Venice is truly unique in the world: a city of astonishing and breathtaking beauty, built on 126 islands in a lagoon of the Adriatic Sea. There are no roads, only canals and open water, with the Grand Canal being the most famous thoroughfare. People get around by boat or on foot in Venice, which is connected by 472 bridges.
Your top-rated private guide will meet you under the Winged Lion’s Column on Piazza San Marco, the central square of Venice. The piazza is home to the Basilica San Marco, famed for its Byzantine mosaics and campanile bell tower overlooking the picturesque red roofs of the city. After an introduction and some history, your guide will escort you to your boat taxi. From here, you’ll cruise down Venice’s iconic Grand Canal, mingling with the water traffic, the wind in your hair, the sun on your face – and all you have to do is sit back and relax on this luxurious private tour. Glorious.
Enjoy a complimentary glass of prosecco as you admire the Renaissance and Baroque architecture, the grand palaces, and the magnificent churches that line the Grand Canal. Take photos of the most famous Venetian buildings and monuments, including the iconic Rialto Bridge, the Basilica of Santa Maria della Saluta, and dozens of grand palazzos from the Grassi to the Guggenheim.
Once a Republic governed by the Doge of Venice and a maritime trading powerhouse, Venice’s stature in the world is no longer associated with past military glory. Today it is considered one of the most romantic and beautiful cities on earth, and variously called “La Serenissima”, “City of Masks” for its glittering, costumed, Carnivale, “City of Bridges”, “The Floating City” and “Queen of the Adriatic” among other nicknames. With its dramatic beauty, it is no surprise that Venice features in many films from Indiana Jones to several James Bond movies.
Your tour of the Grand Canal by boat ends where you started back at the iconic Saint Mark’s Square.