Summary:
Venice comes alive in this thrilling and thorough four hour walking tour of the city. With your exclusive and private English Speaking Licensed Tour Guide, you will be able to converse with a knowledgable and friendly expert of Venice. As you and your small private group walk the many narrow pathways and visit numerous sites, your Guide will explain to you the history, customs, and culture of Venice as well as be happy to answer any question you may have.  The many highlights of your tour include: Campo San Rocco, Santa Maria Gloriosa Dei Frari, Campo San Polo, Riva del Vin, Rialto Bridge, Campo San Bartolomeo, Fondaco dei Tedeschi, Corte del Milion, Campo San Giovanni e Paolo, The Grand Canal, Riva degli Schiavoni, and Church of the Pieta. 
 
                                                                                      Overview:
Waiting on your ship's pier at the time of your preference will be your professional, private and exclusive, English speaking licensed Tour Guide. Holding a sign with your group's name, your Tour Guide will escort you to a boat which will transfer you to Piazzale Roma. Sit back and relax in comfort as you travel through the canals of Venice, admiring the astonishing archetecture and buildings. 

Your tour begins as you approach Campo San Rocco. View the Church of Saint Roch and the nearby Scuola Grande di San Rocco, which was purpose was meant to assist the citizens during the trying times of Renaissance Venice. Santa Maria Gloriosa Dei Frari, the Gothic Church designed in the 14th Century, with simple brick and punctuated with a white marble portico and pinnacles, will be your next stop. Continue to one of Venice's oldest squares, Campo San Polo, where bull fights, ceremonies, and concerts took place Centuries ago. Today, Campo San Polo is home to the annual film festival and Venice's Carnival celebrations. 

On your way to the Grand Canal, you will walk down narrow streets and a special pathway called Riva del Vin. As the name suggests, because of its proximity to warehouses and the Grand Canal, it was here on the Riva del Vin that wine barrels were offloaded from the boats.  It is from the Riva del Vin that you will see one of the most famous bridges in Venice and the largest of the four bridges that span the Grand Canal, the Rialto Bridge. Built in 1524, the sturdy Rialto Bridge was designed to avoid collapsing like many of the city's other wooden bridges. Be sure to have your camera ready as you cross the Rialto on your way to Campo San Bartolomeo. Take time to admire the beautiful statue of Carlo Goldoni, a famous Venetian dialect play write, before continuing to Fondaco dei Tedeschi.

Formally a German warehouse and a large commercial emporium, the Fondaco dei Tedeschi, a Renaissance style building, has served as Venice's main post office since 1870. Your licensed tour guide will then lead you to Corte del Million, where Marco Polo's family lived and then onto Campo San Giovanni e Paolo. 

Campo San Giovanni e Paolo is one of Venice's most monumental squares. With a church, a monument, and patrician palaces interspered with modest houses, the square typifies Venetian Stlye and will be yours to explore. Be sure to tour the impressive Gothic Church, which was built in the 13th century, and is home to the tombs of 25 Doges. Dedicated to Saint John and St. Paul, marvel at the style, columns, and glass windows which were created by the nearby Murano glassblowers.

Your guide will lead you through the winding narrow streets, through courtyards and squares to the final area of your tour Riva degli Schiavoni and the Church of the Pieta. Better known as Antonio Vivaldi's Church, it is here some of his finest music was composed and sung by the choir of orphan girls. 

Unfortunately all good things must come to an end, including your thorough and complete exploration of Venice and its many impressive monuments, squares, buildings, culture, and history. Upon the completion of your tour, some Guests may prefer to stay in the heart of Venice and return to the cruiseship independently and at your own expense while other Guests may prefer to return to the cruiseship with the boat transfer we have arranged. Whatever you choose to do, although the tour may have come to an end, you will always be a part of The Guest Planners Family. 

 

                                                                        Customize Your Tour:
Venice is a historical city with many small pathways. Therefore, all tours are guided by a licensed English Speaking Tour Guide. Highlights of this tour include:  
Boat transfer at the start and end of the tour
Campo San Rocco
Santa Maria Gloriosa Dei Frari
Campo San Polo
Riva del Vin
Rialto Bridge
Campo San Bartolomeo
Fondaco dei Tedeschi
Corte del Milion
Campo San Giovanni e Paolo
The Grand Canal
Riva degli Schiavoni
Church of the Pieta

                                                                                       Notes:
The tour can be customized to your preference. The order of the tour may be modified to maximize your time and enjoyment. While we will make every attempt to include all parts of the tour as listed above, there is the slight possibility that for reasons beyond our control,  an aspect of the tour will need to be skipped, replaced, or modified. While we suggest wearing comfortable walking shoes and clothing, please respect local customs of covering shoulders and knees when visiting a religious site. Guests will need to walk approximately 1.5 miles during this 4 hour tour. Please also limit your personal belongings as large bags, backpacks, and even jackets must be checked into the cloakroom before entering the venues for security reasons. Photography is not permitted inside some locations.  Guides are not permitted to lecture inside of San Giovanni e Paolo but will walk you throughout the church and point out the major aspects. On Sunday Mornings and church holiday's or sometimes for unexpected functions, tours cannot enter the Church. However, there is the possibility on these days that the church will allow you to enter on an individual basis. Tours or individuals will not be allowed inside the Cathedral during high tide as the main entrance will be blocked. Regardless of the day, you tour guide will provide a thorough explaination about the exterior of the Church as well as what can be expected when you tour the interior. Depending on the berth in which your cruise ship is docked, a transfer by boat may not be needed due to its close proximity to the tour. If this is the case, your Guide will still meet you at the pier and as you walk to Campo San Rocco, he or she will point out the major sites of Venice.

For your protection and convenience, payment must be made through credit card on The Guest Planners secure payment processing system. We will be happy to accept multiple credit cards for your group. During the tour, we suggest leaving valuables in your onboard safe and only carrying a minimal amount of cash. Our extremely competitive pricing is below. If you have any further questions or if The Guest Planners Team can be of any assistance, including making a reservation, or customizing a tour for your group, please call (305) 933 - 4888 or E-mail Reservations@TheGuestPlanners.com. We look forward to you joining our "Family." Thank you!