Unmissable Venice
An introduction to Venice - Tour 1
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Tour description:
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St. Mark's Square is the heart of Venice, where the most important buildings are concentrated, like St. Mark's Basilica. The church was founded in the 9th century to house St. Mark's relics, smuggled from Egypt by Venetian merchants. When it was reconstructed, it was decorated with pillaged slabs of marble, columns, glass, and gilded mosaics. Next to it, there is the Doge's Palace, which served as the seat of the government, the governor's residence, and the palace of justice until the end of the Republic.
At the end of the 16th century, the Palace was connected to the prisons with a suspended bridge called the Bridge of Sighs. Around St.Mark's Square you will admire the Clock-tower and Bell-tower, the administration offices, the famous Library, and the two columns with statues representing Venice patron-saints, St.Theodore and St.Mark. After visiting St. Mark’s Square, a walk through lesser-known streets will take place to reach the Rialto Bridge, located in the middle of the Grand Canal. From there, you can admire the amazing warehouses, where the Venetian noble people once lived and worked.
The visit includes:
An overview of St. Mark’s Square
St. Mark’s Basilica inside
A walking tour in the back streets
Costs:
The guided tour costs 160,00 Euro for small parties and families up to 8 people.
Entrance to St. Mark’s Basilica costs 6,00 Euro per person. Tickets must be purchased
ahead of time. You must dress appropriately to enter the church.
Duration: 2 Hours
St. Mark’s Basilica and the Doge’s Palace - Tour 2
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Tour description:
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Learn about St. Mark's Square, the center of Venice, where the most iconic buildings are
gathered. One of its most famous attractions is the renowned Basilica of St. Mark's, which houses St. Mark's remains. The church is a must-see because of its extraordinary architecture and decorations. The immense glass and gold layers of mosaics, including the pillaged marble, are astonishing. You will also visit the Doge's Palace to witness its magnificent institutional chambers, decorated by great artists like Titian, Tintoretto, and Veronese. You will see the prisons by crossing the Bridge of Sighs.
The visit includes:
An overview of St. Mark’s Square
St. Mark’s Basilica inside
The Doge’s Palace inside
Costs:
The guided tour costs 240,00 Euro for small parties and families up to 8 people
Entrance to St. Mark’s Basilica costs 6,00 Euro per person. Tickets must be purchased
ahead of time. You must dress appropriately to enter the church.
Entrance to the Doge’s Palace costs full price 30,00 Euro per person, reduced price 15,00
Euro per person.
Duration: 3 Hours
The Doge's Palace and the Secret Itineraries - Tour 3
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Tour description:
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This tour is designed for adults and children to explore the official and unofficial chambers of the Doge's Palace in Venice. The Gothic-inspired palace was once a multifunctional building that housed the government, bureaucracy, and justice. Its interior still retains magnificent decorations from the 1500s, by artists like Titian, Veronese, and Tintoretto. In the unofficial part of the Palace, you will see some of the most unpleasant prisons, the so-called Wells and Leads. You will learn about Giacomo Casanova's life, and how he organized his escape from one of those cells. The tour will also include access to the old administration offices, the chancellery, and the torture chamber. At the end of the tour, you will walk to the so-called new jails by crossing the Bridge of Sighs.
The visit includes:
A visit to the institutional chambers and secret itineraries of the Doge’s Palace.
Costs:
The guided tour costs 160,00 Euro for small parties and families up to 5 people.
The entrance tickets cost: full price 32,00 Euro per person, reduced price 20,00 per person.
Tickets for this tour need to be purchased months in advance.
Duration: 2 Hours
St. Mark’s Basilica and St. Mark’s bell-tower - Tour4
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Tour description:
This tour offers several opportunities to see Venice from above. From the Loggia of St. Mark's Basilica, you can admire St. Mark’s Square and visit the museum, where the Triumphal Quadriga from the 3rd century B.C. is kept. The tour also includes a visit to the Bell-tower, the tallest tower in the city, offering stunning views of Venice and its lagoon. The bell-tower was used as a watchtower and lighthouse during the Republic of Venice, and Galileo Galilei tested his telescope from it. Back to St. Mark’s Square, your guide will lead you to another hidden treasure, an external staircase in the shape of a snail, built by the Contarini family. The tour ends at the Rialto bridge, from which you have a spectacular view of the Grand Canal.
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The visit includes:
An overview of St. Mark’s Square,
St. Mark’s Basilica inside
The Loggia with the 4 horses
The bell-tower in St. Mark’s Square
A walking tour in the back streets
Costs:
The guided tour costs 240,00 Euro for small parties and families up to 8 people.
Entrance to St. Mark’s Basilica costs 6,00 Euro per person. Tickets must be purchased
ahead of time. You must dress appropriately to enter the church.
The terrace costs 7,00 Euro per person and can be purchased on the spot or on-line.
The bell-tower costs 12,00 Euro per person
Duration: 3 Hours