Byzantine Venice Walking tour with Skip the Line Saint Mark's Basilica

A combined tour that allows you to discover the most important historical places and buildings of Venice. This tour is guided and divided into two parts. At 9.00am from a centrally located meeting point you will be lead by a professional guide through the most characteristic places around the areas of Saint Mark's Square and Castello (duration 1 hour and 30'). Then at twelve o'clock we will meet again and you will visit the interiors of Saint Mark's Basilica, discovering the Byzantine history, the Golden Pall (Pala d'Oro) and the glittering mosaics.

Leaving the square, you will be guided into the residential Castello area, allowing you to discover this part of Venice in all of its elegance, through its labyrinth of narrow alleys - “calli”, many bridges, winding canals and wide picturesque squares - “campi”.

Itinerary
This is a typical itinerary for this product

Stop At: Piazza San Marco, 31024 Venice Italy

The tour starts with a historical introduction of St. Marks’s Square, and its architectural delights, allowing you to discover the history of the majestic St. Mark’s Basilica, the illustrious Doge’s Palace, once the seat of the power of the Republic of Venice, and the extraordinary, renaissance clock tower.

Duration: 10 minutes

Stop At: Campo Santa Maria Formosa, Castello, Venice Italy

Leaving the square, you will be guided into the residential Castello area, allowing you to discover this part of Venice in all of its elegance, through its labyrinth of narrow alleys - “calli”, many bridges, winding canals and wide picturesque squares - “campi”.

You can expect to see campo Santa Maria Formosa, one of the largest squares in Venice with its church, named after its visitation of the Holy Virgin.

Duration: 30 minutes

Stop At: Basilica dei Santi Giovanni e Paolo, Campo SS. Giovanni e Paolo, 6363 Venice Italy

You will also see Campo Santi Giovanni and Paolo where you will be able to admire the famous church, the resting place of several Doges; and the equestrian monument of Bartolomeo Colleoni, an Italian mercenary Captain.

Duration: 30 minutes

Stop At: Casa di Marco Polo, Calle Scaleta, 30121 Venice Italy

The former residence of Marco Polo, probably the most famous Venetian merchant, and the Malibran theatre are also part of the itinerary.

Duration: 30 minutes

Stop At: Basilica di San Marco, San Marco 328, 30124 Venice Italy

After returning to Saint Mark's Square, an official guide will provide you with a detailed tour of the Golden Basilica, once the private chapel of the Doge of Venice, the only one of its kind in Italy, thanks to the sumptuous golden mosaics and impressive marble inlay flooring. During the tour you will be able to sit down in the church and absorb the atmosphere whilst listening to your guide who will describe the biblical scenes represented throughout the building, together with history and particularities of this ancient Basilica.
The tour includes the visit of the famous Pala d’Oro -an altarpiece made of gold and silver and an exquisite example of Byzantine art with a myriad of gems and precious stones.

This 2 hour and 30 minute combined tour concludes outside the Basilica, in Saint Mark's Square.

Duration: 50 minutes