Grado
The island of the sun in Friuli Venezia Giulia
Overview
The town of Grado is located in the Upper Adriatic Sea, in the lagoon of the same name, a nature oasis abutting the two nature reserves of Valle Cavanata and Foce dell’Isonzo. Sunshine Island, so named because its beaches face south and are never shaded, is a place renowned for its marine spa and thalasso and heliotherapy treatments. Grado, in addition to its natural beauty, is famous for its cultural and historical richness. In fact, the town is 1,600 years old and was the seat of the Patriarchate of Aquileia. Even today one can admire the remains of the fortified castrum and period buildings and observe archaeological excavations in the city center.
Why visit
01.
Beaches
Since the nineteenth century, Habsburg nobility used to spend their bathing vacations in Grado attracted by the golden beaches and salubrious environment. Today you can enjoy these benefits at its 4 beaches: Blue Coast, main GIT beach, Garden City and Grado Pineta.
02.
Historical center
Grado is called “daughter of Aquileia” and “mother of Venice,” as in 568 it became the seat of the patriarchate of Aquileia until 1451, when Venice took over. The history of Grado’s ecclesiastical and political power is witnessed in “Grado Vecchia,” the ancient town center.
03.
Lagoon and natural oasis
Grado’s extraordinary setting is the lagoon, a natural environment that has retained its wild beauty. Extremely impressive is the motorboat ride that allows you to discover the casoni, Banco d’Orio, and Barbana Island.
Grado areas and beaches
OLD TOWN
Grado Vecchia is the historic center of the city, corresponding to the ancient Roman Castrum. The area is developed around the Patriarchs’ Field, where the basilicas of St. Euphemia and St. Mary of Grace can be seen. Together with the octagonal Baptistery, the two buildings are part of the tour itinerary of early Christian Grado. A short distance away is the free-access Costa Azzurra beach, so named for the clarity of its waters.
CITY CENTRE
It is in downtown Grado that most services are concentrated. Starting with the renowned marine spas, bars and restaurants, and entertainment and tourist events. A stroll through the calli reveals stores and boutiques, workshops and artisan ateliers. The beach offers a variety of accommodations, including Sissi Beach, inspired by the seaside resort of the Austro-Hungarian aristocracy in the late 19th century, and houses a water park with an 85-meter saltwater pool.
GRADO PINETA
Pineta is the quietest area of Grado. It is located 3.5 km from the city center, to which it is connected by a beautiful bike path that runs along the waterfront. The beach is interspersed with several kiosks that provide entertainment and is a sought-after destination for kitesurfers.
CITTÀ GIARDINO
Garden City is a residential neighborhood of Grado, distinguished by the presence of a quiet pine forest that in some places reaches down to the beach. This stretch of shoreline has very shallow water, safe for families with children.
Downtown among the calli
Many compare Grado to a small Venice, and not wrongly. The town is characterized by a multitude of narrow calli, streets sandwiched between two continuous rows of buildings, which flow out into wide ones called campielli. Visiting the center means moving through an atmospheric maze of narrow streets and picturesque galleries. The name of each calle and campiello is elegantly engraved on a ceramic tile.
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The history of Grado
The earliest remains found in Grado date from the 1st century B.C., but the city developed from 452 onward, when many people settled there to escape the Hunnic invasion. In 568 Grado became the seat of the Patriarchate of Aquileia, and it was during this period that the city grew in wealth and assumed an important political role. The fortifications of the castrum also date from this period.
With the Treaty of Campoformio in 1797 and until World War I, Grado was annexed to the Austro-Hungarian Empire, becoming one of the most popular seaside resorts for the Austro-Hungarian aristocracy in the late 19th century.
What to see in the historic center
The long history of this locality can be traced through archaeological excavations and buildings from the early Christian period, which can be visited in what is called the “Old Grado.” The Campo dei Patriarchi, the heart of the historic center, is home to the Basilica of St. Euphemia with its bell tower topped by the wind chime with the archangel Michael, the symbol of Grado, the Baptistery and Lapidarium, and the Basilica of St. Mary of Grace.
The Basilica of St. Euphemia
- Open: every day
- Hours: 08/18 winter; 08/19 summer
- Admission: free
In 568, the bishop of Aquileia transferred the seat of the Patriarchate of Aquileia to Grado, giving it a prestigious religious role. To this era dates the construction of the majestic basilica of St. Euphemia, which was consecrated in 579. Today, the splendid interior mosaic decorations can be admired there, including the large floor mosaic, the Golden Altarpiece above the altar, and the statue of Our Lady of the Angels, the protagonist, on the first Sunday of July, of the Feast of the Perdon of Barbana. On this feast day the statue is carried in procession across the lagoon to the shrine at Barbana.
The baptistery
- Open: every day
- Hours: 08/18 winter; 08/19 summer
- Admission: free
The octagonal baptistery connected to the basilica complex dates back to the second half of the 5th century. On the 6th-century floor mosaic is the hexagonal marble baptismal font. A number of large Roman marble sarcophagi from the 2nd and 3rd centuries found in Grado in the 1800s have been placed in the churchyard outside the baptistery.
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The lapidary of the basilica
- Open: every day
- Hours: 08/18 winter; 08/19 summer
- Admission: free
At the back of the apse of the basilica is the Lapidarium, formed by a long portico on which marble decorations, epigraphic and sculptural relics, lintels and capitals can be admired, found mainly thanks to excavations in the area around the Basilica of St. Euphemia and the Church of Santa Maria delle Grazie. The artifacts date from different eras: from the founding of the city, to the Byzantine and medieval periods.
The church of Santa Maria delle Grazie
- Open: every day
- Hours: 08/18 winter; 08/19 summer
- Admission: free
The Basilica of Santa Maria delle Grazie overlooks the Campo dei Patriarchi in the city’s historic center. The church was built in the 6th century on the remains of an earlier basilica dating back to the 5th century. The two stages of construction can be seen inside the building by looking at the floor mosaics, which are arranged on two different levels, the older of which has a gap in depth of about 1 meter.
Biagio Marin Square
Named after the well-known Grado poet, Biagio Marin Square is known for the excavation area that unearthed the remains of the 4th-century Basilica della Corte. Thanks to a series of glass walkways, one can admire the wall structures that bordered the perimeter of the basilica, the mosaic floor with the geometric decorations, and some sarcophagi. In the evening, the whole area is illuminated, making the excavations very atmospheric.
The square is also home to the “House of Music,” which was built close to the ancient walls of the Castrum.
What to eat among restaurants and taverns
Amid the Venetian-featured calli are a multitude of restaurants serving the catch of the day. Tables face the narrow streets, and the effect is pleasant and folkloric. The cuisine is exclusively Italian and offers mainly fish dishes, including “Boreto a la graisana,” a typical Grado soup.
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The seawall on the waterfront
The Nazario Sauro waterfront is a seawall built during the Austro-Hungarian Empire to protect the old town from storm surges. The curvilinear seawall is about 1 km long and ends at the Côte d’Azur beach. It is overlooked by elegant hotels, bars and restaurants that bring the atmosphere back to the splendor of the imperial era.
Grado lagoon: a naturalistic oasis
The Grado Lagoon is an unspoiled natural environment, extremely rich in terms of nature, fauna and fish; an oasis of peace in which the tides alternate rhythmically, giving rise to suggestive phenomena of emersion and submergence of the sandy shoals. The lagoon covers 90 sq. km. and is separated from the Adriatic Sea by a tongue of sand called Banco d’Orio, which can be reached by boat, where the waters are extremely clear.
The underwater environment is fertile and rich in life, thanks to the mixing of water from the Adriatic with fresh water from the Isonzo, but it holds a surprise: a multitude of archaeological finds from the early Christian period unearthed at the ancient Roman road linking Aquileia to Grado, which is now submerged.
HOW TO VISIT IT
The lagoon is dotted with islands and islets that can be reached by motorboat trips. Classic itineraries include a lagoon tour with a stop at the casoni, a visit to the island of Anfora and the village of Porto Buso, a swim in the crystal clear waters of Banco d’Orio, and a visit to the Marian shrine on the island of Barbana. Regular ferry service is also available to Barbana.
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The casoni and the island of Barbana
THE HOUSES
In the Grado lagoon it is very impressive to catch a glimpse of the casoni with their reed roofs on a small island. In the past they were the traditional dwellings of Grad fishermen.
THE ISLAND OF BARBANA
According to legend, the shrine of St. Mary of Barbana was erected in 582, when an image of Our Lady was washed ashore by the waters. Today, the island is inhabited year-round by a community of Benedictine monks and is home to a restaurant open in the spring and summer months. On the first Sunday in July, the island is the destination of the “Perdòn di Barbana,” a striking votive procession of boats carrying the statue of Our Lady of the Angels from the Basilica of St. Euphemia in Grado.
The bicycle path over the lagoon
The town of Grado is the final stage of the Alpe Adria Cycle Route, which starts in Salzburg and, a few kilometers before the finish, passes through the ruins of Aquileia. Very impressive is the passage over the bridge leading to the island, surrounded by the lagoon. On the water, cormorants can be seen diving for fish, and in the distance the island of Barbana can be seen. Stopping for a souvenir photo is a must.
Useful information
HOW TO GET THERE.
The island of Grado is connected to the mainland by the Matteotti Bridge, which is about 100 meters long. For those arriving by train to nearby Cervignano, there are frequent buses and several lines connect Grado with major cities. Grado can also be reached by bicycle via the Alpe Adria Ciclovia and is connected by sea line to Trieste, Lignano Sabbiadoro and Aquileia.
UMBRELLAS AND BEACH OFFICES
Grado has four beaches with umbrella and sunbed rentals available. Three of these beaches are free, while the main GIT beach maintains a custom dating back to the Austro-Hungarian Empire of charging a fee at the entrance. The 2 euro ticket is valid until 5 p.m.; after that you can walk freely along the shoreline. The main beach also features a water park with an 85-meter saltwater pool. Grado is pet friendly, and there are both beaches with free access to dogs and fully equipped establishments.
Check out the latest events on Grado’s official website >
SERVICES
Among the innumerable services of the tourist offer, a few are reported: Grado has the renowned Terme Marine, which offers, in addition to a wellness/relaxation area, advanced thalassotherapy services and thermal cures; the archaeological area and basilicas can be visited free of charge, but it is possible to book a paid guide to retrace the stages of early Christian Grado; the town has several bicycle paths, including one that connects the town center to Grado Pineta, and is the final stop on the Alpe Adria Cycle Route; there are several campsites, all with access to the sea.
PARKING
Free: The nearest parking area in Grado’s pedestrian area is the free parking lot along the Slapater shore. Further away, but still free, is the parking lot at Piazzale Giusti.
Charging: the historic center is interdicted to traffic; all areas in front of the center and the shoreline have paid curbside parking; there are no underground or multi-story parking lots.
OPENING-CLOSING SEASON
Grado is not only a tourist destination, it is inhabited all year round and has all the services for citizens. The bathing opening is between May 1 and September 30.
ANNUAL EVENTS.
Grado holds many events. Among the many are: theArrival of the Varvuole, the sea witches coming from the lagoon, on January 5; the Open Graisana Regatta, in June; the Perdòn di Barbana, the traditional procession of boats on the first Sunday in July to the Barbana Island shrine, preceded by the Sabo Grando, on Big Saturday, an evening of village festivities with music, dancing and performances that continue late into the night; the Summer Carnival, in July; the Sardelada, fish tasting with kiosks, organized on weekends between July and August; the Festa dell’Ospite, a fireworks display over the sea, on August 15; the Gradese Song Festival, in October; and the Vogadalonga, the non-competitive rowing race open to all, on the last Sunday in October.
INFOPOINT
PromoTurismoFVG’s infopoint is located at Piazza XXVI Maggio 16, corner Portanuova 26.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
It depends on what you are looking for. In the city center there is a large supply of hotels, while in Garden City and Grado Pineta there are also apartments for rent.
Scheduled service to Barbana Island leaves from Riva Scaramuzza, near the Schiusa Island Bridge.
Banco d’Orio is a beach of soft golden sand, located on an island that divides the lagoon from the sea. Banco d’Orio can only be reached by sea, via private boats or by motorboat.
Casoni in the past were the homes of Grado fishermen and stand on the islets that dot the lagoon. Reaching and, in some cases, visiting them is possible with a boat or motorboat trip.
Contact the Grado infopoint
Through this section you can contact the Grado infopoint directly. Explorer FVG does not handle responses, nor is it responsible for the information exchanged in these conversations.
For information:
Grado InfoPoint
Campo Porta Nuova, 26
34073 Grado (GO)
InfoPoint opening hours: Open daily
- 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
- 2:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.
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