The Grado lagoon by boat — the casoni and Barbana

Grado began as the harbour of Aquileia, and the lagoon behind it is still the working landscape of casoni — thatched stilt fishermen’s houses — and reed channels only boats reach. The classic trip runs from Grado Vecchia’s dock through the channels to Barbana, the island sanctuary founded in 582 and still served by its own boat; the Perdon di Barbana procession repeats the crossing every first Sunday of July. Guided boats run daily from the historic island; kayakers can paddle the same channels in the early morning calm.