Grado is a town and comune in the province of Gorizia, Friuli-Venezia Giulia, Italy. It is famous for its beautiful beaches, climate and unique atmosphere. The town is located on a lagoon on the Adriatic Sea. Formerly it served as a port center for Aquileia, since the 19th century it has been an important tourist center known as the Sunny Island (“L’Isola del Sole”).
Grado stands out from neighboring cities with its architecture and specific atmosphere. The buildings here are compact, the streets, buildings and monuments have been restored, and the entire historic center is surrounded by the sea. An artificial canal flows through the center of the old town, leading to the marina in the center of Grado.
The city is known for its therapeutic treatments with the therapeutic properties of sand and sea.
Spiaggia Principale is the main city beach, which stretches for 3 km. It’s a fully paid beach. The beach offers complete infrastructure. There are showers, changing rooms, bars, restaurants, there is also free wifi. There are lifeguards watching over safety, but the sea here is calm and quite shallow.
On the east side is the beach completely free. Due to the location of Grado on the lagoon after the entrance to the sea is very shallow. You have to move further away from the shore to fully submerge yourself.
The old town was built in the 5th century. On the square next to the town hall, archaeologists have discovered well-preserved ruins, which can be viewed free of charge. You can find here the remains of ancient Roman buildings. Archaeological discoveries include fragments of walls, foundations and other structures that indicate the importance of Grado as an important port and commercial center in Roman times.
It is one of the most important and oldest temples in Grado, dating back to the 6th century. Built in Byzantine style, the basilica is known for its beautiful mosaic floors depicting geometric patterns and plant motifs. It is also known as the historical seat of the Patriarchs of Grado.
The port canal is not only the heart of Grado’s water transport, but also an important cultural and tourist element of the city. It enables the daily functioning of the fishing industry, and at the same time it is an attractive place for visitors.
Civica Library “Falco Marin” was founded to serve the Grado community as a center of knowledge and culture. Its name honors Falco Marina, meaning a figure in the history of local literature and culture.