Visit Brenta canal
The Brenta is located inland from Venice towards Padua. Although manmade, it is better described as a river than a canal.
The River Brenta was originally constructed to divert the flow of water that was causing too much silting of the lagoon around Venice, threatening to damage transport links. It is 174 kiometres long.
Its construction and subsequent use as a transportation link dates back to the 16th century, and during the centuries that followed many magnificent villas were built alongside the canal by the gentry who carries out their business along its length.
The canal is now a popular destination with tourists, and a handful of the hundred plus impressive villas are open to the public - the most popular are the very impressive Villa Pisani and the 16th century Villa Foscari, others include Villa Widmann and Villa Contarini.
The first two of these two villas are easy to reach by car or bus from Venice, or if you have time on your hands and money burning a hole in you pocket you can take a leisurely cruise up the Brenta canal that stops at the villas.
The famous wooden bridge at Bassano-del-Grappa also crosses the Brenta river.