VENICE SLOW INTRODUCTION
VENICE SLOW INTRODUCTION
Arriving to Venice after a long flight or an intense train journey, what would you feel like doing? If you are an art and history lover and sense you cannot miss a ‘milestone’ like St. Mark’s Basilica, we suggest you planning a mid-afternoon tour. Around 3.30/4.00 pm there is a wonderful sunlight in the Piazza, your pictures of the façade, with all its golden details and rich colors will be fab! The big crowds will be gone, and there will be room inside to linger at admiring the Byzantine mosaics, the incredible floor, the architecture.
Your guide will sketch the 900-year-long history of this Roman Catholic church, once private chapel of the Doges’ Palace, today still active as Patriarchal See. You will learn how the Venetians did not hesitate in spoiling other buildings to transform their own church into an enormous jewel-box. The walls, in and out, are totally encrusted with marbles, stones, alabasters, mostly ‘inherited’ from Constantinople 800 years ago.
Constantly flooded by tourists and salt water, this noble construction is struggling to survive and looks forward to quick environmental solutions and a more sustainable form of tourism. From this viewpoint, it epitomizes the destiny of the whole city of Venice, dramatically assaulted by the waters and, at least until 2019, by some 30 million tourists a year. A question our visitors frequently pose: how long will it last?
At this point, a break is advisable:
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you need time to absorb the beauty and retain what you saw and heard!
According to weather conditions, and tastes, we will sit inside or outside in the Piazza, our first choice is, of course Café Florian: the timeless elegance of its velvets, mirrors, gildings and other decors will conquer you! While we sip a good hot chocolate or a refreshing juice, your guide might continue narrating about the other historical buildings in the Piazza, answering your questions, pausing here and then to listen together to the orchestra. You can start reviving all the VIP customers that, like yourself, sat at the Florian’s since 1720!
This tour lasts two hours, includes priority admission to the Basilica, visit to the ‘Pala d’ Oro’ inside St Mark’s, plus a drink (coffee, chocolate, cappuccino, juice or soft drinks) and some pastries at the Florian.
HIGHLIGHTS
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- St Mark’s Basilica with priority admission
- Visit to the Pala d’Oro
- Historical intro to Venice
- Cafe’ Florian with drinks and pastries
DRESS CODE AND ADVICE
- No sleeveless, no shorts.
- Short sleeves and knee high garments are ok !
COST
- This tour lasts two hours and costs 210 euros up to six people (not per person), only private parties. For larger parties send us an email!
- The above cost does NOT include entrance fees and tastings
- Admission fees at St.Mark’s Basilica: 12 euros per person
- Coffee and biscuits: 35 euros per person
CONTACT US
WALKS INSIDE ITALY
ART CITY WALKS aff. Network Giv
San Polo 1541 30125 VENICE, ITALY
C.F. e P. Iva 04331170276
Prot. 2016/16140 del 25-2-2016
Polizza Europ Assistance 8957877
