This tour introduces to the main monuments of Saint Mark's Square like Saint Mark's Basilica, the Bell Tower, the Procuratie and Marciana Library.
But then it will start a walking tour lead by an official guide that will let you discover tidbits and history of some important spots around San Marco area like Campo Santa Maria Formosa, Church of San Giovanni e Paolo (the Pantheon of the Doges) and the Scuola Grande of San Marco, Marco Polo's House and Malibran Theatre. The path coming back will touch Rialto area and the street of the shops beside Saint Mark's Square.
This is a tour with an official guide of Venice and doesn't include entries to the monuments.

After the walk you'll take a tour sitted on a gondola that will ride Grand Canal and small channels of Saint Mark's area. Among the monuments to which the gondola will pass by there are the Teatro La Fenice, the Salute Church and Punta della Dogana.
Besides you'll see Palazzo Molin del Cuoridoro, the house where Mozarth stayed during the Carnival - from February 11th to March 12th of 1771 - where he also gave a concert the 5th of March.
This is a skip the line tour: you will directly get on the gondola without queueing!

Finally a free optional tour to see Glass Craftsman Demonstration by visiting a Glass Factory close to Saint Mark's square (20 minutes tour).

Walking Tour and a Gondola ride on Grand Canal

Price per person: € 56. € 33 from 2 to 5 years old.
Free under 2 years old without occupying a seat on the gondola. No minimum participants.

St. Mark's Walking Tour

Here you'll know the history of the Basilica of Saint Mark's built in the 8th century as a dogal chapel. The history of the arrival of the relic of the Saint Mark on January 31st 828, stolen by two legendary Venetian merchants and navigators: Rustico da Torcello and Buono da Malamocco.
But St. Mark's Square also contains the magnificent Bell Tower (IX cent.), the Clock Tower I Mori (Renaissance period), the Procuratie Vecchie, Nove and Novissime (Correr Museum) and the Marciana Library. All this monuments will be treated in the explanation offered by the guide.

Then it will start a walk to reach Campo Santa Maria Formosa with its famous church and its curios foundation, Church of San Giovanni e Paolo (calle also Pantheon of the Doges as many of them are buried inside) and the Scuola Grande of San Marco with its fantastic history along the centuries. From there the walk will reach Marco Polo's House in Corte del Milion and the Malibran Theatre before reaching back Saint Mark's Square.

Route of the Gondola Ride

The starting point is in front of Saint Mosè Church, 100 meters far from Saint Mark's Square; from here the gondola takes Rio de San Moisè to reach Rio dei Barcaroli where there's the Mozarth's House and then it passes by La Fenice Theatre. By riding the Rio de l'Alboro the gondola reaches the Grand Canal right in front of Santa Maria della Salute Church projected by Longhena and realized from 1631 and 1687.
After a brief path along the Canal Grande - where it possible to see Punta della Dogana and Saint Mark's Basilica it enters in Rio de Saint Mosè where the ride finishes.

Glass Craftsman Demonstration

Last stop of this tour is a Glass Craftsman Demonstration by visiting a Glass Factory nearby Saint Mark's square (20 minutes tour).

Duration of Walking Tour and a Gondola ride on Grand Canal

– 1 hour and 30 minutes for the walking tour, 30 minutes on the gondola (20 minutes more for the Glass craftsman at work in St. Mark's Square). It ends at 11.30 a.m.

Meeting point in Saint Mark's Square

Once arrived in St. Mark's Square you'll meet your guide beside the Clock Tower (not the Bell Tower) nearby the Basilica. There's a money exchange in the corner and there you'll find our official guide with a sign with the written Tour.

Hours and days of the Walking Tour and a Gondola ride on Grand Canal

– From Monday to Saturday at 9.00 a.m. (not available on Sunday, January 1st and 6th, April 25th, June 22th, August 15th, November 1st and 8th, December 25th).
– Meeting time: 8.45 a.m.
– Starting time: 9.00 a.m.

Languages available for Walking Tour and a Gondola ride on Grand Canal

– From April to October: from Monday to Saturday English, French, Spanish and German. Italian only on Saturday.
– From November to March: English from Monday to Saturday - German on Monday and Friday - French on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday - Spanish on Wednesday and Saturday.

What includes Walking Tour and a Gondola ride on Grand Canal

– This is a shared guided walking tour with a qualified and experienced guide.
– Free sale until the beginning of the tour.
– Approximately 30 minutes shared gondola ride without commentary.
– Audio receiver devices are included in case of groups over 10 people
– Glass Craftsman at work close to Saint Mark's Square.

Cancellation policy for Walking Tour and a Gondola ride on Grand Canal

Reservations can be cancelled with no charge up to 24 hours before the tour. Tour doesn't operate in case of exceptional high tide (in these cases it can be postponed to the day after otherwise it will be refunded).

Accessibility and useful information for Walking Tour and a Gondola ride on Grand Canal

– This tour is not fully accessible for wheelchair users or people with walking disabilities.
– You should have the voucher where is written “service provided by Venice Tours Srl”. Mobile vouchers are accepted.
– The tour could be shared with guests not belonging to the same party.

Saint Giovanni e Paolo Church