Explore Byzantine Venice: St. Mark's Basilica & Gondola Ride
- 2–3 hours
- Free cancellation up to 72h before
- 4 languages
- Instant confirmation
Highlights
This combined guided tour is divided into three parts. The tour starts at 9.00am with a historical introduction of St. Marks’s Square, and its architectural delights. Leaving the square, you will be guided into the residential Castello area, allowing you to discover this part of Venice in all of its elegance, through its labyrinth of narrow alleys - “calli”, many bridges, winding canals and wide picturesque squares - “campi”. At 10.45 am you will proceed with the visit of the Saint Mark's Basilica, once the private chapel of the Doge of Venice, and the only one of its kind in Italy, thanks to the sumptous golden mosaics and impressive marble inlay flooring. The last part is the gondola ride at 3 pm. Relax aboard this historic vessel, enjoying the thrills of both the Grand Canal and minor canals. PROGRAM 09.00 am Walking tour of Venice (1 h 30 min) 10.45 am Saint Marks Basica tour (1 hour) 03.00 pm Gondola ride (30 min)
Inclusions
What's included
- - S. Giovanni in Bragora - S. Marcuola - S. Maria dei Miracoli - S. Maria del Carmelo vulgo Carmini
- - Basilica di Santa Maria Assunta (Torcello) - Sacrestia della Basilica della Salute
- The tickets for the Basilica allow you to visit (within 6 months) the following sites:
- Skip the line entrance and guided tour to the Saint Marks Basilica
- Live tour commentary provided in English, French, Spanish or German
- - S. Beneto - S. Fantin - S. Felice - S. Giacomo dell'Orio - S. Giobbe - S. Giovanni elemosinario
- Pre-reserved tickets for St. Mark's Basilica (€12)
- - S.Luca - S. Maria del Giglio - S. Maria del Rosario vulgo Gesuati - S. Maria Formosa
- Gondola ride along the Grand Canal and minor canals
- - Santuario di Lucia - SS. Redentore - The Human Safety Net
- Personal audio system and headset for tour commentary
- Professional local guide
- Guided walking tour covering the areas of Saint Mark's Square and Castello;
- - S. Simeon Piccolo - S. Sofia - S. Stae - S. Stefano - S. Trovaso
- -S. Martino di Castello - S. Marziale - S. Pietro di Castello - S. Polo - S. Samuele - S. Sebastiano
- - Pinacoteca Manfrediniana - Madonna dell'orto - S. Alvise - S. Andrea de la Zirada - S. Antonin
What's not
- Hotel pick-up and drop-off;
- Food and drink;
- Optional gratuities;
- Pala d'oro
- Museum and Loggia dei Cavalli on the 1st floor
Itinerary
The tour starts with a historical introduction of St. Marks’s Square, and its architectural delights, allowing you to discover the history of the majestic St. Mark’s Basilica, the illustrious Doge’s Palace, once the seat of the power of the Republic of Venice, and the extraordinary, renaissance clock tower.
Leaving the square, you will be guided into the residential Castello area, allowing you to discover this part of Venice in all of its elegance, through its labyrinth of narrow alleys - “calli”, many bridges, winding canals and wide picturesque squares - “campi”. You can expect to see campo Santa Maria Formosa, one of the largest squares in Venice with its church, named after its visitation of the Holy Virgin.
You will also see Campo Santi Giovanni and Paolo where you will be able to admire the famous church, the resting place of several Doges; and the equestrian monument of Bartolomeo Colleoni, an Italian mercenary Captain.
The former residence of Marco Polo, probably the most famous Venetian merchant, and the Malibran theatre are also part of the itinerary.
You will then make your way back to the Saint Marks square, to then be accompanied to the Saint Mark's Basilica, once the private chapel of the Doge of Venice, and the only one of its kind in Italy, thanks to the sumptous golden mosaics and impressive marble inlay flooring. Visit Saint Mark's Basilica first floor museum and see the famous horses and admire Saint Mark's Square from the Basilica's terrace.
The last appointment is at 3.00 pm with the gondola ride! Relax aboard this historic vessel, enjoying the thrills of both the Grand Canal and minor canals. Admire Venice from this amazing point of view, witness its magnificent architecture, and whilst gliding under its bridges, discover secret entrances to the elegant palaces and hidden corners. The gondola ride is not a guided tour.
Cancellation
Free cancellation up to 72 hours before the experience starts, for a full refund.
Know before you go
- Meeting point
- 15 min before in Calle larga de l’Ascension - 30124 (behind the Correr museum on the opposite side of the Saint Marks Basilica). Look for the TURIVE assistant next to the post office San Marco. -> Walking tour + St Marks Basilica departure at 9.00 am -> Gondola ride departure at 3.00 pm
- Pickup
- Everyone meets at the starting point; there is no pickup.
- Ticket type
- Mobile or paper ticket accepted
- Group size
- Up to 20 travellers
- Operated by
- Venice Events srl
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- Check-in is 15 minutes prior to booked tour start time
- This activity is not wheelchair accessible
- Shoulders and knees must be covered inside the Basilica
- Backpacks are not allowed inside the Basilica
- This tour operates rain or shine
- Shared gondola with max. 5 people per gondola
How it compares in Venice
- Its from-price is 35% below the median of the 1991 experiences we list in Venice.
- Its length is typical for the group.
About Venice
Venice floats on a lagoon of more than a hundred islands, a city of canals, palaces and bridges with no cars, where every walk ends somewhere unexpected.
The Grand Canal sweeps through the city in a great reversed S, lined with palaces and crossed by the Rialto Bridge. Near its mouth, Piazza San Marco gathers St Mark's Basilica with its golden mosaics, the Doge's Palace, the Bridge of Sighs and the tall brick campanile. Water buses and gondolas show the city from the angle it was built to be seen.
Top-ranked sights in Venice: St. Mark's Square (Piazza San Marco), St. Mark's Basilica (Basilica di San Marco), Grand Canal.
Special offers in Venice
Was/now prices come from the operator, never from us.
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