Discover Venice: Morning Walking Tour & Gondola – Veneto, Italy

EXPERIENCE

Embark on an unforgettable journey through the heart of Venice with this combined walking and gondola tour, designed to immerse you in the city’s history, charm, and stunning architectural beauty. Over the course of two hours, you’ll explore Venice from both land and water, discovering the city’s most iconic landmarks, hidden corners, and tranquil canals.

Your tour begins in the bustling center of Venice, where you’ll meet your expert guide in the shadow of one of the world’s most famous squares, Piazza San Marco. As you take in your surroundings, your guide will introduce you to the fascinating history of this monumental piazza, once the heart of Venetian political and religious life. You’ll marvel at the Basilica di San Marco, with its opulent Byzantine domes and intricate mosaics, and the towering Campanile, which has stood watch over the square for centuries.

As you explore further, your guide will lead you past the Doge’s Palace, the former seat of Venice’s powerful rulers. This iconic Gothic structure, with its delicate arches and imposing presence, will take you back to the days when the Republic of Venice was a dominant maritime power. Alongside the palace is the Bridge of Sighs, offering a glimpse into Venice’s more somber history, as prisoners once passed through it on their way to the dungeons.

Leaving behind the grandeur of Piazza San Marco, your tour moves toward the lesser-known yet equally captivating Castello District. This is Venice at its most authentic, away from the tourist crowds, where you’ll wander through a maze of narrow alleyways, or calli, cross over countless bridges, and pass by the charming canals that make Venice so magical.

One of the highlights of this area is the Campo di Santa Maria Formosa, a large and vibrant square where you’ll learn the story behind the beautiful Church of Santa Maria Formosa, named after a miraculous apparition of the Madonna. The area is rich in history and character, showcasing the daily life of Venetians in a setting filled with traditional Venetian architecture.

Next, you’ll visit the Campo dei Santi Giovanni e Paolo, a grand square home to one of the city’s most significant churches, Basilica di San Giovanni e Paolo. Here, your guide will share the fascinating story of this burial site for many of Venice’s doges, whose grand tombs rest within. You’ll also see the equestrian monument to Bartolomeo Colleoni, a renowned military leader, standing proudly in the square.
Your exploration of Castello will also take you to the Teatro Malibran, a theater steeped in history, and past the ancient residence of Marco Polo, one of Venice’s most famous citizens. As you traverse the Castello district, you’ll feel as though you’ve stepped back in time, surrounded by the elegance of Venice’s storied past.

HIGHLIGHTS

Explore Piazza San Marco and its stunning Basilica and Campanile.
Discover Venice’s Doge’s Palace and the iconic Bridge of Sighs.
Wander through Castello’s charming calli, bridges, and canals.
Admire Campo di Santa Maria Formosa and the grand Campo dei Santi Giovanni e Paolo.
Glide along the Grand Canal in a traditional Venetian gondola.

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