Your Friend In Venice » See Venice

The Venetian Slow Boat

Your Friend in Venice — Tue, 19 Jan 2010 17:51:03 +0000

BOATS AND A ROWING STYLE UNIQUE IN ALL THE WORLD

Since the city’s inception, Venetians have been rowing flat-bottomed, keelless boats designed specifically to navigate shallow waters of the lagoon. The famous gondola is the most evolved version, but it’s easy to spot all sorts of private rowers threading the canals and easing under bridges.

Only since the 1960s has the private motor boat become the principal mode of transport: prior to that, every family had its own rowboat (much like they’d have a car today). Since then, little by little, the all-wooden, hand-crafted boats — along with centuries, eons of traditions, have begun to slowly sink below the surface of the blue lagoon.

ARZANÀ: CURATORS OF VENICE’S NAUTICAL TRADITION

Touch an original, hand-carved felze (gondola cover), learn of the curious implements used to construct the boats, admire their collections of original cotton fishing nets, oars, forcole, and a unique gondola al fresco from 1920, and the floating collection of original wooden batele boats, all meticulously conserved in one of the most famous squeri (boat yards) in Venice.

We’ll even take a ride in a original, traditional batela, weather permitting.

INCLUDES: One-hour tour of the historic,, ex-squero Casal; short canal tour in an authentic, traditional batela boat, weather permitting.

COST:
2-4 pp: €60
6 pp: €80

Rates are discounted if we’re unable to take the boat ride.

Classic Canal Cruise

admin — Fri, 05 Jun 2009 20:40:11 +0000

PRIVATE or SMALL GROUP. This unique tour offers one the easiest and most beguiling introduction as you cruise along the Grande, gracious highway in your private water-taxi. Removed from the tumult of the tourist bustle, your guide will point out today’s as well as historic Venice—accompanied by a Prosecco or the famous Bellini cocktail along the way.

This small group (10 pp max) water-taxi tour departs San Zaccaria, heads across the bacino pastthe Piazza San Marco, up the Grand Canal, and into some of the smaller side canals. The private tour offers the advantage of your being able to set both the pickup time and location.

INCLUDES:
Small group taxi tour, 5:00 p.m. daily, 1 hour 10 minutes, 10 people maximum; or, private tour in water taxi with private guide (recommended for groups of five or more).

Please note: From Nov 1 though the spring time change, the tour departs at 4:00 p.m. and is available from Thurs – Sun, and on Tuesday.

COST:
€40 per person

A private, one-hour version of this tour (€240) is also available, and recommended for groups of four or more, as the price begins to be about the same.

Vi Presentiamo Venezia

Your Friend in Venice — Sun, 31 May 2009 22:00:10 +0000

Meet your guide at the Rialto Market, where you’ll get a brief tour of the gastronomic melèe that has been an intregral part of Venice’s commericial center since its inception on the “riva alta.” Hop the vaporetto and head for Santa Maria dei Frari which contains a wonderfully diverse yet highly representative art collection by Venice’s most prominent masters (the best gelato in town is right around the corner). Embark on a one-hour canal tour in a water taxi for a more intimate and evocative view of the city, ending at the Republic’s political and celebratory center, the magnificent Piazza San Marco. Cross the Canal one last time to hear the history behind the soaring Santa Maria della Salute church, one of the few examples of Baroque architecture in the city.

INCLUDES:

Private guide for 3 hours

1-hour canal tour in water taxi

COST:
€345 (for up to six people)

Venezia & Vetro

Your Friend in Venice — Sat, 30 May 2009 23:18:04 +0000

This tour is similar to Vi Presentiamo Venezia, but is modified for those with a deeper interest in Murano art glass. You’ll begin your visit at the Rialto Markets, followed by a winding walking tour across the Rialto Bridge to the Piazza San Marco, for centuries the seat of the Venetian Republic’s political power. You’ll then embark on a one-hour water taxi tour of the city that will end on the island of Murano, where your guide will escort you to select, expert artisans as he recounts the rich history of glass along with the myriad of techniques (both traditional and contemporary) in which it is worked.

INCLUDES:

Private guide for four hours (total)

1-hour in water taxi

COST:

€430 (for up to six people)

Secret Itineraries & the Doge’s Palace

Your Friend in Venice — Wed, 27 May 2009 10:14:29 +0000

You may already be familiar with the Secret Itineraries group tour offered by the Musei di Venezia: is extremely popular, escorting visitors through the private, fascinating, less-celebrated rooms of the Doge’s Palace: the Chancellor’s quarters, the Tribune, prison and Casanova’s cell…you’ll even be escorted above the ceiling of the Palace’s massive Sala Maggiore to investigate its amazing overhead support system.

As in any group of up to thirty people, however, some of these interesting explanations can get lost. As an ideal alternative, we are delighted to offer a Secret Itineraries tour with an authorized private guide, combining it with a tour of the Doge’s Palace itself: the best of both worlds!

INCLUDES:

Private guide for 2 hours

Private Secret Itineraries and Doge’s Palace tour

COST:
€160 (for up to six people) + museum entrance fees
(€18 ea full; €12 ea for 65+ yrs)

Glass Reflections, Lace Formations, Mosaic Origins

Your Friend in Venice — Sat, 16 May 2009 23:26:39 +0000

You begin by meeting your guide at the Fondamente Nove vaporetto stop, where he’ll accompany you on the 40-minute ride to the island of Torcello — one of the most evocative environments in the lagoon. On the ride out, he’ll recount the history of the original settlement that once was home to 10,000 inhabitants. The intimate Torcello cathedral houses stunning mosaics, a plaque dating from 639 a.d., and a bell tower offering a tranquil and unique lagoon view.

Contrast that with the bustling island of Burano, just five minutes by vaporetto, teeming with lace, multicolored houses and a fishing and rowing tradition that extends back centuries.

You’ll take a private taxi back to Murano, which in contrast, is not an “island,” but more of home to the complex, multi-faceted, artistic glass enterprise, whose origins date back to the 12c, but include a rennaissance from the late 1800s till today. You’ll hear about this history while visiting a variety of artisans and furnaces that produce everything from chandeliers to glass beads, when each came into being, and leave with a broader understanding what Murano glass truly is (and maybe even a chandelier).

(Lunch can be either on Burano or Murano, depending on client desires. It is not included in the tour itself.)

Instead of Murano, you may choose instead travel back to Venice in your water taxi, where you can complete the rest of your experiential Venetian history tour by visiting the gothic Frari Church with its magnificent Assumption by Titian, the Rennaissance Santa Maria della Salute, ending the Piazza San Marco (just in time for a visit to the Basilica should you so choose).

INCLUDES:
Private guide (6 hours), private taxi (Burano to Murano)

COST:
€620

Island Origins and Evolution to Preeminence

Your Friend in Venice — Sat, 16 May 2009 23:22:21 +0000

You’ll meet your guide at the Rialto Market vaporetto stop, where’ll you’ll begin by touring this lively and historic fish & vegetable market. Head to the Fondamente Nove, stopping to visit the Miracoli Church along the way, then pick up the Laguna Nord vaporetto to Burano. During the 40 min ride, Your guide will paint the picture of Venice’s origins, referencing various sights as they glide past. Another five-minute vaporetto ride takes you further back in time to the evocative island and original lagoon settlement of Torcello. You’ll visit Santa Maria Assunta cathedral and its splendid mosaics (noting the plaque dated 639). You’ll take in the unique lagoon view from the bell tower before returning to visit the colorful island of Burano, known for its fishing and lace, where you’ll have lunch.

You’ll return to Venice in a water taxi (20 minutes) where for your next three hours you’ll continue your experiential Venetian history tour by visiting the Frari (with Titian’s magnificent Assumption by Titian(, the Santa Maria della Salute church (constructed in thanks to the Madonna for ending a second plague), and the Piazza San Marco (just in time for a visit to the Basilica should you so choose).

If you prefer, you may substitute a visit to the Island of Murano (See Venezia e Vetro) for the Piazza, Frari & Salute churches.

INCLUDES:

Private guide (6 hours), water taxi transfer from Burano to Murano. Lunch is not included; but your guide will suggest several options depending on your hunger and mood, from panini to primo to a full meal.

COST:

€620

Custom Walking Tour (water optional)

Your Friend in Venice — Fri, 01 May 2009 23:29:35 +0000

Let us know your interests and preferences, and we’ll custom-design a walking tour that will meet your needs. We’ll be happy to give you some advice on what you may or may not want to include according to your familiarity with the city, the country, and the way you prefer to sightsee.

INCLUDES:

Private guide and custom-designed tour; does not include any museum entrances or vaporetto tickets. Taxi is optional.

COST:

€255 for up to six people.

€285 to include interior of any the following:
The Doge’s Palace, San Marco Basilica, Accademia Museum.

Add €110 to include 1-hour in private water taxi.

Museum entrances are not included and may be paid in cash on site.