Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
saic
(Piazza Biagio Marin)
. Belle époque mansions, beach huts and thermal baths line the
cheerful seafront (the greyish local sand is considered curative and used in treatments).
Grado comes alive from May to September, but is also prime
passeggiata
(evening stroll)
territory on any sunny Sunday.
Small
casoni
(reed huts) used by fishers dot the tiny lagoon islands. In summer some
can be visited by boat. Many of the islands are, however, protected nature reserves and off
limits. The
tourist office
( 0431 87 71 11; Viale Dante Alighieri 66; 9am-7pm)
has the details.
On the first Sunday in July, a votive procession sails to the
Santuario di Barbana
( 0431
8 04 53;
www.santuariodibarbana.it
)
, an 8th-century church on a lagoon island. Fishers have
done this since 1237 when the Madonna of Barbana was claimed to have miraculously
saved the town from the plague. Boats link the sanctuary with Grado; contact
Motoscafisti
Gradesi
(
0431 8 01 15;
www.motoscafistigradesi.it
; Riva Scaramuzza;
daily summer, Sun only
winter)
for specific departures and prices.
Sleeping & Eating
The town has a huge number of hotels and holiday rentals, though rooms can be scarce in
summer and only bookable on a weekly basis. The old town's streets are known for their
boisterous wine bars, casual
fritterias
and upmarket seafood restaurants.
HOTEL
€€
Albergo Alla Spiaggia
( 0431 8 48 41;
www.albergoallaspiaggia.it
;
Via Mazzini 2; s/d €77-140; Apr-Oct; )
The
Spiaggia sports a South Beach look, set in a lovely prewar modernist building, with a
fresh maritime-toned fit out. It's in a great position, wedged between pedestrian zone, his-
toric centre and beach.
Trattoria de Toni
( 0431 8 01 04; Piazza Duca d'Aosta 37; meals €37; noon-3pm & 6.30-10pm Thu-Tue )
This
place is undeniably old school, and charmingly so, matching genial service with the best
local seafood. Sample Grado's signature
boreto
, a lagoon fish stew served with white
polenta, or stick with the brimming seafood pasta dishes and superfresh whole grilled fish
by the gram, filleted at the table.
SEAFOOD
€€
Max'in Botega de Mar
SEAFOOD
