The island of the sun and the lagoon
On an island between the Adriatic Sea and a vast lagoon, connected to the mainland by a long causeway, Grado is one of the most charming seaside towns of the northern Adriatic, called the "Isola del Sole", the island of the sun. Its history dates back to Roman times, when it was the port of Aquileia, and in the fifth and sixth centuries it became a refuge for the inhabitants of Aquileia fleeing the barbarian invasions and the seat of the patriarchs, so much so that it is considered the "mother of Venice". At the end of the nineteenth century, under Austrian rule, it became a fashionable seaside resort of the Habsburg Empire, frequented by the Viennese aristocracy, which gave it an elegant Mitteleuropean atmosphere.
The heart of Grado is the old town, the "Castrum", a maze of narrow lanes, small squares and fishermen's houses, where the Basilica of Sant'Eufemia, consecrated in 579, stands with a mosaic floor of the sixth century, together with the octagonal baptistery and the church of Santa Maria delle Grazie, among the oldest Christian monuments in the region. Along the sea there are long beaches of fine sand, shallow and safe, ideal for families, and the thermal spa. The lagoon of Grado, with its islets, canals and the "casoni", the traditional fishermen's huts with thatched roofs, can be explored by boat; on the island of Barbana, there is an ancient sanctuary, destination of the "Perdon de Barbana", a pilgrimage by boat in July. The typical dish is the "boreto a la graisana", a fish stew with vinegar and pepper.
Tip: take a boat trip in the lagoon to the island of Barbana; taste the boreto in a trattoria in the old town.
Where it is
More things to see in Friuli Venezia Giulia
Where to stay near Grado
Tours and activities nearby
Offers from GetYourGuide. Some links are affiliate links: if you book we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.