Venice’s Essentials in 1 day…

This tour has been designed for those who want to savor the best of Venice in a day.

Morning – Grand Canal Cruise, Rialto Market Walking Tour & Murano Islands

Our tour will begin with a cruise on a private water taxi along the Grand Canal to see Venice from the prospective that it was meant to be seen, by boat. Your Private Expert Guide will pick you up at the hotel with your boat and driver and proceed to point out all the important sights and explain their history. Passing through the S shaped two and half miles long “Canal-lazzo,” nick name for the Grand Canal, you will be able to admire all the different styles of architecture and see and take pictures of the prominent palaces.

After the hour-long ride you will then proceed to the Rialto market, still today considered the heart of the city since as it has been the center of commerce for centuries. The market is known for how uniquely colorful and lively it is, the main attractions still today are the fresh fish and produce arriving every morning by boat.

Afterwards, you will then take the water taxi again to go over to the island of Murano to see the most important craft made in Venice, glass. Many don’t know this, but the first windows and mirrors were invented in Venice. You will enter a real working factory studio and see how the glass is blown and shaped with the original tools which have been used throughout the centuries. After touring the factory and showroom we will return to Saint Mark’s Square with water taxi.

Lunch Break – If preferred, lunch can be arranged at a local, traditional restaurant in the San Marco neighborhood. The lunch will be user-pay.

Afternoon – The Splendor’s of San Marco, Doge’s Palace & Basilica di San Marco

After lunch your Private Expert Guide will accompany you to Saint Mark’s Square to hear its history and learn about the various types of architecture present in the square from the Byzantine golden Basilica to the Renaissance Campanile.

We will then continue our tour to the Gothic Doge’s Palace where you will enter with a reservation and advance purchase entrance tickets to have an extensive tour of its treasures. You will be enchanted by the glorious tales of the “Serenissima Republic” along with the imagery of the most important Venetian artists, Bellini, Titian, Tintoretto, Veronese, and Tiepolo…

This tour will conclude at the Basilica of San Marco to view its golden mosaics dating back to over a millennium, “A pirate cathedral enriched with the spoils of the universe (T. Gautier).”

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