You will meet your professionally-trained guide in St Marks Square, which was the political and religious center of the city during the period of the Serenissima Republic. After a brief history of the square, you will visit the Doges Palace (private residence of the Doge, seat of Government and Court of Justice). On the first floor were the offices, on the second floor there are four large meeting rooms and the private apartment of the Doge and on the third floor, great assembly halls. The original palace was begun in Byzantine style in the 9th century but over the centuries it has been destroyed by fire several times. In the 14th century, it was rebuilt in the Gothic style. You will hear about the fascinating history of the city from its founding, as a result of the Veneto people having to take refuge amongst the islands of the lagoon in the 5th century for safety from the invasion of Attila, up to the year 1797 when last Doge, Ludovico Manin handed over his power to the French. You will visit the beautiful rooms with fantastic ceiling decorations and well-known paintings by Titian, Tiepolo, Tintoretto, Carpaccio and Veronese. From the Hall of Magistratures, you will pass over the Bridge of Sighs, a covered passage over the canal between the palace and the ancient prison. Then you will visit the impressive Saint Mark's Basilica (Basilica di San Marco a Venezia), the cathedral of Venice. The first St Mark's, constructed in 828, was a temporary addition to the Doge's Palace, when Venetian merchants stole the supposed relics of Saint Mark the Evangelist from Alexandria. The present day building dates back to 1063 with many additions being made in the following centuries. The interior is based on a Greek cross, with each arm divided in three naves and emphasized by a dome of its own. The use of gold and marble makes it very clear that Venice was a very wealthy and powerful city. The exterior of the cathedral is also a work of art with its arches, domes, mosaics, statues and its famous horses. Although their origin remains unknown, it is certain that the horses, came from the Hippodrome of Constantinople as retribution during the fourth crusade. Due to the ongoing damage from increasing air pollution, the originals have been placed inside the basilica, and replaced outside with exact replicas. Your tour ends back in St. Mark's Square.

Please note: Your tour departs from and returns to the St. Mark's Square area. Transfers to/from St. Mark's Square before and after your tour are not included in the tour price.