Fact Finder - General Knowledge

The Grand Canal (Canalazzo) is the main waterway of Venice, forming a large S-shape through the central districts of the city. It is 3.8 kilometers long and lined with over 170 buildings, most of which date from the 13th to the 18th century and were built by wealthy Venetian families to demonstrate their prestige. Unlike industrial canals, the Grand Canal is unique for its 'Palazzi-on-water' architecture, where the foundations of buildings are made of thousands of waterproofed wooden piles driven deep into the mud. Because of the city's unique geography, there are only four bridges that span the Grand Canal, the most famous being the Rialto Bridge. Public transport is provided by water buses (vaporetti) and private water taxis, while the iconic gondolas are now primarily used by tourists.