Venitians call it the Canalazzo, but to the rest of the world it's the Grand Canal, the city's main thoroughfare. A 3-km (2-mi-) long, 40 to 76 yard wide ribbon of water, wending its way from San Marco to the Stazione Ferroviaria Santa Lucia like an inverted letter S, it was, and to some extent still is, the Fifth Avenue of Venice. It was here from the 14th to 18th centuries, that the city's richest families lived, building for themselves a series of magnificient Venitian Gothic and Renaissance palaces. Here, the combination of being surrounded by water and the most opulent, luxurious, and fantastic efforts of a people obsessed with opulence, luxury, and fantasy has created a seemingly endless unfolding panorama of unique architectural richness. It makes sense to attempt little more at first than to sample, to breathe in, the unparalleled magnificence of the GRAND CANAL, letting it wash over you- only metaphorically, of course; it may not be deep (average depth is 9 ft) but it's very dirty.

By Gondola

If you simply can't leave Venice without a gondola ride, the best time is in the late afternoon or early evening hours, when the Grand Canal isn't so heavily trafficked. Try to avoid low tide, when the foul odors of the canal are at their worst. It's best to start from a station on the Grand Canal because the lagoon is usually choppy. Make it clear that you want to see the smaller canals, and come to terms on the cost and duration of the ride before you start. Gondoliers are supposed to charged fixed minimum of about 120,000 lire for up to six passenger for 50 minutes. After 8 PM and up to 8 AM the rate increases to approximately 150,000 lire. Bargaining may get you a better price.