Venice Walking Tour & Gondola Ride: Explore the City’s Heart
Description
Explore Venice in two hours by walking from Saint Mark's Square to Campo Santa Maria Formosa, Campo SS. Giovanni and Paolo, pass beside Marco Polo's House and the Malibran Theatre. Take a ride in a shared gondola for 30 minutes through the Grand Canal and through the minor canals. Enjoy this combined tour of the most characteristic and important places for the history of Venice together with a local guide
Tour Options
Itinerary
Starting in Saint Mark’s square, this atmospheric walking tour will then whisk you away from the crowded streets into the treasure filled pockets of the Castello area. A qualified guide will walk you through the hidden squares, winding canals and historical buildings providing you with a perfect introduction to the origins, symbols, traditions, architecture, and life in current day Venice. 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 discover campo Santa Maria Formosa, one of the largest squares in Venice with its church, named after its visitation of the Holy Virgin.
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 is also part of the itinerary.
The you will proceed the tour seeing the Malibran theatre (only external). The theatre of San Giovanni Grisostomo was built in only four months at the end of 1677. It was renovated many times and the renovation of 1919, gave us the theatre, as we know it today.
After the walking tour, you will be accompanied to campo San Moisè, the landing stage of the famous venetian transportation, the Gondola. 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. This 2 hours combined tour concludes in Campo San Moisè, a short walk from Saint Mark’s Square.
Highlights
What's included
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- A moderate amount of walking is involved, bring comfortable shoes
- Children must be accompanied by an adult
- Shared gondola ride, max 5 people per gondola
- The gondola ride is not guided
- On certain dates, most travelers staying outside of Venice who are planning to visit for the day will be required to pay a €5 access fee. For further details (including exemptions) and to learn what days this fee is applicable, please visit: https://cda.ve.it
Reviews(2)
Nice tour to the city of Venice. We made the tour on during the week and it was excellent. Antonella was a nice tour guide and explained everything we want to know. The gondola tour took approx 20 to 30 minutes. So if you are the first time in Venice take the tour to get an idea what you would like to see.
Dear Stephan, thank you for your positive review and we hope to have you back in our wonderful city again Best regards from Venice
Awful tour. Limited to small area. OK if you like wells!! Gondola ride a big disappointment. Gondolier spent the whole time talking to another driver. Better to walk around like the locals. On a plus Venice is amazing.
We are sorry to hear that you did not enjoy the tour all gondola rides are limited to an area of the Gondola station and they all go through the small canals in a circle they are not authorised to go into other areas. Unfortunately although we have asked the Gondoliers not to speak to each other whilst doing the ride they continue to do so. Apologies for this
