Venice Highlights: Walking tour with Gondola ride, Doge's Palace and St Mark's Basilica Guided Tour

An immersive and complete experience into the art and history of the two most important monuments and political and religious symbols of Venice.

A tour not to be missed when staying in Venice! You will be accompanied by an expert and authorised local guide. Culture, art, history, tradition: these are the true souls of Venice, a city like no other. Discover all its beauty with this unique, entertaining and informative tour.

Your exciting tour will begin when you will meet your dedicated guide for the day. Together you will walk through calli, rughette and bridges listening to a detailed and passionate story of Venice's origins and development. Its mysterious and fascinating Gothic and Renaissance palaces will enchant you and leave you speechless. You will breathe in the atmosphere of European romanticism that inspired poets, writers and thinkers.

Don't miss the opportunity to take photos to share with friends and family once you return from your stay and don't hesitate to ask questions, your enthusiastic and licensed guide will be ready to satisfy your curiosity. You will head towards the centre of the Regional County Seat to visit the two iconic sites of the city. First thing first, you will reach the grandiose St Mark's Cathedral, the main curch, crowned by polychrome Veneto-Byzantine domes.

Thanks to the skip-the-line option already included with your tickets, you won't have to wait a minute before exploring the interior of the Basilica. The Basilica, the material and spiritual legacy of Byzantium, was built for the express purpose of housing the relics of St Mark. Completed in 1094, over time it was partially rebuilt several times due to multiple fires that damaged different parts of it. It is enriched with marbles and works of art transported from Costantinopoli following its conquest. Nicknamed the Golden Church, it was a clear symbol of the prosperity, power and wealth of the Serenissima. Rich in details, it is an important example of the fusion of Gothic and Byzantine styles. Inside you can admire over 8000 square metres of glittering mosaics decorating the ceiling, many made of 24-carat gold leaf, as well as numerous priceless works of art. You will then have the unique opportunity to climb the stairs and have access to the panoramic terraces overlooking the square and the city!

You will continue your tour by visiting, first the exterior and then the interior, of the Doge's Palace. The palace is the symbol of political Venice, powerful and dominant during the period of the ancient Republic. The building was the residence of the highest office of the Serenissima, the Doge. It is an imposing structure made up of layers of different architectural styles: from its original 14th and 15th century foundations to the significant and opulent additions made during the Renaissance and the Mannerist period. Today it houses paintings by world-famous artists such as Titian, Tiepolo, Tintoretto and Veronese, and hosts the grand ball of the Venice Carnival in its spaces. On this tour and in the company of your expert guide, you will first visit the monumental staircases that form the main entrance to the building: the sumptuous Scala dei Giganti and the Scala d'Oro. You will then pass through the courtyard and the noble areas, public spaces and the rooms in exclusive use of the Doge, the grand ballrooms, the great Council Chamber and the 'Museo dell'Opera', which boasts an extraordinary collection of portraits dating from the period from the Renaissance to the Mannerism period. Immediately afterwards you will also have the chance to admire the famous Bridge of Sighs and learn the story behind its peculiar name.

After spending so much time admiring the spiritual and architectural heritage of La Serenissima, it is time to take a break and enjoy a traditional spritz. A moment of quietness and refresh in your day. No visit to Venice is complete without an exciting ride on board a typical gondola! Our route is unrivalled in the city: we boast an exclusive itinerary with stops in the most picturesque canals and away from the busiest and noisiest ones. Get ready to take the most original photos! You will see the city from an unexpected perspective and from its founding element: water. Thanks to this exclusive tour you will enjoy, learn and breathe in the ancient and noble atmosphere of Venice, which has remained unchanged for centuries.

Departure Location

Tours depart from St Mark's Square, meet our tour leader under the column with the lion on the top, in front of the Doge's Palace.

Departs

Tuesday, Thursday and Saturdays.

Start Times

9.30am

Duration

Approx 6.5 to 7 hours (including 1.5 hour break to move from Gondola's deck to St Mark's square on your own)