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St Mark's Campanile, Venice © Sam Walker

Jacopo Tintoretto, 'Crucifixion' in the Scuola Grande di San Rocco, Venice © Sam Walker

Scuola Grande di San Rocco © Sam Walker

Basilica di Santa Maria della Salute, Venice © Sam Walker

Essential Venice - All the unmissable splendours of La Serenissima

Overview Practicalities Testimonials

Section:

Tour highlights

The varied joys of Venice, led by an art historian and one-time resident.
Little visited quarters as well as better known, history as well as art, present as well as past.
Includes a private after-hours visit to St Mark’s to see the splendid mosaics illuminated.

The most Serene Republic of Venice grew in power, status and territory for over a millennium, until Napoleon forced it to dissolve itself in 1797. But the political and social turmoil that ensued did not prevent artists, writers and musicians from continuing to flock to this most alluring and inspiring of cities, nor dent its appeal as the climactic destination for any European ‘Grand Tour’.

More recently, Venice has maintained a fiercely contemporary art scene. The Venice Biennale, Architecture Biennale and the Venice International Film Festival are among the hottest events in the global cultural calendar.

The city is divided into six sestieri, or neighbourhoods, each with its own character and history: San Marco, San Polo, Dorsoduro, Cannaregio, Castello and Santa Croce (now home to the main transport hubs and the only one not visited on this tour). It is through the lens of these distinct districts that our story of Venice is told.

San Marco is at the heart of the city, both geographically and historically. The Palazzo Ducale was the political and administrative centre of La Serenissima, where the Doge and the complex system of councils governed the expanding territories of the Venetian Republic. Their influence extended to the other seat of power, the Patriarchate of Venice in St Mark’s Basilica, where Venice was kept ideologically independent from the Vatican.

The sestiere of San Polo, across the Grand Canal, is home to ancient markets and many magnificent churches. Dorsoduro is very different in ambience, the streets quieter as tourists dissipate and the peaceful canals evoke a slower pace of Italian life. But it is also a thriving university district and home to significant art collections.

Finally, Castello and Cannaregio, the two largest areas. Being relatively less visited does not mean there is a shortage of splendour or historical significance: the shipyards of the Arsenale underpinned Venice’s naval supremacy; while the Ghetto, to which Jews were confined by the Doge in 1516, remains the heart of Jewish life in the city.

Practicalities

Two sharing: A$6,910 or A$6,450 without flights. Single occupancy: A$8,050 or A$7,590 without flights.

Travel between Venice Airport and hotel by water-taxi, a vaporetto pass for the duration of the tour; luggage porterage from and to the airport; hotel accommodation; breakfasts and 3 dinners with wine, water, coffee; all admissions; all tips; all taxes; the services of the lecturer and tour manager.

Hotel Splendid, Venice: delightful 4-star hotel situated half-way between Piazza San Marco and the Rialto bridge. Single rooms are doubles for sole use.

The nature of Venice means that the city is more often than not traversed on foot. Although part of her charm, there is a lot of walking along the flat and up and down bridges; standing around in museums and churches is also unavoidable. The tour should not be attempted by anyone who has difficulty with everyday walking and stair-climbing.

Are you fit enough to join the tour?

Between 8 and 18 participants.

Before booking, please refer to Smartraveller to ensure you are happy with the travel advice for the destination(s) you are visiting. As a British company we follow the advice of the UK Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office.

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