The Grand Canal in the city of Venice in northern Italy. View from under the Ponte dell Accademia near Palazzo Cavalli-Franchetti, in the distance the domes of Santa Maria della Salute. The Grand Canal is the main water-traffic corridor in the city. Public transport is provided by water buses (vaporetti), private water taxis, and many tourists explore the canal by gondola. It is 3.8 km long.