Venice, it's Sestieri & The Veneto: My Private Services

Meet your private expert local English-speaking guide today at the preset time at your hotel for a guided tour of Venice’s highlights. These include the must-see sights of the Basilica San Marco with it’s stunning golden mosaics inside. The Basilica is a masterpiece of architecture & it is the most popular tourist attraction in Venice and ranks fifth in the world after Saint Peter's Basilica, Notre Dame de Paris, the Taj Mahal, and Saint Paul's Cathedral.. Also, you will visit the Doge’s Palace once the seat of the Venetian Empire and houses masterpieces of art by Titian, Veronese, as well as Tintoretto. Then walk through the Bridge of Sighs. Your guide will then walk you through old Venice as you stroll through a narrow calle up to the Rialto Bridge (built in 1580), you’ll then continue to visit the famous open air fish market. After the market you’ll be led to your private Venetian Water Taxi (private boat), for a tour down the Grand Canal, where unfolding before you, you’ll see the history of magnificent Venezia and its architectural jewels & splendid Ca’s (Venetian Palaces) that line the canal edges. Your driver will then head over to the island of Murano, where you’ll visit a private workshop of Murano Glass for a demonstration of the craft of traditional glassblowing. Heading back to Venice Island via the lagoon and enjoy a panoramic tour along the way. Then the day wraps up with an incredible dinner featuring Venetian specialties …what a perfetto end to a magnifico day in Venezia!

Inclusions:

All Entry Tickets & Advanced Reservations

Local expert English speaking walking guide & all private boat transportation

Cannaregio is the northern district of Venice & its border is at the Rialto bridge, your private guided itinerary will include a stop in the Corte del Milion with its unique medieval atmosphere and its remembrances of Marco Polo’s home, in Campo dei Miracoli, home to the Renaissance church projected by Pietro Lombardo, his masterpiece in Venice, and Campo Santissimi Giovanni e Paolo where the gothic Basilica founded by the Dominicans and the magnificent Scuola Grande di San Marco are located. Leaving the Strada Nuova, the exploration of the inner side of the “sestiere” will proceed from the Fondamenta della Misericordia and the Fondamenta dell’Abbazia to the Madonna dell’Orto isolated church and, finally, will give the opportunity to get the flavor of a Venetian historical garden on entering a typical XVII century palace now transformed into a hotel.

The Ghetto, where the Jewish population was segregated in Cannaregio, has five historic synagogues with an active Jewish community. The Fondamente Nove bustles with foot traffic to the Rialto and San Marco, while vaporetto’s (water taxis) head to Murano and other islands. Side streets lead into quiet picturesque neighborhoods and palaces like Ca' d'Oro rise directly out of the water.

Inclusions: Private expert English-speaking local walking guide

Castello is the eastern “sestiere” of Venice and it covers a wide area of the island, Castello is still densely populated and yet has somewhat maintained the look & atmosphere of a little village. Your walking tour route today, starts from Piazza San Marco, where you will proceed eastwards through Campo Santa Maria Formosa and Campo Santissimi Giovanni e Paolo, the second most important open-air section of the island & home to the gothic Basilica founded by the Dominicans and the magnificent Scuola Grande di San Marco.

Leaving behind the impressive baroque façade of the church of Santa Maria dei Derelitti and getting to the Palladian church of San Francesco della Vigna, the exploration of the furthest boundaries include a stop in front of the imposing entrance to the Arsenal, once the shipyard of the Republic of Venice, and another along Via Garibaldi, a colorful and lively area, to end up on the small, secluded island of San Pietro, owning its name to the former cathedral of Venice before the Basilica di San Marco became itself the seat of the bishop at the beginning of the XIX century.

Castello is the Venice, which is still for the Venetians, a bordering area in which the daily rhythms of life in its narrow lanes and squares have not changed significantly despite the advent of mass tourism and which precisely for this reason offers a charming perspective of life, of the work, chat and ease of the elderly inhabitants seated outside their houses.

Inclusions: Private expert English-speaking local walking guide

A stroll between San Marco and Dorsoduro, the central and southern districts of the city, away from the crowd, discovering hidden corners and charming canals. Enjoy your private guided walking tour.

Starting from Piazza San Marco, we walk to the magnificent Teatro La Fenice, one of the oldest opera houses in Italy, re-opened after a long period of restoration, is only five minutes away and not far is the impressive XV century Scala Contarini del Bovolo, the only example of an external winding staircase in Venice. The itinerary will then include Campo San Beneto with the imposing façade of the gothic Palazzo Fortuny, Campo Sant’Angelo and Campo Santo Stefano at the bottom of which the Accademia bridge rises connecting the two “sestieri” and offering a stunning view of the Grand Canal.

A stop along the Zattere, the nearby waterfront where in the past the cargoes of timber were unloaded after having been sent to Venice by flotation, is a must. While enjoying a delicious “gianduiotto” (iced chocolate topped with whipped cream) the outline of the Giudecca Island right in front will appear as a watercolor on a huge easel. Heading for Campo Santa Margherita, the liveliest among the open-air spaces in the city and where your tour will end, the oldest gondola yard still surviving in Venice and the fascinating Fondamenta San Sebastiano will be on the way.

In this fascinating part of town (Dorsoduro), which still holds onto its old-world charm, there are restaurants along the canals and other points of interest that make this area a great destination to see on this walking tour & to return to on own.

Inclusions: Private expert English-speaking local walking guide

Today on this 3-hour walking tour of the San Marco sestieri, your private walking guide will focus on the traditional historic sites. Where you will learn how Venice evolved as a city through the fascinating history of its most important sites: the Bridge of Sighs, the Doge's Palace, the Clock Tower, and Piazza San Marco. See the Golden Basilica with its 89,000 sq, ft. of mosaics and incredible Golden Screen, then walk through the alleys of Venice to reach the Rialto Bridge, the Grand Canal, and the Rialto Market.

The Piazza San Marco is a main gathering place in the city of Venice. it is one of the largest Piazza’s in the world & with its palaces, pavement cafes, and pigeons, the piazza is one of the most iconic sights in all of Venice. Also, you will visit the Doge’s Palace once the seat of the Venetian Empire and houses masterpieces of art by Titian, Veronese, as well as Tintoretto. Then walk through the Bridge of Sighs.

OPTIONAL: Add +1 Hour to your day to include the Secret Itineraries

The Secret Itinerary through the Doge’s Palace covers the rooms and chambers where the delicate work of some of the most important bodies in the Venetian administration was carried out. These spaces offer an interesting insight into and acknowledgement of the civil and political history of the Venice Republic, its public organizations, and its institutional bodies deputed to government and justice.

Inclusions:

All Entry Tickets & Advanced Reservations

Private expert English-speaking local walking guide

Alternate Versions of this tour:

+1 Hour add San Polo Sestieri

or

Ultimate Venice - 3 Hours [modified itinerary + private Gondola or boat on grand canal for 1 hour.

Your private boat tour today includes the little island gems of Murano, Burano & Torcello. Along with a local expert private English-speaking guide who will take you onto all three islands. First on Murano, where you’ll visit a private workshop of Murano Glass for a demonstration of the craft of traditional glassblowing techniques. Then on to Burano, where the houses and shop buildings of Burano are like no other. Each house has a different color from one another and most of the buildings look like Lego pieces because they are built with brick and stone, yet their color schemes are of the rainbow. As well the island is famous for it’s lacework and lace boutiques. Lastly, we visit Torcello for a nice walking tour of the island and visit of the oldest cathedral in Venice known for its ancient mosaics & Byzantine decorations. The island of Torcello is one of the most popular destinations in the Northern Regions of Italy, due to its elegant structures and natural beauty. The city itself consists of a charming maze of low-level houses in canals that vary in depth.

Inclusions:

Private expert English-speaking local guide & boat driver with transportation

Today enjoy a short private guided walking tour of Verona, with a local expert English-speaking guide.

You will visit the Piazza Bra, where the Arena is located and then Piazza delle Erbe, the Market Square, Piazza dei Signori. Today you will walk thru the lovely streets of this elegant once Roman city.

With this tour you’ll have plenty of time to admire the monuments, the inside courtyards, the beautiful buildings and the hidden spots and streets of Verona, including Juliet’s house and balcony.

This is a local tour and your must be staying in Verona to enjoy the tour program itself. While at additional cost transportation from nearby cities/towns with a private English-speaking driver can be arranged for you. Verona can also be included when with a driver on other tours in this part of the country (if time allowing), as well you can arrive and visit by rail for the day if desired, and guide can meet you at station.

Inclusions: Private expert English-speaking local walking guide

To reach Trieste we will use a private English-speaking driver who will meet you in Piazzale Roma area fo Venice. We can also arrange for a private water taxi service to get you to Piazzale Roma from your accommodations on island if desired (additional cost). Then on arrival in Trieste you’ll meet your local expert English speaking guide, who will tour the area with you for approx. 6 hours.

Today you’ll discover the wonderful city of Trieste, visit the castle & park of Miramare, the beautiful piazza Unita' d’Italia, the Gran Canal, the Roman theatre and the various religious churches and communities. Once you’ve arrived on the hill of the Cathedral, dedicated to San Giusto, you'll enjoy the spectacular views facing the sea and the Gulf of Trieste, Miramare Park, and castle: just unforgettable.

The castle was the princely residence of Archduke Ferdinand Maximilian and his wife Charlotte during the Habsburg Monarchy (from1382 - until 1918). It is also possible to taste the local Italian food specialties and wines in the restaurants of the city.

With the mountains of the Julian Alps guarding its northern border, Trieste boasts a coast that is equally as picturesque, with access to the Adriatic.

Inclusions:

Private expert English-speaking local guide & driver with transportation