The Grand Canal in Venice is the city’s most important and largest waterway, on which the noble families of the Serenissima loved to build their impressive palazzi. It is no coincidence that the city’s most beautiful palaces are located right here on the Grand Canal, the principal waterway that divides the city in two. Traveling down Venice’s Grand Canal is like walking through an open-air museum. By taking the water bus (vaporetto) line 1 or line 2, you will feel like you are stepping back in time to look at the works of art represented by the Venetian palaces on the route.
This is not a complete list of all the Venetian palaces on the Grand Canal, as it would be an endless roster, but rather list the most popular ones. Let’s begin the journey at the top of the island and work the way down the Grand Canal towards St. Mark’s Square.
Palazzo Ca’ Vendramin Calergi
You’ve likely already heard of this palace, since it is the home of the world-famous Venice Casino, the very first casino in Europe. Just a short ride on the water bus (vaporetto), one of the first stops is the one named San Marcuola and is right next to the Venice Casino. From here, you can easily see the phrase engraved on the facade overlooking the Grand Canal, just one example among a long list of Latin phrases carved into many buildings and palaces around Venice – one more way to explore the fascinating history of this magnificent city.
Palazzo Ca’ Pesaro
Continuing down the Grand Canal reveals the beautiful Ca’ Pesaro. This truly imposing Venetian palace is one of the largest and most fascinating in the entire Grand Canal. Its particular, geometrically perfect architecture and the decorations on the facade make it a unique palace. Palazzo Ca’ Pesaro also houses a museum today, since Duchess Felicita Bevilacqua la Masa bequeathed the palace to the city of Venice with the promise that it would be used to celebrate modern art and its artists.
Palazzo Ca’ d’Oro
If you wanted to translate “Ca’ d’Oro,” the term that does it the most justice would be “Golden House.” If Ca’ Pesaro was on your right, the Ca’ d’Oro palace is exactly on the opposite side of the canal and you can easily recognize it by its multicolored marble which adorn the facade, one which was once entirely covered in gold. Right next to it is small dock where you can catch a gondola and take a ride through the waterways of the city or take the traghetto to cross the Grand Canal to get to the Rialto fish market.
Palazzo Fondaco dei Tedeschi
You finally reached the Rialto Bridge and thus also the Fondaco dei Tedeschi. At one time, this palace had the same function as the Palazzo Fondaco dei Turchi, only it was entirely dedicated to German merchants. Today it is home to a luxury shopping center that is worth a visit just for the beautiful views; inside, you will be surrounded by high-end shops and top international designer brands, or head up to the rooftop terrace for a breathtaking view of the Venetian skyline.
Palazzo Ca’ Rezzonico
Continuing the tour, you are coming up to some of the most spectacular views. Palazzo Ca Rezzonico is today the Museum dedicated to the Venetian 1700’s, but initially it was the home of the great Rezzonico family; additionally, over the centuries it has hosted several important figures such as the famous English poet Robert Browning, who purchased it in 1888.
Palazzo Venier dei Leoni – Peggy Guggenheim Collection
Famous throughout the world, the Peggy Guggenheim Collection is one of the most important museums dedicated to modern art in all of Europe. Easy to notice this building, because unlike all the others, it has a unique feature: only one floor. The reason why this palace looks incomplete is, in fact, precisely because it was never completed. The reason is not fully understood; it seems that the reasons were purely related to an economic factor of the family, though it is not entirely certain. Another curiosity about this palace: it was also known as Palazzo Venier dei Leoni, because the Venier family kept an actual lion in their garden.
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