About this experience
You will get acquainted with the symbols of Venice, learn things that cannot be found in guidebooks or Wikipedia, and see curious details that you wouldn't notice on your own. In our program: St. Mark's Basilica, the homonymous piazza and piazzetta, Doge's Palace, St. Mark's Pool, the Bridge of Sighs, and the picturesque districts of Castello. Detailed and engaging, with a focus on the highlights.
What to Expect
- I will tell you how a settlement of people on a swamp, who fled from the barbarians during the great migration period, turned into the capital of one of the most powerful and successful states of Western Europe.
- We will stop at the Fourth Crusade - a turning point that determined the further prosperity and power of Venice in the Mediterranean.
- We will talk about Venetian colonies and the riches brought from Byzantium.
- You will also learn about the political structure of the Venetian Republic.
- Who is Saint Mark and why is his symbolic image - the winged lion - everywhere? The most reproachful, the most charming, the most underfed... Let's discuss it during the meeting!
In addition, you will learn about the origins of the biblical names of two bridges. Take a close look at the Clock Tower and discover interesting details. Find out which place in Venice is better to avoid. And enjoy the most stunning view of the city from the roof of a 16th-century German-speaking monastery. And for the most curious ones, we will analyze the mosaic and the stories on the facade of the basilica.
We will end where it all began, crossing the only bridge that connected the banks of the Grand Canal throughout the history of the Republic of St. Mark - Rialto, with a detailed story about it and the center of medieval world trade.
Organizational Details
Additional expenses: tickets to St. Mark's Basilica (6 euros per person). It is necessary to purchase them online in advance to skip the line. If you fail to buy tickets for the tour date, we will explore the building from the outside and attend the mass in the evening.
