Grado, Italy
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Comune di Grado | |
|---|---|
 Municipal coat of arms |
|
| Country |  Italy |
| Region | Friuli-Venezia Giulia |
| Province | Gorizia (GO) |
| Mayor | |
| Elevation | 2 m |
| Area | 114 km² |
| Population | |
| - Total (as of 2001) | 8,691 |
| - Density | 76/km² |
| Time zone | CET, UTC+1 |
| Coordinates | |
| Gentilic | Gradesi |
| Dialing code | 0431 |
| Postal code | 34073 |
| Frazioni | Boscat, Fossalon, Pineta, Primero, Val Cavarera |
| Patron | St. Hermagoras and Fortunatus |
| - Day | July 21 |
| Website: comune.grado.go.it | |
Grado (Gravo in the local Venetian dialect, Grau in Friulian, Gradež in Slovenian) is a town in the north-eastern Italian region of Friuli-Venezia Giulia, located on a peninsula of the Adriatic Sea between Venice and Trieste. Grado has an area of 114km2, and a population of 8,691.
Once mainly a fishing center, today it is a popular tourist destination, known commonly as L'Isola del Sole ("The Sunny Island"), also famous because it is also a spa town; together with Marano Lagunare, it is the center of a lagoon, which is famous for its uncontaminated nature. Grado is the birthplace of Biagio Marin, a poet who sang about the island in the local Venetian dialect.
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[edit] History
In Roman times the city, known as ad Aquas Gradatas, was first port for ships entering the Natissa (Natisone), headed upstream to Aquileia.
Quite close is the ancient Roman city of Aquileia; during the late years of the Western Roman Empire many people fled from Aquileia to Grado in order to find a safer place, more protected from the invasions coming from the east. In 452 Nicetas, Bishop of Aquileia, took refuge briefly at Grado; of the same period is the earliest construction of Grado's first Cathedral, the first church of Santa Maria delle Grazie, and the Baptistery. Grado was the home base of the Patriarchate's fleet.
In 568, after the invasion of the Lombards, the seat of the Patriarchate of Aquileia was transferred here by the Patriarch Paulinus. After the "Schism of the Three Chapters", two different Patriarchs were elected: that of Grado exerted its jurisdiction over the Latin-origin people living in the coast and in the Venetian Lagoon, while that Aquileia, later moved to Cividale, had its jurisdiction on the mainland. A long lasting dispute over the authority of the two patriarchs ensued: in 993 the patriarch of Aquileia, Popo, conquered Grado, but was unable to maintain it. The matter was settled only in 1027 when the Pope declared the supremacy of the seat of Aquileia over Grado and the Venetian province.
The seat of the Patriarchate was transferred to Venice in 1451 by Pope Nicholas V. Reduced to a minor hamlet, Grado was sacked by the English in 1810 and by the French in 1812. Grado was handed acquired by Austria in 1815, to which it remained until 1918.
[edit] Main sights
Today there are frequent finds of inscriptions, sarcophagi, marble sculpture and small bronzes that once furnished its villas. The remains of
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one of these villas has been excavated on the islet of Gorgo in the lagoon.
Modern landmarks include:
- The Basilica of Sant'Eufemia (Cathedral), with the octagonal Baptistry (late 5th century). The church was once preceded by a quadri-portico, one of the columns of which is now in the centre of the Patriarch's Square. The current appearance of the church dates from the reconstruction by Fra Elia (579 CE), with a simple hut façade and a bell tower (15th century) on the right side, which is surmounted by a statue portraying St. Michael and known as the Anzolo (1462). The interior has a nave and two aisles. The main point of interest is the mosaic pavement from the 6th century, restored in 1946-48.
- Basilica of 'Santa Maria delle Grazie. Begun in the 4th-5th centuries, it was renovated in the 6th century and restored in Baroque in 1640.
Of the ancent fortress only a tower, turned into a private residence, and parts of the walls can still be seen. Under the Town Hall are remains of the Palaeo-Christian basilica of Piazza Vittoria.
[edit] Where to stay
Grado offers a variety of hotels and campings where you can enjoy the real Italian living. Some good Hotels have a SPA , aestetic treatment and more. Usually adults would prefer hotels while children probably a camping. In nearly all the campings of Grado there is an animation team for kids, a beach, a swimmingpool where adults and children can spend there day. Tourists come with a tent, a camper or they just rent a Bungalow which is a small and comfortable holiday house. At night the animaton team organizes funny activities for children while parents enjoy their food at the restaurant or have a cocktail in the bar. Campings are not in the center of Grado like Hotels but it is easy to get there by bus, which stops directly in front of the campings, it only takes ten minutes to get to the center it is also possible to go by car or by bike. Some main hotels: Hotel Diana, Savoy Hotel, Grand Astoria Hotel, Hotel Villa Rosa, Capri Hotel and more. Some main campigs:Camping Europa, Camping Punta Spin, Camping Tenuta Primero and Camping al Bosco.
[edit] Sports
There are many types of sports that you can practice in Grado. In the city center there is a mini-golf and at the beach there is a beach volley camp. At the beach you can rent small boats and sailing boats. However the best sports to practice in Grado are golf and wind surfing. There is an 18 and 9 hole golf course about ten minutes away from the city center which has also a restaurant, it is right in front of the camping Tenuta Primero. The breeze makes it perfect to go wind surfing in Grado and at every beach it is possible to rent one.
 Many restaurants can be found in the oldest part of the town. |
 Basilica di Sant'Eufemia by night |
 The harbour |
 Grado's lagoon |
[edit] External links
- Grado Tourism, On this website you can find helpful information about accommodation, restaurants, excursions, etc. in Grado.
- Official tourism website
- Scuola Insieme, a local Italian language school, offers details on history, travel, and activities in and around Grado.
- Richard Stillwell, ed. Princeton Encyclopedia of Classical Sites, 1976: "Ad Aquas Gradatas (Grado), Italy"
- [1], an example of a camping in Grado
