The Grand Canal and the Basilica di Santa Maria della Salute of Venice, Italy. The Grand Canal is a channel in Venice, Italy. It forms one of the major water-traffic corridors in the city. The Grand Canal of Venice, also known as Canalazzo, is the most important waterway sweeping through this amazing city.

While the ancient canal measures 3.8 kilometers long, it snakes through Venice in a large S shape and splits the city in two. Starting from the Saint Mark’s Basin to a lagoon near the Santa Lucia railway station, the grand canal passes through the central districts of Venice with many magnificent buildings (erected between the 12th and 17th centuries) testifying the wealth and beauty of the city.

Santa Maria della Salute, commonly known simply as the Salute, is a Roman Catholic church and minor basilica located at Punta della Dogana in the Dorsoduro sestiere of the city of Venice, Italy. It is one of the most popular churches in Venice. It is prominently positioned near the entrance to the Grand Canal. IMB Photo