Byzantine Venice, Walking tour, Basilica and Gondola

For a Byzantine experience, join this combined walking tour of St. Mark's Square and the Castello area, visit the Golden Basilica discovering the Byzantine history and the glittering mosaics and conclude in the afternoon with a classic 30 min gondola ride.

Enjoy a combined walking tour of St. Mark’s Square, the Castello area and St. Mark's Basilica

Walk through a labyrinth of narrow alleys, many bridges, winding canals and wide picturesque squares

Visit Saint Mark's Basilica first floor museum and see the famous horses

Cruise through the Canal Grande and some of the smaller canals

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”.
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; campo SS 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.

After the walking tour you will have a break and the last appointment will be at 3 pm!
You will need to make your way to calle larga Ascensione, discover Venice from the water and enjoy a tour along the Canal Grande past the most beautiful sights of the city in a gondola. This is not a guided tour - words are not required to embrace the beauty of seeing Venice from the water.

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)

Included

• Guided walking tour covering the areas of St. Mark's Square and Castello
• Guided walking tour on the first floor of the Saint Mark's Basilica
• 30 min shared gondola ride
• Entrance fee and skip-the-line entrance to the Basilica
• Personal audio system and headset for tour commentary
• Tour available in english, italian, german, french, spanish

Not included

• Hotel pick-up and drop-off
• Food and drink
• Optional gratuities
• The gondola ride is not a guided tour

Requirements

• Meeting point 15 min before
• This tour is not suitable if you have limited mobility
• This activity is not wheelchair accessible
• This tour operates rain or shine
• Shoulders and knees must be covered inside the Basilica
• Backpacks are not allowed inside the Basilica

Important information

MEETING POINT:
15 min before in Calle larga de l’Ascension 1256 - 30124 next to the post office San Marco (opposite side of the Saint Marks Basilica). Look for the yellow sign "Meeting point" on the wooden kiosk.

-> Walking tour + St Marks Basilica departure at 9.00 am

-> Gondola ride departure at 3.00 pm

PLEASE PRINT OR SHOW TWICE YOUR VOUCHER FOR BOTH TOURS!

• 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 
• From the 1st of November to the 31st of March there is no skip-the-line entrance to the Basilica
• Children are free until 5 years, from 6 they pay the full ticket (document required). 

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)

Program and cast