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.

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.

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

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