Canal Grande (Grand Canal), Trieste (must see)

The Grand Canal of Trieste is short but navigable. It is located in the Borgo Teresiano neighborhood, between the railway station and the Unity of Italy Square (Piazza Unita d'Italia). It was built between 1754 and 1756 by Venetian engineer Matteo Pirona. Initially, the canal reached all the way to the front of the Church Sant'Antonio Taumaturgo.

The Grand Canal had access to the Gulf of Trieste, allowing ships and barges to load and unload in the city's center. The last section of the canal touching the front of the church was filled in with rubble in 1934, creating the Sant'Antonio Nuovo Square. Some say a small torpedo boat is buried there, but no one wants to dig it up.

Two bridges and a pedestrian walkway traverse the Grand Canal. Red Bridge (Ponte Rosso) crosses at the mid-point of the canal. Built-in wood in 1756, it was done in iron in 1832. Green Bridge (Ponte Verde), at the beginning of the canal, was built in iron in 1858. In 1904 the White Bridge, known as New Bridge (Ponte Nuovo), was added as a railway bridge.

The 82-foot-long walkway connecting Saving Bank Street (Via Cassa di Risparmio ) to Trento Street crossed the canal on December 4, 2012. It is steel with glass parapets and handrails. Officially it was called Joyce Passage (Passagio Joyce), in honor of Irish writer James Joyce. Joyce's statue by sculptor Nino Spagnoli was erected on the Red Bridge in 2004.

Christmas markets and the Barcolana regatta are held along the canal and the Sant'Antonio Square.