross one of the canals at an area where there is no viable bridge. The traghetti are very inexpensive and can be found all along the Grand Canal.

Some of the other most picturesque canals in Venice are the Canal della Guidecca and the Canal San Marco. As you travel within the city and become more familiar with your surroundings, you will steadily learn more about the various smaller canals that lead to your places of interest in Venice.