Private Merchant of Venice
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.