Byzantine Venice Walking tour & Saint Mark's Basilica

Highlights

Get an insider’s view of St Mark’s Square and avoid the tourist rush with this informative, 1-hour tour. Your experienced English-speaking guide will lead you in a group of no more than 25 people on a walking tour of Venice’s famed architectural complex. Skip the long lines at St Mark’s Basilica and step inside its Italo-Byzantine splendor. Walk among the intricate mosaics and murals that decorate every surface of the cathedral, and admire the work of generations of Venetian goldsmiths who created the glittering Pala d’Oro, or golden altar (additional expense). Gaze up at the iconic clock tower in St Mark’s Square and discover the fascinating history of the Doge’s Palace, Sansovino library and the ornate bell tower crowned by a massive winged lion statue. Your guide will entertain you with tales of legendary Venetian figures including Marco Polo and Casanova. At the end of the tour, you’ll have a great orientation to Venice’s central highlights to help you plan further exploration. Please note: St Mark’s Basilica is occasionally closed to the public due to flooding or special events.

Summary

Get an insider’s view of St Mark’s Square and avoid the tourist rush with this informative, 1-hour tour. Your experienced English-speaking guide will lead you in a group of no more than 25 people on a walking tour of Venice’s famed architectural complex. Skip the long lines at St Mark’s Basilica and step inside its Italo-Byzantine splendor. Walk among the intricate mosaics and murals that decorate every surface of the cathedral, and admire the work of generations of Venetian goldsmiths who created the glittering Pala d’Oro, or golden altar (additional expense). Gaze up at the iconic clock tower in St Mark’s Square and discover the fascinating history of the Doge’s Palace, Sansovino library and the ornate bell tower crowned by a massive winged lion statue. Your guide will entertain you with tales of legendary Venetian figures including Marco Polo and Casanova. At the end of the tour, you’ll have a great orientation to Venice’s central highlights to help you plan further exploration. Please note: St Mark’s Basilica is occasionally closed to the public due to flooding or special events.

Tour info

Duration

2 hours 30 minutes

Why take this tour?

A combined tour that allows you to discover the most important historical places and buildings of Venice. This tour is guided and divided into two parts. At 9.00am from a centrally located meeting point you will be lead by a professional guide through the most characteristic places around the areas of Saint Mark's Square and Castello (duration 1 hour and 30'). Then at 10.45 am we will meet again and you will visit the interiors of Saint Mark's Basilica, discovering the Byzantine history and the glittering mosaics.

What’s included?

Guided walking tour covering the areas of Saint Mark's Square and Castello;
Guided tour of Saint Mark's Basilica;
Personal audio system and headset for tour commentary;
Live tour commentary provided in English, French, Spanish, German or Italian.
Entry/Admission - Basilica di San Marco
Guaranteed to skip the lines
Food and drink,
Hotel pickup and drop-off,
Optional gratuities,
Admission to the upper floor of the Basilica
Entry/Admission - Basilica dei Santi Giovanni e Paolo (San Zanipolo)
Entry/Admission - Casa di Marco Polo

Things to know

Before you book

Duration: 2h 30m
Mobile tickets accepted
Instant confirmation

Covid Policy

Regular temperature checks for staff
Guides required to regularly wash hands

GREEN CERTIFICATE MANDATORY from 6th August 2021

Cancellation Policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours in advance of the start date of the experience.

Operator Website

Operated by:

Venice Events

About operator:

Venice Events is a British-Italian company based in the heart of Venice, founded in 1995. Over the years of familiarity with this country and its culture, our team have built up extensive experience in organising wide range of events: Tours, cultural excursions, private customized tours in Veneto and Friuli, transfers, wine tastings, weddings, honeymoons, romantic breaks, conferences and more, both in Venice and throughout Italy. All Tours, unless specified, are operated by Venice Events! We operate all our own tours, you book with us, you travel with us! That's not true for the majority of websites on the internet that are actually selling other company's tours. No standing-in-line to see the must-see attractions of Italy! Venice Events makes reservations and pre-books tickets so you will never have to spend your vacation standing-in-line to see the must-see sights of Italy. Venice Events regularly reserve spaces for their clients to enter ahead of the public lines. Fully Licensed Guides, Fully Licensed Drivers & Vehicles We prefer to offer the best tours we can offer, with professional guides who have backgrounds in Art & History, who have dedicated their lives to provide clients with memories that will last them a lifetime, and who have the ability to entertain all members of the family.