Cruise on the Venice Lagoon

From Marano

Marano Lagoon is situated a little way away from the famous lagoon of Venice. Les Canalous have established their waterway base in this picturesque Italian town, so choose your houseboat and follow our advice to ensure you take in all the riches of this region in the North of the Italian peninsula.

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One-way only Suitable for people with reduced mobility

La Dolce Vita on the deck of your houseboat in Marano

The town of Marano is situated at the centre of the Grado and Marano lagoon. There are only two bridges connecting it with the continent, giving you a real chance to get away from it all. This port is famous for Italian waterway cruises. After being trained and given advice on how to handle your licence-free rental boat, you’ll be able to set off on one of the many canals towards sites such as the imposing Po Valley. Before sampling the joys of waterway cruising, you can take advantage of the many bathing resorts on the lagoon, relaxing and enjoying a swim or one of the many water activities on offer.

A cruise to satisfy the desires of your whole crew

The region’s warm, soothing climate will make your cruise even more enjoyable, and the deck of you licence-free boat will be a dream setting to embrace La Dolce Vita. Going through the region’s many locks and moveable bridges will liven up your day-to-day life on board – don’t miss the chance to enjoy a spot of fishing or the promise of discovering some authentic delights on a walk or off-road cycle ride. Navigate the various branches of the Po towards cities like Ferrara, the historic heart of which is on the UNESCO World Heritage list. San Giorgio Cathedral is a must-see attraction. Opposite this imposing building is another key site : Palazzo della Ragione, a gothic edifice that’s the only one of its kind in the region.

discover the region with our photos

1 / 5 Venice Lagoon and its unspoilt nature Venice Lagoon is the largest lagoon in Europe with a surface area of 550 km 2. Like La Serenissima herself, it’s a must-see site, whether as part of a waterway cruise or a more traditional holiday in Italy. The 3 mouths of the river make this a unique ecosystem, classified as a UNESCO World Heritage site. To enjoy this unique setting to the full, you should prepare your excursion according to the tide times. You’ll then have the opportunity to discover more than 418 islands submerged by the waters, which emerge to the amazement of tourists. The canals make it possible to explore every detail, so head to Venice Lagoon and enjoy visiting the towns on its banks.

2 / 5 Venice Carnival Venice Carnival was mentioned as far back as the 10th century and is now held during the 10 days preceding Ash Wednesday. During these 10 days, the city is decked out in all its finery, with shows and entertainment offered in all La Serenissima’s streets. Head for Saint Mark’s Square to admire jugglers and fire-eaters. The Carnival of Venice is also, and above all, about the costumes and masks. Wonder at the bautas, taborros and other Voltos, or you might prefer the traditional harlequin mask. There’ll be one highlight after another during the Venice Carnival – don’t miss the Flight of the Angel, which marks the beginning of the festivities, or the traditional Feast of Mary. The Venice Carnival is a real chance to get away from it all, so make the most of it!

3 / 5 Murano glass blowers Murano, the biggest and best-known of the lagoon’s islands, is located to the North of Venice. You’ll marvel at the Grand Canal, which crosses Murano from one side to the other, allowing you to admire the palaces and glassmakers’ workshops. Indeed, Murano has, for centuries, been the realm of glassblowers and glassmakers, who have contributed to Venice’s renown. Don’t miss the chance to contemplate this unique know-how, still perpetuated in the workshops today. Discovering the Murano glassblowers will also give you the opportunity to admire a masterpiece of Venetian-Byzantine architecture: Saint Mary and Saint Donatus Church, with its 3-nave basilica layout.

4 / 5 Venetian Gastronomy Whether on your houseboat or in one of the countless restaurants in Venice or Murano, the local gastronomy will take you on a real voyage of flavours. As with everywhere else in Italy, you can enjoy pizza and pasta, but the lagoon also has many other succulent discoveries in store. To whet your appetite, don’t resist the chance to indulge in cicchetti, the great little appetisers used to begin a meal in Venice and its surrounding region. You can savour the local shellfish or opt for the regional speciality of fritto misto, comprising fried squid, prawns and sardines. Bigoli is another Venetian dish – the traditional Italian pasta once again, served with an anchovy sauce.

5 / 5 Venice, one of the most romantic cities in Europe Is it still valid to speak of Venice’s romanticism? As you take to a gondola along the canals winding through La Serenissima, or enjoy a stroll around Saint Mark’s Square, it still has a host of surprises in store for tourists. The city on the lagoon benefits from an enchanting climate and contains countless treasures to uncover, whether as a couple or indeed as a family. The Rialto Bridge will leave you with unforgettable memories, while the Doge's Palace will take you on a trip back in time. Every building in the city tells a story and transports you to another realm. The Campanile is another essential sight to take in during your visit to La Serenissima. For even more fun, organise your trip during the Venice Carnival, during when the city really comes alive.

suggested itineraries Tested and approved

Set off from Marano and navigate as your desires see fit, or follow our itinerary ideas:

One week
Aller-simple	170km - 5 locks	22h	Marano > Bibione > Caorle > Cortellazzo > Musile > Caposile > Portegrandi > Venice (the lagoon and the islands)
Aller-retour	160km - 5 locks	21h	Marano > Aquileia > Grado > Bibione > Caorle > Precenicco > Marano