Grado

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Grado, Venice to Trieste, Italy

(Click links for more information)
	45°40.72′N, 13°22.23′E
	Photo gallery
	Local chartlet
Grado from NW - Click for larger view

Contents 1 Grado, Venice to Trieste, Italy 2 Charts 3 Radio Nets 4 Local Weather 5 Approach and Navigation 6 Berthing Options 6.1 Marinas & Yacht Clubs 6.2 Anchorages 7 Offshore Islands and Groups 8 Yacht Repairs and Services 8.1 Marine Stores 8.2 Repairs/Yards 8.3 Fuel, Water, & Electricity 9 Things to do Ashore 9.1 Tourism 9.2 Grocery & Supply Stores 9.3 Eateries 9.4 Internet/WiFi 9.5 Laundry 9.5.1 Motorbike & Car Rentals 9.5.2 Garbage Disposal 9.5.3 Transportation 10 Routes/Passages To/From 11 Cruiser’s Friends 12 Forum Discussions 13 External Links 14 References & Publications 15 Personal Notes 15.1 Last Visited & Details Checked (and updated here) 16 Contributors to this page 17 Cruising Wiki Navigation

The town of Grado is situated on a low sandy spit at the mouth of the lagoon of the same name, 11 miles E of Lignano and five miles SW of Monfalcone on the northern Adriatic coast of Italy. During the Roman era, the town was an important staging post for the major settlement of Aquileia on the northern coast of the lagoon of Grado. During the decline of the Roman empire in the 5th century AD, there was a major population shift to Grado from the less protected settlements inland. The town was later to become an important naval base for the Byantines and subsequently the Lombards in the 6th century AD. By the 15th century Grado had declined to become a minor outpost of the Venetian empire, a position which was further reinforced by its sacking by English and then French forces in the early 19th century. The area was ceded to Austria in 1815 at the Congress of Vienna following the defeat of Napoleon’s forces and Grado remained part of the Austro-Hungarian empire until the conclusion of hostilities in 1918, when it finally became part of the unified kingdom of Italy. Today there are several traces of the town’s former strategic importance dotted around the lagoon, but its principal tourist attractions are Grado’s beaches and thermal baths. Yachtsmen visiting the town of the lagoon can find berths in the basin of Porto San Vito at the western end of the town, at the pontoons of the Italian Lega Navale, Grado immediately E of Porto San Vito along the northern end of town or the small canal basin of Darsena San Marco at the entrance to the Canale di Belvedere 200 metres N of the town just W of the bridge. Alternatively, a yacht of modest draft can continue four miles NNW from the entrance to Grado along the channel to the Natissa river, where the Marina di Aquileia lies 1.5 miles upstream from the entrance. As with most harbours along this coast, Grado is best entered on a rising tide close to high water and never with strong onshore winds.

Charts

British Admiralty

204 - Sedmovrace to Trieste and Ravenna to Venezia

1471 - Golfo di Trieste and Approaches

Italian

924

39

235

Radio Nets

Also see World Cruiser’s Nets.

Local Weather

During the summer months the prevailing winds in the Adriatic are light to moderate coastal seabreezes. In spring and autumn, northerly winds are more frequent and can quickly rise to near gale force, especially in the northern Adriatic, where the much-feared “bora” is caused by high pressure over the mountains to the NE coupled with low pressure over southern Italy. Fortunately, the fiercest “bora” is normally to be expected in the winter months. Thunderstorms are occasionally experienced in spring and especially autumn and can be accompanied by violent winds of gale force and above. Luckily they are rarely long-lasting. In the southern Adriatic, the “scirocco”, a S/SE wind blowing up from North Africa which can last for several days, is more common. Unlike the “bora”, which can arrive without warning, a “scirocco” tends to build in strength over 24-48 hours, sometimes reaching gale force (especially in winter).

Sources for weather information:

• There is a continuous (computerized voice) weather forecast on VHF 68 - first in Italian and then followed with an English translation.

• The same forecast is given in Italian and English on VHF coastal stations following a notification on channel 16.

• Navtex weather forecasts covering the Adriatic are broadcast from stations at Roma, Trieste, Kerkyra (Greece) and Split (Croatia).

Approach and Navigation

The entrance to the Grado lagoon lies at 45°39.6′N, 13°20.9′E, where there is a fairway buoy just under two miles offshore. Dangerous sandbanks extend for almost two miles on both sides of the entrance, so approach is only safe from this buoy, near high water and in settled weather. Approach should be made on a course of 030 degrees. The entrance channel, which is dredged to a depths of just 3.0 metres, is marked by piles on either side. Once inside the entrance, the channel forks. The starboard channel curves E round to Grado town and the moorings of Porto San Vito, Lega Navale and Darsena San Marco. The port channel turns W then N towards the Natissa river and the Marina di Aquileia.

Berthing Options

There are four berthing options in Grado or the lagoon of Grado:

Porto San Vito at 45°40.9′N, 13°22.65′E

Porto San Vito is the first small basin to starboard after entering the channel to Grado. It offers 165 berths for yachts up to 20 metres in depths of 3.5 metres. Click on the link for details.

Lega Navale, Grado at 45°40.96′N, 13°22.83′E

The Italian Lega Navale, Grado operates 70 berths on five pontoons immediately E of Porto San Vito and a further 59 in the small basin right in the heart of town, which is accessed by a long canal extending for 500 metres due S from just past the tiny basin at the end of the pontoons. Depths at the pontoons range from 1.0 - 3.0 metres and in the basin from 2.0 - 2.5 metres. Click on the link for details.

Darsena San Marco at 45°41.07′N, 13°23.09′E

Darsena San Marco is located on the W side of the bridge connecting the town of Grado to the mainland, at the entrance to the Canale di Belvedere, 200 metres NE of the Lega Navale pontoons. It offers 70 berths on both sides of the canal for yachts up to 20 metres in depths of 2.0 - 4.5 metres. Click on the link for details.

Marina di Aquileia at 45°45.07′N, 13°21.3′E

Marina di Aquileia lies at the N side of the lagoon of Grado, 1.5 miles up the Natissa river and a total of 5.5 miles from the lagoon entrance. It offers 300 berths for yachts of up to 18 metres in depths of 2.0 - 4.5 metres. Click on the link for details.

For a map showing the marinas in central Grado, click on this link: [1]

Marinas & Yacht Clubs

See above.

Anchorages

Anchoring is possible anywhere in the lagoon where the depths are suitable and you are not obstructing the channels. Fore and aft anchors may be necessary to stop swinging into the channel.

Offshore Islands and Groups

None offshore, but in the lagoon:

• Isola Barbana
• Isola Marina dei Menzi
• Isola Gorgo

Yacht Repairs and Services

Marine Stores

Submit addresses and contact details of marine related businesses that are of interest to cruisers.

Repairs/Yards

See marina entries for details.

Fuel, Water, & Electricity

See marina entries for details.

Things to do Ashore

Tourism

Most tourists come to Grado for its beaches and for spa treatments at the town’s thermal baths. However, the old centre, especially around the inner basin, is attractive to explore. Grado also boasts an imposing Basilica di Sant’Eufemia with a 6th century mosaic floor and an octagonal baptistery. A trip by boat to the island of Barbana at the northern end of the lagoon is also recommended to visit the Sanctuary of Barbana, constructed in 582 AD to house a miraculous image of the Virgin Mary. Grado is also a good base for visiting the World Heritage listed Roman site of Aquileia, one of the most important archaeological sites in N. Italy, which lies near the modern town of Aquileia two miles up the Natissa river on the N coast of the lagoon. In addition to Roman remains, Aquileia contains an impressive Byzantine cathedral and an excellent National Archaeological Museum.

Gallery

GradoHarbour.jpg Harbour of Grado	The island Sanctuary of Barbana
GradoBarbana.jpg Interior of Barbana Sanctuary	Roman ruins at Aquileia

Grocery & Supply Stores

• Good provisions shops in Grado town, within walking distance of the town marinas
• Also in Aquileia, about one kilometer N of Marina di Aquileia

Eateries

• Numerous bars and restaurants in Grado
• Restaurant at Darsena San Marco.
• Bar and restaurant in Marina di Aquileia.

Internet/WiFi

None.

Laundry

None.

Motorbike & Car Rentals

Rental outlets in Grado town and Aquileia.

Garbage Disposal

Bins at the marinas.

Transportation

Routes/Passages To/From

Popular passages/routes, timing, etc.

Cruiser’s Friends

Contact details of “Cruiser’s Friends” that can be contacted for local information or assistance.

Forum Discussions

List links to discussion threads on partnering forums. (see link for requirements)

External Links

• Municipal website
• Tourism website
• Bach and thermal baths website

References & Publications

See Italy.

Personal Notes

Personal experiences?

Last Visited & Details Checked (and updated here)

Date of member's visit to this Port/Stop & this page's details validated:

• Data compiled from web research (please update if possible) --Athene of Lymington 18:41, 30 January 2011 (UTC)

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Contributors to this page
Names: Athene of Lymington

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