GRAND CANAL Last Part

2:46

At this point you can see ancient palaces along both sides of the canal, as well as the approaching Accademia Bridge, which is the third and final one. Next to the wood bridge is the large complex that was first transformed into the Academy of Fine Arts and then into an Art Gallery. Immediately afterwards on the same side, you can see the two graceful arched loggias of Contarini del Zaffo Palace.

Down the row of buildings on your left, you can now begin to distinguish the lavish mass of Corner Palace, Called "Ca' Granda"... can you guess why? It was built by the great Sansovino, the same architect as the Golden Staircase and the Doge's Palace, and is currently home to the Prefecture and offers accommodations for State guests.

Do you like 20th-century art? Then pay attention, because you're passing Venier dei Leoni Palace, home to the legendary Peggy Guggenheim Collection, founded by the famous billionaire with infallible artistic taste. And do you see that façade entirely decorated with colored marble disks? It's Dario Palace. If you're superstitious, cross your fingers: this building is famous for causing the ruin of its owners! The last owner was the financier Raul Gardini, who came to a tragic end...

You're approaching the grand finale: the Canal has become wider and brighter. To the right, like an immense white ball, the dome of the Chiesa della Salute dominates the scene. To the left is the façade of the Salviati mosaic factory: if you want to take its picture like everyone else, go ahead, but know that it's not an authentic Gothic façade, it's neo-Gothic from the early 20th century! The brick wall that you see next belongs to the deconsecrated church of San Gregorio, which is now used to restore large paintings. In front of it is the Gothic Gritti Palace , which is home to one of the most famous historic hotels in the city: you're one lucky dog if you can afford it!

You're almost there. If you don't want to get off at St. Mark's, you can get off at the Santa Maria della Salute stop and visit the most beautiful Baroque church in Venice and look upon the fascinating panorama of the 17th century Punta della Dogana, or customs point. If you're lucky you'll also be able to enjoy a beautiful contemporary art exhibition.

 

FUN FACT: if you look up at the tower of the Dogana building, you'll see a sculpture called the Palla d'Oro, or Golden Ball. As you can see, it's held up by two giants and has the statue of Fortune at its top, which turns with the wind. Take a picture: it's good luck!

 

 

TravelMate recommends
Choose the option
that suits you
Buy Venice
Permanently unlock the app with all content of Venice for
€ 8,99
Buy
Promotion
Unlock audio content of all available cities for 3 years at the promotional price
€ 19,99
Buy
Don't miss out!
VENICE INTRODUCTION
1 Audio

VENICE INTRODUCTION

Venice has no equal. The whole city is built on the sea, on wooden piles: the buildings, squares and streets rest on the piles, most of which have remained intact for centuries and which run down...
THE WONDERS OF LOCAL CUISINE
1 Audio

THE WONDERS OF LOCAL CUISINE

A typically Venetian starter is sarde in saor, fried sardines served with onions caramelized in vinegar, pine-nuts and raisins. The recipe originated from the sailors’ need to preserve food for...
ST. MARK'S
10 Audio

ST. MARK'S

Between a million pigeons, tourists, the café tables, and small orchestras, during daytime the square is always crowded. Consider that the esplanade in front of the cathedral was built starting...
DOGE'S PALACE
8 Audio

DOGE'S PALACE

I suggest admiring both sides of its exterior first before visiting its interior. It will be like plunging into the history of Venice, the queen of the seas!You should know that the Doge's Palace was...
GRAND CANAL
8 Audio

GRAND CANAL

You can see the canal all in one go by letting the banks pass you by from the windows of a vaporetto, or you can make a number of stops: each of the main buildings have their own dedicated audio...
ACCADEMIA GALLERY
10 Audio

ACCADEMIA GALLERY

For many centuries, the only bridge that remained standing over the Grand Canal was the Rialto Bridge: the other two only came after the mid-nineteenth century, were immediately indispensable and...
RIALTO BRIDGE
2 Audio

RIALTO BRIDGE

Of course the best viewpoint of the Rialto Bridge is from the water, and you've probably already seen it from a boat; even if the bridge is quite impressive when you pass under it, it's just as...
GUGGENHEIM
2 Audio

GUGGENHEIM

In 1948 the palace was bought by the whimsical collector and art dealer Peggy Guggenheim, who was fascinated by this unusual building. Guggenheim's life was like a story from a novel: born in New...
BASILICA OF THE FRIARS
7 Audio

BASILICA OF THE FRIARS

As you've probably already noticed, Venice isn't always easy to navigate what with its squares, hidden alleys, and tiny streets that lead directly to the water... It helps if you identify some...
SCUOLA GRANDE DI SAN ROCCO
4 Audio

SCUOLA GRANDE DI SAN ROCCO

The Scuola Grande di San Rocco, which is located at the Basilica of the Frari and next to the church dedicated to the saint, is one of the most famous, not only for the building's Renaissance...
CORRER MUSEUM
3 Audio

CORRER MUSEUM

In the main museum in St. Mark's Square, which also extends to the rooms of the Napoleonica Wing, you'll find two very interesting collections: the historical memorabilia of the Republic of Venice,...
SAN ZANIPOLO
7 Audio

SAN ZANIPOLO

You are near one of the jewels of the city's Gothic architecture. The church of Saints John and Paul, known by the Venetians as San Zanìpolo, was built in 1200 by the Dominicans in this large...
CÀ REZZONICO
3 Audio

CÀ REZZONICO

You've surely already admired the palace while passing it on the Grand Canal: can you imagine a better place for hosting 18th-century paintings, furniture, and objects? The collections come from...
LA FENICE THEATER
1 Audio

LA FENICE THEATER

Even if you've never been here before, you'll probably already recognize the interior of this historic building from the fantastic New Year's concerts broadcast on TV. If it's true that fate is...
CÀ D'ORO
3 Audio

CÀ D'ORO

Ca' d'Oro was built in the first half of the 15th century for the aristocrat Marino Contarini: the building's project was designed by Lombard master builders, but its decoration was entrusted to a...
BIENNALE
2 Audio

BIENNALE

With celebrations, festivals, concerts, theater seasons, art exhibitions, and film, you'll never be bored in Venice! The Biennale is an eagerly awaited date that's held in odd-numbered years,...
THE GHETTO
3 Audio

THE GHETTO

The area was connected to the rest of the city by just these two small bridges, which you can still recognize today by the the stone slabs where the rules were engraved. In doing so the Ghetto could...
MURANO
3 Audio

MURANO

When choosing a souvenir from Venice (which range from expensive leather masks to small plastic gondolas), you will be offered a large assortment of glassware: colored beads, blown glass animals,...
MARCIANA LIBRARY
3 Audio

MARCIANA LIBRARY

Sansovino was practically adopted by Venice: he had been named Protomastro, which meant he was responsible for public buildings in the city, a position that allowed him to create splendid official...
SCUOLA DI S. GIORGIO DEGLI SCHIAVONI
2 Audio

SCUOLA DI S. GIORGIO DEGLI SCHIAVONI

Vittore Carpaccio is one of the protagonists of the Venetian Renaissance, famous above all for the great narrative scenes he painted for the "Schools", which were typical Venetian welfare...
ARSENAL
1 Audio

ARSENAL

This boat production complex was established shortly after the year 1000, and became the most highly concentrated workforce throughout Europe, reaching approximately 3,000 employees. Just think, the...
SAN SEBASTIANO
1 Audio

SAN SEBASTIANO

Little by little Paolo Veronese, the clearest and most festive painter of the full Venetian Renaissance, turned this church into a chamber of wonders. If you look around, you'll find that he has...
TravelMate App
DOWNLOAD NOW
THE TRAVELMATE APP
Purchase your activation code, download the TravelMate App, and turn your smartphone into your personal travel companion!
Listen to audio guides about the wonders of the world with TravelMate.
HAVE FUN!