Private Merchant of Venice

Private Merchant of Venice -  The Way of Marco Polo between Spices and Olfactory Tea Experience
From $87.00/person to $646.00/person (Select "Individuals" below) Price varies based on number of individuals in your group
Choose Options My Cruise Itinerary
Sorry, this excursion is not available for purchase.
Summary
Shore Excursion Size ? Private
Shore Excursion Type Cultural, Active, Scenic
Shore Excursion Duration 3 Hours
Activity Level ? Moderate
Shore Excursion Leaves From ? Cruise Ship Pier
Food/Beverage Provided Tea Tasting with cookies
Recommended Dress We recommend wearing comfortable, weather appropriate clothing. Hat, sunscreen, sunglasses and closed toe shoes are recommended.
Restrictions This tour takes place in historical areas and, therefore, is not wheelchair accessible. Participants must be able to walk on paved, as well as cobblestone surfaces. There are steps and steep curbs in some areas. This tour is not suitable for guests with walking difficulties or those who use partly-motorized vehicles or walkers.

Board a private water taxi to Venice and roam the Rialto market, enjoy a tea tasting, learn about Marco Polo's contributions, and more on this guided tour. Your tour includes an experienced local guide who will share stories about Marco Polo's travels from Asia, where he gathered spices, herbs, and other rare items of his time to bring home and how these contributes impacted Venice and Europe. Visit the outside of his home and get an olfactory experience while learning about perfuming techniques at a historic chemist shop. It's the perfect excursion for history buffs!

Begin your walking tour by meeting your local city guide and start exploring Venice the way Marco Polo did. Dubbed the "Merchant of Venice," Marco Polo traveled afar to Asia and brought back rare items of his time to Venice like spices and herbs. Learn the tales behind Marco Polo and discover why his travels and the goods he brought back home from Asia impacted the culture and food in Venice. Pass through the Rialto Market to see the types of herbs and spices that Marco Polo introduced to Venice long ago and are stilled used today.

Next, see Marco Polo's home where you'll get a glimpse of the hidden gem where the famed traveler and his family once lived. View the outside of his home and see the marble plaque that commemorates his abode. The tour also passes by the Atelier Bevilacqua, a weaver famous for creating a variety of textiles that characterizes traditional Venetian textiles, such as brocades, damasks, and soprarizzi velvet used to create wall hangings and table runners.

Conclude your private cultural experience with a stop at an ancient chemist shop to delight in a tea tasting and to enjoy an aromatic experience. Learn about Venetian-style perfume layering, an art form the Vidal family created. Find The Merchant of Venice brand and discover a wide selection of scents from woodsy to floral aromas before heading back to your port.

From exploring the outskirts of Marco Polo's home to taking in the floral scents in a historic chemist shop, this private guided tour offers a one-of-a-kind experience that's a cultural connoisseur's dream. Sign up for this exciting private tour today and get ready to make lifelong memories in Venice.