ShoreTrips says...

This private tour is designed for easygoing travelers who desire a general overview of Venice. You'll learn about the city's essential history and art, but also get a chance to peak around picturesque corners, taste some delicious food, and relax.

Your tour begins in San Marco Square, where you'll visit its most important monuments: the Bridge of Sighs, the Doge's Palace, the Bell tower, and St. Mark's Basilica. A visit to the interior of this incredible church and its treasuries is included.

Leaving the tourist crowds behind, you'll walk through narrow alleys and small tranquil squares, discovering curious and peculiar buildings and picturesque corners. Upon reaching the famous Rialto bridge, which links the two banks of the Grand Canal, you'll cross over to the other side of the city. Here, you'll explore the Rialto Market. This is the ideal place to stop at a couple of delicious eateries to taste genuine Venetian food and good wine.

By early afternoon you'll be ready to start the private boat excursion portion of your tour, which will take you to the Venetian Lagoon to visit the three important and famous islands of Murano, Burano, and Torcello. These islands feature excellent craftsmanship, the most picturesque fisherman villages, and the oldest sights in the Venetian Lagoon.

In Murano, famous for its glassmaking, you'll see how these treasures are made. In quaint Burano, you'll walk through the colorful alleys, admire the quayside porticoes, and browse the little lace- making workshops. Then, it's on to sparsely populated Torcello, where you can sit in the enchanted garden of the famous Cipriani restaurant and sip a coffee while admiring the oldest building preserved in the Venetian Lagoon. Lastly, you'll have the opportunity to gaze at the splendid byzantine mosaics of the Basilica of Santa Maria Assunta before returning to Venice.