grado - Turismo FVG

The town centre
HOW AND WHERE
02 The Basilica of Sant’Eufemia, the Baptistery and the Lapidarium
Tourist map and guide to the city, beaches, lagoon,
Regional Reserves of the Cavanata Valley and Isonzo River Mouth
GRADO
Grado, the
Sunny Island
Calli, fishermen’s stone houses,
churches that are some of the
oldest architectural examples
of Christianity, make up Grado’s
historical centre. The religious
buildings of the “old town” amaze
visitors due to their austerity and
simplicity (typical of the architecture of the early Middle Ages),
but after a quick look the precious treasures reveal themselves:
arches, Greek and Celtic marble
columns surmounted by beautiful
capitals, wonderful mosaics, an
alternation of architectural styles
that are blended and tell of the history of Grado. Visiting the churches
of Grado one has the impression
of entering its history, going back
through the centuries. Walking in
the town centre, one plunges into
tradition and history. Rhythms are
slow, the old town belongs to pe-
The town
centre
The beach
A THOUSAND-YEAR CITY
WITH AN INNOVATIVE BEACH
FROM ROMAN PORT
TO MOTHER OF VENICE
A THRILLING DESTINATION
destrians and provides enchanting
views: small squares that recall
the Venetian campielli (Grado is the
daughter of Aquileia and the mother of Venice), small flights of steps,
wonderful balconies, chimney pots
that stand out of the red roofs,
chimney flues with peculiar architectural designs, small arches
that stretch between the houses,
the voices of people that resound
with the gentle singsong of the
“graisàn”, the local dialect. In the
ancient Castrum the food and wine
tradition is extremely rich: here
you will find many restaurants,
pizzerias, inns where you will have
the chance to taste the specialities of the local cooking, obviously
based on seafood. The typical dish
from Grado is the “boreto”, based
on fish: turbot, grey mullet, scorpion fish, eel and other types of fish
to which one adds garlic and plenty
of black pepper. The Lungomare
(seafront) Nazario Sauro stretches
from the main beach to the free
beach, called Costa Azzurra, and
offers the opportunity to enjoy a
relaxing walk at the seaside. But
it is also a way of discovering one
of the quietest places of the town,
where still today fishermen love
to stop to tell one another their
adventures at sea. In the distance
one can see the Karst, Trieste and
the Istrian Coast. In order to discover the more recent areas, built
thanks to the tourism boom in the
1960s-1980s, you will just have to
ride a bicycle. By bike you will be
able to visit the Schiusa Island,
travel along the avenues of Città
Giardino and reach Grado Pineta,
a quiet residential neighbourhood
immersed in a green area.
lent quality of the sand and the
high salinity of the water, are elements that are favourably combined with the environment and
the nature of the Island and have
always been the peculiarities of
the Island of Grado.
tourist destination that provides
great emotions and many-sided
holidays. The Island, in fact, has
a microclimate unique of its kind,
where nature and man have been
able to integrate totally. There are
no industrial plants nearby, temperatures are always pleasant,
mild in winter and not too hot in
summer. The pure air with a high
salt and iodine content, the excel-
The feather in the cap of this seaside resort are its beaches, the
only sandy shores in the High
Adriatic Sea that are completely
facing south, on which for years
now there has been the Blue Flag.
Here, history, tradition, sea, nature and food and wine excellence
make the Golden Island, called in
this way owing to its fine calcareous sand kissed by the sun, a
The Castrum
The history of Grado is linked to
two famous cities: Aquileia and
Venice.
Grado was the port of access to the
sea for the Roman trading centre
of Aquileia, its refuge and, finally,
its main antagonist. It was the
“mother” of Venice from the historical and religious point of view
(it transferred to it the patriarchal
title). During the 5th and 6th centuries A.D., due to the recurring Barbarian raids and to the perils from
the sea, Grado was transformed
into a fortress: known as the Castrum gradense.
Here the Bishops of Aquileia found
shelter and commanded to build
magnificent churches. Today the
remains of the fortifications are
still visible, with part of the foundation surfacing in the Main Square.
The Late Roman city planning system is still visible in the calli (narrow streets) of the old town and in
its topography.
In Campo dei Patriarchi one can
admire the wonderful early Christian buildings: the Basilicas dedicated to Santa Maria delle Grazie
and to Sant’Eufemia, the Baptistery and the Lapidarium.
tening font (that, according to the
style of Aquileia, is hexagonal in
shape), whereas on the altar frontal there is a slab with a cross and
some birds bearing the monogram
of Bishop Probino (569-571). The
Lapidarium, where many sculpture
fragments and epigraphs found
during the excavations in Grado are
displayed and preserved, is behind
the Basilica. The finds date back to
the early Christian and high medieval period (4th-9th cent.), but there
are also important finds of classical Roman sculpture, such as the
wonderful sarcophagus fronts (beginning of the 3rd century) and the
portrait of a magistrate on stone
(beginning of the 4th century).
03 Piazza Biagio Marin
Dedicated to the great poet Biagio Marin (1891-1985), this large
square is the centre of the town
life. It is overlooked by the Town
Hall and the Hotel Fonzari (one
of the oldest hotels of the town).
Here one can admire the remains
of an imposing Basilica, built in
different stages (4th century - 6th
century A.D.) and whose inner
apses, naves and precious mosaics are still visible.
01 The Basilica of Santa Maria delle Grazie
A beautiful example of early Christian architecture: it is the oldest church in the town of Grado,
standing next to Sant’Eufemia.
The first plan dates back to the
4th century and, for its planimetric
and architectural singularity (with
inner apse), was inspired by the
Syriac models. Re-built at the end
of the 6th century, today the floor
mosaics arranged on two levels
harmonic colonnades and the elegant geometries of the enchanting
mosaic floor. The original Romanesque ambo with a Moorish small
dome, the Venetian silvery Frontal
and the Gothic fresco with Christ
in Glory, situated in the apse, are
extremely precious. Walking along
a paved path, one reaches the
Baptistery adorned on the right
side with some epigraphs recovered from the sea, and on the left
one with three sarcophagi of the
2nd - 3rd century A.D., found under
the town in 1860. This octagonal
and austere building dates back to
the second half of the 6th century
A.D. It preserves some parts of the
ancient mosaic floor, the Chris-
For more than eight centuries the
Basilica of Sant’Eufemia has been
the cathedral of a patriarchate that
Venice inherited (together with
the cult of Mark the Evangelist),
from Aquileia. From the architectural point of view, this pearl of
the early Christian art, wonderfully preserved, was consecrated
in 579 by Patriarch Elia. The Basilica, once preceded by a narthex,
has on its side the imposing bell
tower (42 metres high), with the
statue of San Michele Arcangelo
(Saint Michel) on its top. It is a wind
vane statue, gift of the Serenissima Republic of Venice, that has
become the symbol of the town.
The interior is characterised by the
are evidence of its two building
phases, and inside one can admire
some sculptures made between
the 6th and the 9th centuries.
AUSTRIA
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INFOPOINT TURISMOFVG di Grado
viale Dante, 66 - 34073 Grado (GO)
tel +39 0431 877111 - fax +39 0431 83509
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TOURIST INFORMATION
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Design and Creation: Five Zone Udine _ Cartography: Immaginarea _ Printed by: Ellerani - San Vito al Tagliamento _ Texts by Infopoint Grado
Translation by: D’Agostini Organizzazione Dip. linguistico Dagoservice _Photos: Archivio Turismo FVG, Aiat Grado, G. Baronchelli (per GIT), N. Brollo, A. Castiglioni, Ecoplane, N. Gaddi, L. Tessaro, M. Zambelli.
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BY TRAIN
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P AT RIM
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Prehistoric Pile dwellings
around the Alps
inscribed on the World
Heritage List in 2011
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United Nations
Educational, Scientific and
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PATRIM
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Longobards in Italy.
Places of the power (568-774 A.D.)
inscribed on the World
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N
NDIAL •
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PA
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The Dolomites
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W O RLD H
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Scuola Vela
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Noleggio Na
NIO MUN
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PATRIM
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NIO MUN
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WORLD H
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WORLD H
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Archaeological Area and
the Patriarchal Basilica of Aquileia
inscribed on the World
Heritage List in 1998
- Cividale del Friuli -
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- Dolomiti Friulane -
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- Aquileia -
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SLOVENIA
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CENTRO STORICO
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Carburante
Natanti
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Ma ia zzin
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piazza
B. Marin
Co r te
d e l l a
Scavi
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Vi a
Calle Marchesan
C.po SS. Ermacora
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via Romana
Aquileia
Udine
Austria
via Grammaticopulo
Vi a
Calle Burchio
M a re
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Am i c i s
D e
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Androna
d e l l e
Vi a
Testata
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via F. Petrarca
P r o v v e d i t o r i
Iso l a
di
Grado
G r a d e n i g o
Auditorium
S. Rocco
Campo
Calle
Tognon
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via Orseol
XX Pia
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S c u o l e
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03
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TRIESTE
Via Corta
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GRADO
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Piazzale
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Santuario
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Cam
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Pista
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via V
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Santa
Eufemia
Aquileia
Piccola
A4
P i a z z a
D u c a
Calle
Toso
L u n g a
Battistero
Aeroporto FVG
Ronchi dei Legionari
C a l l e
L u n g a
C.llo
Porta
Grande
Androne
iesa
della Ch
A4
C a l l e
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Call atto
Corb
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Calle Porta
Italia
Palmanova GORIZIA
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C.llo zzo
Tonega
Calle
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via March
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Calle ssi
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Deg
del Forno
C.llo
della
Torre
Campoova
Porta Nu
Calleolto
V
del
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SLOVENIA
PORDENONE
TREVISO
via Buona
rro
Regione
Friuli Venezia Giulia
UDINE
A28
Distretto
Sanitario
Callean
Mar
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n i n
Z a
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Camce
ta
S. Ni
Cividale
del Friuli
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Ca che
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Palù di Livenza
Europa
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Pia d’Itali
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Call ferà
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San Daniele
Piancavallo
del Friuli
Spilimbergo
SLOVENIA
Via Fium
e
M a r i n a
V i a
Gall.
S. Lucia
Gemona
del Friuli
S.R. 352
Dolomiti Friulane
Porto
Mandracchio
Piazza
Oberd
an
A23
Tolmezzo
USEFUL NUMBERS
04
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Tarvisio
v i a
Arta Terme
v i a
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TA
IA PINE
SPIAGG
Out of hours medical
service
tel +39 0431 897905
Out of hours medical
service (tourist)
tel +39 0431 897906
Hospital S. Polo
(Monfalcone)
tel +39 0481 4871
Chemist’s shop
Madonna di Barbana
via Marina, 1
tel +39 0431 80058
Chemist’s shop
via Cristoforo Colombo, 14
tel +39 0431 80895
Fontana
Comune
di Grado
Post office
via Caprin, 23
tel +39 0431 896511
viale Italia, 17
tel +39 0431 80224
FVG congress palace
viale Italia, 2
tel +39 0431 82741
Library “Falco Marin”
via Leonardo da Vinci
tel +39 0431 82630
Concert hall “Biagio Marin”
via Marchesini, 49
tel +39 0431 82630-85834
Grado SPA centre
via Vespucci
tel +39 0431 899309
Grado SPA
indoor swimming pool
via Vespucci
tel +39 0431 899256
Fitness tel +39 0431 899298
Beauty Centre
tel +39 0431 899296
SPA water park
viale del Sole
tel +39 0431 899350
Grado indoor stadium
piazzale Azzurri d’Italia
tel +39 0431 81888
Grado Golf Club
via Monfalcone, 27
tel +39 0431 896896
Società Navigazione
Motoscafisti Gradesi
(motorship to the
Island of Barbana)
Riva S. Scaramuzza
tel +39 0431 80115
Parish Church
of Sant’Eufemia
via Marina, 34
tel +39 0431 80146
Sanctuary Barbana Island
tel +39 0431 80453
The Regional Reserve
of the Isonzo River Mouth
Visitor Center:
Isola della Cona
tel +39 0432 998133
The Regional Reserve
of the Cavanata Valley
Visitor Center:
tel +39 0431 88272
Town hall
piazza Biagio Marin, 4
tel +39 898111
FVG Airport
via Aquileia, 46
Ronchi dei Legionari
tel +39 0481 773224 (info)
Public relation
tourist office
piazza Biagio Marin, 4
tel +39 0431 898212-224-239
Info Point TurismoFVG Airport
via Aquileia, 46
Ronchi dei Legionari
tel +39 0481 476079
CAMPSITES IN GRADO AND SURROUNDINGS
Welcome to Grado
BEACHES, RELAXATION, SUN, HISTORY AND CULTURE
Grado is a historic seaside resort that combines the vestiges of the Roman and medieval worlds, the charm
of the Habsburg atmosphere and the comforts and the efficiency of a modern tourist resort. Walking along
the streets of the Golden Island one can discover the modern and the historical sides of the town.
The town centre was built in correspondence of the ancient Roman Castrum and is a charming world
of its own where time seems to have stopped. The charm of Grado is many-sided and allows visitors to
discover and fully experience it, discovering the picturesque fishermen’s town, the beaches provided with
many services and entertainment facilities, the important old town centre, relaxing at the sea spa centre
or at the modern wellness centre, sailing to the discovery of the lagoon looking for unexpected emotions,
a muffled world, at times almost unreal, where the fishermen’s boats glide by on the shining water from
which stretches of sand and islands emerge and where, here and there, one can see the casoni (typical
fishermen’s huts). All these aspects are harmoniously combined in Grado, welcoming guests for “unique”,
pleasant and exclusive holidays.
Barbana,
the sanctuary
and tradition
The port
THE IDEAL LINK BETWEEN
THE PAST AND THE PRESENT
04 The Marian Sanctuary “Santa Maria di Barbana”
In the heart of the lagoon we find the Barbana Island,
clearly visible arriving from the Aquileia-Grado translagoon road that links the seaside town to the dry
land. Today the Sanctuary is occupied by the Franciscans. According to tradition in the 6th century a primitive chapel was built here to preserve a holy image of
the Virgin transported by the sea.
The Sanctuary, in its current form, dates back to the
restoration work of 1926. Its high bell tower is a point
of reference of the lagoon of Grado; from the Schiusa
Canal with a short boat trip you can easily reach this
green island, which is a convent, a pilgrimage destination, an oasis of peace, of memories and of ancient
traditions.
Il Perdòn de Barbana
Since 1237, every first Sunday of July, the community
of Grado goes in procession, on boats dressed with
flags, to the Barbana Island, to renew the ancient
vow to the Virgin, that saved the town from the terrible plague epidemic. This ceremony dates back to
centuries ago when the Patriarch of Grado, Leonardo
Querini, summoned the fathers and decided to make
Main beach Git Spa
Town centre
Piazza Duca d’Aosta
Water Spa Park
Church of Sant’Eufemia
Grado, “Laguna Golosa”
a vow to the Madonna of Barbana. According to this
vow, every year and perpetually, at least one person
from each family of Grado is to take part in the pilgrimage, across the lagoon to reach the small island,
to ask the Madonna of Barbana for forgiveness (the
Perdon).
The port extends behind the town centre and is the
ideal connection between the past and the present of
a community that has always lived on fishing. Built in
the shape of an upturned Y, starting from the Mandracchio (a sheltered area used as a wet dock for
small boats) commissioned by the Austrians (who arrived in Grado in 1815), it is one of the most important
public works on the Island. It is here that the fishermen, who leave and arrive from the lagoon and the
sea, carry out their frantic activity and it is here that
the boats, which take to the discovery of the charming
lagoon environment among canals, isles and the typical casoni (fishermen’s huts) leave from.
CAMPING TENUTA PRIMERO ****
via Monfalcone, 14
tel +39 0431 896900 / fax +39 0431 896901
[email protected]
www.tenuta-primero.com
CAMPEGGIO AL BOSCO **
via Strada della Rotta, 4 - località Rotta
tel +39 0431 80485 / fax +39 0431 81008
[email protected]
www.campingalbosco.it
CAMPEGGIO ISOLA PARADISO (°)
Isola Volpera Location Belvedere
tel +39 0431 82061
fax +39 0431 876900
[email protected]
RESIDENCE PUNTA SPIN ****
via Monfalcone 10
tel +39 0431 80732-81780
fax +39 0431 83530
[email protected] / www.puntaspin.it
CA’ LAGUNA ***
Villaggio Turistico - via Monfalcone
tel e fax +39 0431 877145
cell +39 339 7385679
[email protected] / www.calaguna.it
CAMPING AQUILEIA (°)
via Gemina, 1- 33051 Aquileia (UD)
tel +39 0431 91042 / fax +39 0431 30804
[email protected]
www.campingaquileia.it
VILLAGGIO EUROPA ****
via Monfalcone, 12
tel +39 0431 80877 / fax +39 0431 82284
[email protected]
www.villaggioeuropa.com
CAMPING VILLAGE BELVEDERE **** (°)
Location Belvedere
tel +39 0431 91007 / fax +39 0431 918641
[email protected]
www.belvederepineta.it
VILLAGGIO TURISTICO ALBATROS (°)
via Giarrette, 65 - 34074 Marina Julia (GO)
tel +39 0481 40561 / fax +39 0481 40423
[email protected]
www.villaggioalbatros.it
(°) Out of the map facilities
A
TOUR
On the trail
of Biagio Marin
The main
beach
05 G.I.T. Grado Impianti Turistici Spa
Nearly two kilometres long, the
Main Beach of Grado offers various equipped areas: from the exclusive zone to the sports area,
from the area for mums and children to the free area. Every sector
provides its guests with special
services. Beach huts and umbrellas, children games, restaurants,
bars, buffets, are situated along
the whole shore to suit everyone’s
taste. Great entertainment is provided on the beach: stretching,
Pilates, yoga, aquagym, Nia, Nordic walking, baby and mini clubs,
shows for children, events and
happy hours. Water Park: It is on
the Main Beach, surrounded by
greenery. Large seawater swimming pool, hydromassage pools
and waterfall jets to tone up one’s
body, springboards, water slides,
children games and a bar with
“underwater” seats to sip one’s
favourite drink remaining in water.
Sand bathing: “Psammatotherapy”
or sand bathing is the oldest treatment of Grado’s Thalassotherapy
Institute. This procedure is applied
in the prevention of arthroses, in
the treatment of post-traumatic
pathologies (car accidents, sports
traumas), in the outcomes of juvenile rheumatism, in some stages of
rheumatoid arthritis and rheumatisms. It is carried out in the summer months, usually from midJune to the end of August.
Info:
G.I.T. Grado Impianti Turistici viale Dante Alighieri, 72
34073 Grado (GO)
tel +39 0431 899111
fax +39 0431 899278
[email protected] www.gradoit.it
There is no place in Grado where the name of the poet Biagio Marin is not evoked. His lines resound in
the calli of the old town: in the house where he was born in 1891, which stands near Santa Maria delle
Grazie, or in the house where he died in 1985, which faces the sea, an element that inspired his poetry
The tour starts from the poet’s
birth house in “Androna della
Chiesa”. The tour continues towards the sea to the poet’s house,
at 43 Via Marchesini. The Town Library, next to the house, is dedicated to his only son, Falco, who
died in war in 1943: it preserves
the rich Fondo Marin (Marin Fund),
the seat of the Centro Studi Mariniani (Marin Study Centre). The
town Auditorium, a multi-purpose
cultural and theatre centre, and
the main square of Grado, Piazza
Biagio Marin, are named after him.
A monument to the poet, has been
erected for the centenary of his
birth in the “Parco delle Rose”.
This park was designed by the poet
himself when he was the director
of the former Tourism Board. The
grave of the poet and of his wife
Pina Marini is in the graveyard in
Viale Argine dei Moreri (not far
from the Chapel on the right).
B
The Regional
Reserve of
the Cavanata
Valley
The lagoon
of Grado
The lagoon extends over an area of
nearly 90 square km on a front of
about 17 km, which from the Island
of Anfora-Porto Buso ends in the
Isonzato canal near the agricultural area of Fossalon. To the west
it joins the lagoon of Marano (the
oldest in the region), which shows
a different landscape. The lagoon
of Grado is rich in islands (over a
hundred) hardly protected from the
sea dangers. Here you will see the
casoni, the fishermen’s huts built
with mud and marsh reeds, interwoven according to a very ancient
technique. One can sail trough the
shallow waters of the lagoon on
the “batele”, typical wooden rowing boats with a flat bottom, on
canoes and sailing boats. The long
road that links Grado to the dry
land and that divides the lagoon
into two parts (Eastern and Western), offering an amazing view of
the beautiful landscape around
the Golden Island, is extremely
charming. The lagoon is the enchanting natural setting where
Grado was born, it represents its
essence, its light. On the blooming islets, by canals and brooks
nature displays an ever-changing
of colour to witness the change of
season and the passing of time.
History too has left here its traces:
ancient seaways, landing places,
signs of a life of hard work and of
a strong faith that dates back to
early Christianity and that has its
element of continuity on the Bar-
bana Island, one of the oldest Marian sanctuaries in Italy. The most
famous islet or Mota, called Safòn,
was chosen by the famous film director Pier Paolo Pasolini to film
in the lagoon some scenes of the
film Medea, with Maria Callas as
the main actress.
C
The reserve: It is in the most western part of the lagoon. In the past
the area near the agricultural hamlet of Fossalon was used as a “fish
farm”. The presence of many environments in the reserve between
the sea and the dry land (lagoon,
beach, wood, field, fish farm, pond)
makes it an ideal area for many bird
species to stop, nest and spend the
winter: nearly 300 species have
been identified. The Reserve of the
Cavanata Valley has been declared
a wetland of international value, according to the Ramsar Convention,
and is part of the network Natura
2000 as a Site of Community Importance (S.C.I.) and a Special Protection Area (S.P.A.). As a fish farm
abandoned decades ago, the reserve has taken the appearance of a
typical lagoon area and the natural
management mainly aims at safeguarding the vegetal and animal
species present. During the year
various species of migratory birds
find here the suitable environment
for nesting, wintering and feeding.
Some short routes to be covered on
foot, by bicycle or accompanied by a
nature guide, have been created in
full respect of nature.
The Regional
Reserve
of the Isonzo
River Mouth
The fish farm: most of the reserve
is made up of fish farms, a series
of expanses of water and canals,
interrupted by sandy areas periodically flooded by water (called
velme) and by islets (the shoals).
Like all fish farms, originated by
shallow lagoon areas, they are embanked and hydraulically isolated
by means of adjustable weirs that
keep inside an optimal level of water for hunting and fishing. When
the reserve was set up in 1996, the
Cavanata Valley has no longer been
exploited for fish farming and by
means of a different management
of the water levels it has become a
habitat of international importance
for the avifauna of the wetlands.
The “Lavoriero”: visiting the reserve, one can see the main aspects of the old fish farming activity, such as the management of the
water levels, the intensive farming
pools, the adjustable weirs and
the typical structure of the lavoriero, originally made up of trellis of
marsh reeds used to capture the
farmed fish.
Camargue Horses
Some Camargue horses, suitable
to live wetlands beacause of their
physical conformation, have been
brought here sone ago.
Some of them have been tamed to
be ridden by the Reserve Staff during the guided tours, as others still
live untamed in the wilderness.
The mouth
At the end of the river bank there
is an imposing bank of sand and
gravel that stretches in a semicircle towards the open sea.
This is a continuously evolving environment, owing to the continuous accumulation of sediments,
to the shaping force of the waves,
scattered with islets that emerge
from the water and that are shelters for the avifauna.
Here, you will see many seagulls,
cormorants, the sandwich tern
and the wonderful oystercatcher,
with its colourful plumage, as well
as many other species.
Boat
trips
The woods
Towards the Eastern part of the
Reserve there is a short sandy
stretch. It is what remains of poplar an old, small wood called “degli Alberoni”.
This part of the Reserve is a paradise for hikers and for those who
travel by bicycle. Following the
“Rivalunga” stretch on one side
one can admire the wide setting of
the Panzano Bay, on the other side
a large Pinewood.
To the north there are other small
woods with poplars, willows and
English oaks, a unique natural environment.
From Grado to Aquileia
From the Cavanata Valley to Monfalcone
This is a stretch of coast where
nature is sovereign and where
there are two enchanting nature
reserves. The tour starts from the
Cavanata Valley, situated in the
most eastern part of the lagoon
of Grado: the route is characterised by an alternation of shoals
and small shores, places where
the waterfowl finds the ideal conditions for stopping and nesting.
From here, through adjustable
weirs and a thick network of canals and streams, one is back to
the open sea again. Continuing
towards the reserve of the Isonzo
river mouth, one will enjoy amazing views of the Gulf of Trieste.
At some point the coast narrows
northwards, as if it wanted to enter the dry land, and it is here that
Monfalcone lies. It is also possible to sail along the Litoranea
Veneta to go up part of the Isonzo
river and moor in the “Caneo” area
where, thanks to the network of
cycle tracks, one can enjoy amazing natural views.
Cantiere Nautico Fratelli Deltin
via Pigafetta, 4 - tel +39 0431 80307
Darsena Navigare 2000
riva Garibaldi - tel +39 0431 83846
Piccola Darsena riva Garibaldi, 13
tel +39 0431 85882
Centro Nautico Raugna
riva Garibaldi, 22 - tel +39 0431 80181
Marina Tenuta Primero, loc. Rotta
Primero - tel +39 0431 896966
Porto San Vito riva G. da Verazzano
tel +39 0431 83600
Darsena San Marco
Testata Mosconi
tel +39 0431 81548
Motonautica Gradese
riva Garibaldi, 25
tel +39 0431 80098
Servizio Nautico Canal Grande
via dello Squero
tel +39 0431 80840
From Grado to Aquileia a thick
“network” of islets anticipates
the beauty of the lagoon of Grado.
These are places shaped by the
tides, by the winds, where shades
of colours, plays of light and uncontaminated, sometimes wild,
nature, allow to have an amazing
experience. Exploring the lagoon
of Grado means entering a natural universe made up of a network
of canals, brooks among small
islands with rich vegetation and
where one can discover the precious traces left by history.
The Tursub (underwater tourism) project allows to dive and to
discover the underwater world
of Grado through four itineraries
with different levels of difficulty.
The proposed dives are: “Pietre
di Sant’Agata and San Gottardo”,
“ZMP di Primero”, “Grebeno di
San Pietro” and “B24”. South-west
of the Island of Grado, nearby the
archaeological remains of San
Gottardo and Sant’Agata, lives the
“Posidonia oceanica”, evidence
of the old grassland in the Gulf
of Trieste. The Posidonia, named
after Poseidon, is not a seaweed
but a plant with roots (rhizomes),
leaves, flowers and fruits. Its rhi-
zomes grow forming, with the
sediment captured by the leaves,
some underwater terraces, called
“mattes”, having a height of even
several centimetres. It can grow at
variable depths from one metre to
30-35 metres and it is an ideal environment for the life of many organisms. The first to settle are the
bacteria, followed by diatoms and
macroalgae, protozoa, hydrozoa,
polychaeta and bryozoa. The habitat is completed by the presence
of many other animal and vegetal
species that find shelter and food
among the leaves. The importance
of the presence of this phanerogam is determined by its ecologi-
cal requirements: it is a plant that
grows and develops only where the
water has certain chemical and
physical characteristics, among
which low suspensions and organic loading rate, lack of chemical
pollutants, therefore a synonym of
clean waters. It is an increasingly
rare species, threatened by pollution, by the overbuilding of shores,
by trawl nets and by berths.
Info: www.tursub.eu
Marinas and Boatyards in Grado
Bicycle tours to discover of Grado
On the road of amber
Departure:
Infopoint TurismoFVG - Parco delle Rose - Grado
Length of the tour: 36.610 km
Type of ground: cycle track, asphalt roads
with little traffic, cartroad.
Interesting places crossed:
Regional Nature Reserve of the Cavanata Valley - Aquileia – Canal of Belvedere on the lagoon of Grado.
TOUR
Bicycle tours
to discover
of Grado
The tour in short:
This panoramic route crosses areas of great natural
and historical interest; at the beginning it winds at
the edge of the lagoon area, then across Friuli’s plain
among old churches, rural villages and cultivated
areas (above all peaches). It leads to the charms of
Aquileia, an important Roman river port and a crossroads of trade exchanges on the road of amber, along
which once traders and caravans travelled, getting to
the Adriatic Sea from the Baltic Sea.
Grado is provided with a well-structured system of cycle tracks, along which it is possible to travel
with the most common city bikes and mountain bikes, which allow to discover the lagoon areas and the
most charming locations near Grado with their landscapes, artistic and archaeological peculiarities
Between the lagoon and the sea
Departure:
Infopoint TurismoFVG - Parco delle Rose - Grado
Length of the tour: 33.300 km
Type of ground: cycle track, asphalt roads
with little traffic, cartroad.
Interesting places crossed:
Regional Nature Reserve of the Cavanata Valley Punta Sdobba “Caneo” - Regional Nature Reserve of
the Isonzo River Mouth.
The protected area has its main
land centre in Cona, in the Municipality of Staranzano.
The so-called “Cona Island” featuring several facilities for its visitors, is surrounded by the sea, by
the Isonzo river and by the Quarantia canal.
Today it is linked to the dry land
by a dam. In the recent past the
island was subjected to partial
works of draining and reclamation and it was used as a pasture
and then for farming. The sea part
only, periodically flooded by the
tides, is very marshy and has not
been transformed.
This has allowed to start a series
of initiatives of environmental protection: since 1983 a reclaimed
area for farming has been recreated (today called “Il Ripristino), a
marsh area that partly dries up in
the periods of drought.
The Reserve covers an area of
about 2400 hectares, situated
along the last 15 km of the course
of the Isonzo river.
The territory of the Reserve is in
the municipalities of Staranzano,
San Canzian d’Isonzo, Grado and
Fiumicello.
Into the blue
sea “The
Underwater
World”
TOUR
The tour in short:
A charming tour full of beautiful views in areas particularly rich in natural attractions near the coast
characterised by shallow waters, winding canals and
shoals. An enchanting tour between the land and the
lagoon leads to the discovery of the protected areas
of the Regional Nature Reserve of the Cavanata Valley and of the Regional Nature Reserve of the Isonzo
River Mouth.
Castles, villas and sundials
Departure:
Infopoint TurismoFVG - Parco delle Rose - Grado.
Length of the tour: 68.900 km.
Type of ground: cycle track, asphalt roads
with little traffic, cartroad.
Interesting places crossed:
Canal of Belvedere on the lagoon of Grado - San
Lorenzo - Fiumicello - San Nicolò - Aiello del Friuli Borgo Novacco - Strassoldo - Aquileia.
The tour in short:
A thrilling tour through charming lands of great
cultural and historical interest. The tour follows a
pleasant route characterised by the peacefulness of
Friuli’s plain and enchanting rural landscapes among
orchards, vineyards and resurgence areas; it follows
the traces of a glorious past among medieval atmospheres, rural villages, towers, old mills and aristocratic villas of different architectural styles.
For information, guided and package tours
Consorzio Grado Turismo
viale Dante, 72
34070 Grado (GO)
tel +39 0431 80383
[email protected]
Grado
Golf Club
Grado’s
cuisine
In the maze of calli (narrow streets)
and campielli (small squares) of
the old town centre there are many
restaurants and trattorie that, in
the shadow of their pergolas, propose the best of local cooking. A
culinary tradition handed down the
generations in which seafood is
the main ingredient. The most typical dish from Grado is the “boreto”, that is to say a Grado-style fish
soup. It is a sort of peculiar, let’s
say unique, tasty fish soup that,
not considering its modern variants, was born as a simple dish of
the fishermen’s cooking, seasoned
with salt, pepper, vinegar and garlic. The original Boreto is based on
several kinds of fish. Today, however, it can also be made with only
one kind of fish and it is included
in the menus of all restaurants
and trattorie. The “boreto nato a
cason” (boreto born in the fishermen’s huts) is a plain dish that, according to most of the chefs on the
island, when served, does not need
any garnish, it is only accompanied
by white polenta. Between April
and November are place many
food festivals dedicated to the
fish products and to the precious
The thermal
baths
ONE OF THE MOST BEAUTIFUL
GREENS IN THE REGION
vegetables of Grado’s hinterland
coming from the hamlets of Fossalon and Boscat: “Asparagus in
the lagoon”, where the sea meets
the land (the white asparagus from
Fossalon), the “Week cuttlefish”,
the “Sardine Festival” and the “Boreto a la Graisana”. But the famous
boreto is not the only typical dish
of the lagoon cooking. There are
also the “sievuli soto sal”, that is
to say salted grey mullets, pressed
with a weight, as one does with
anchovies and with the “sarduni
in savor”: floured and fried sardines arranged in layers in a pan.
Between one layer and the other,
a hot marinade with the cooking
oil, chopped onions, garlic, laurel,
black pepper and plenty of white
vinegar. Before eating them, they
are left to flavour for a couple of
days. A delicious starter is the
boiled “canoce” (mantis shrimps),
seasoned with oil and lemon juice,
whereas the “moleche”, crabs
fished during the moult, (without
shell) and then fried. Don’t miss
the “pasta with zottoli” (little cuttlefish) and the “zuppa di gò” (a
soup made with goby, a typical lagoon fish).
06 Grado Golf Club
The course, equipped with 18
holes plus 9 executive holes for
non-expert players, overlooks the
lagoon of Grado and extends over
60 hectares, among reed thickets
that are the ideal natural habitat of
herons, wild swans, flamingos and
other species of lagoon birds. The
Golf Club Tenuta Primero also provides important facilities, such as
a marina with over two-hundred
moorings and an elegant restaurant. One will be impressed by the
07 Grado Sea Spa
wideness of the greens, often protected by water obstacles and very
large and deep bunkers, which
make the game harder. At the secretary’s office of the Golf Club one
will find a rich pro-shop, and in
the club house there is the famous
“Casone” restaurant. The ten
suites of the Port with view over
the wonderful Marina of Primero
have recently been made available
to guests.
Info:
via Monfalcone, 24
34073 Grado (GO)
tel +39 0431 896896
[email protected]
www.golfgrado.it
Grado is internationally renowned
for its thalassotherapy treatments. Wellness in Grado is based
on three essential elements: sun,
sand, sea. To tone up your body
and relax your mind, you will just
have to plunge into the sea water
of the large indoor swimming pool,
open all year round, or experience
a beneficial massage, sauna or
steam bath. The thermal baths
provide solutions place to reinvigorate your body, mind and spirit.
The benefits of thalassotherapy
are combined with a unique environment for a holiday characterized by wellbeing. The history
of the Sea Spa officially begins in
June of 1892 and is linked to the
climate of the Sunny Island. During the Austro-Hungarian rule
an imperial edict elected Grado
as the favourite destination for
the nobles’ health holidays as a
healing and holiday resort. The
healing characteristics are related to the particular exposure
of the beach, which faces south,
and to the gentle way in which it
slopes into the water. But also to
the pureness of water, carefully
monitored to counteract chemical and organic pollution, to the
important percentage of salt determined by the distance of river
mouths, to the pure air and to the
peculiar microclimate that, thanks
to the rich vegetation behind the
shore, provides a balmy sea air.
All these natural characteristics
are the essential elements for the
healing properties provided by
the Island of Grado. Sand bathing
expresses its healing potentials
through the natural elements and
the sea climate. In the 1930s the
renown of the marine treatments
exploded and afterwards, with the
economic boom, Grado became
a well-known therapeutic centre
frequented by great Italian and international sports champions.
Today, the Grado Spa Centre promotes a programme that combines
the benefits of a sunny seaside
resort and of an uncontaminated
lagoon with a healing and beauty
treatment with four lines of specific products dedicated to wellbeing.
Info:
Terme Marine di Grado
viale Dante Alighieri, 72
34073 Grado (GO)
tel +39 0431 899111
fax +39 0431 899278
[email protected]
www.gradoit.it