Think Venice is only made of stone, canals, and crowds? Think again.
Let me show you a side of the city few ever see on this Private Hidden Gardens of Venice Tour — an intimate, refreshing walk through Venice’s secret green spaces, private courtyards, and peaceful palazzi gardens that have quietly flourished for centuries behind the walls of this water-bound city.
This is not just a walk through gardens — it’s a deeper exploration of Venice through its relationship with nature, architecture, history, and daily life. As a local guide with a passion for my city’s lesser-known stories, I’ve carefully designed this tour to help you fall in love with the hidden Venice — the quiet, green, and unexpectedly tranquil version of the city that most visitors miss entirely.
Despite its seemingly stone-and-water appearance, Venice is filled with unexpected pockets of greenery — if you know where to look. Hidden behind ornate façades and ancient gates are verdant courtyards, secret gardens, and centuries-old palazzi where time seems to stand still.
On this tour, we’ll stroll through Cannaregio and Dorsoduro, two of Venice’s most atmospheric neighborhoods, far from the heavy tourist flow. Here, among quiet alleys and silent canals, you’ll discover places that speak not only of beauty, but also of resilience, mystery, and tradition.
Some of the experiences you can expect:
A private courtyard garden where noble Venetian families once entertained guests beneath flowering pergolas.
A mystical, little-known convent garden filled with symbolism, once reserved for silent meditation.
A hidden corner of a church partially destroyed during World War II, now blooming with quiet beauty and peaceful energy.
Winding pathways through secret palazzi gardens, complete with citrus trees, Renaissance sculptures, and water wells — all normally closed to the public.
Forgotten green oases maintained by locals with a deep-rooted love for Venice and its delicate balance with nature.
Venice may not have large public parks like other cities, but it has something more poetic — a centuries-old tradition of cultivating private green spaces. Venetians have always found ways to bring nature into their homes and lives, even in a city built on saltwater.
We’ll explore how locals historically used plants for food, healing, beauty, and symbolism. You’ll hear about ancient gardening techniques, the importance of sacred trees, the role of herbs in Venetian medicine, and how gardens once symbolized status and serenity.
You’ll gain a completely different understanding of Venice — not as just a historic or artistic marvel, but as a city with deep respect for nature, quietly living in harmony with its surroundings.
This is a private tour, fully customizable to your pace, interests, and curiosity. You won’t find crowds, queues, or tourist traps here. Just the gentle sounds of birds, footsteps on stone, the rustle of leaves, and the stories of Venice that most visitors never hear.
It’s perfect for:
Garden lovers and nature seekers
Photographers or artists looking for inspiration
Travelers who want to experience Venice off the beaten path
Anyone searching for quiet beauty in an often-busy city
Couples or small groups who want a meaningful, slower experience of Venice
Duration: Approx. 2 hours
Type: Private, personalized walking tour
Neighborhoods covered: Cannaregio, Dorsoduro (other areas on request)
Includes: Entry to selected private gardens and courtyards (subject to availability), storytelling, local insights
Language: English
Optional Add-ons: Local herbal shop visit, wine break in a garden-view osteria, or hidden cloister tour (on request)
Let’s rediscover Venice through its gardens — the quiet corners that have withstood centuries of tides, wars, and time, still blooming with life, beauty, and stories.
Join me for a peaceful, poetic walk that will reveal a Venice you never imagined existed.
Book your Hidden Gardens of Venice Private Tour today and take home memories of a truly secret Venice — lush, local, and unforgettable.
This Hidden Gardens of Venice tour – Secret Venice tour with art historian: gardens and secrets off the beaten path can be 100% tailored!
My Exclusive Hidden Gardens of Venice tour is 100% tailored on your desires, contact me to
Entrance fees included for 2 people
- Sep, 06, 2025 -
We had a fantastic experience with Lucia! She is an absolutely amazing tour guide who knew so much about gardens and Venice. We could tell as she took us around the area how knowledgeable she was and how passionate and proud she was of this small but historic neighborhood. We learned so much and were very appreciative of the recommendations she gave us throughout our tour. Even though we are tourists, it felt very good to get a break from the loud bustling touristy areas of Venice, and getting a slower, quieter experience learning about the history that not everyone gets to see. Amazing Tour
- Aug, 03, 2024 -
This was a fantastic tour! Lucia is a very knowledgeable and proudly Venetian! She gave us so much interesting information on the history , culture and cuisine of Venice. Taking us through lesser known and quieter parts of the city . It was a highlight of our stay in Venice. We highly recommend this tour. Thank you Lucía !
- Oct, 27, 2023 -
What can I say? Lucia is the perfect tour guide. She is incredibly warm and kind. Visiting Venice and want a 'friend' to show you all the good stuff? ... A guide who is chilled out when your kids are playing up, and ensures that everyone is fully engaged? This is Lucia!! I'm so pleased that I found her, and we really had a fantastic few hours together. Very appreciative, and highly recommend her work. A fountain of knowledge too! A+++++++++
- Aug, 27, 2023 -
A delightful experience exploring a Venice we otherwise would not have encountered! Book it!
- Aug, 12, 2023 -
Lucia really knows her venetian history. She took us on an amazing tour and was able to give us really great history lessons about Venice. Would take a tour with her any time.
- Aug, 02, 2023 -
Lucia was fantastic from start to finish. She provided great recommendations ahead of our trip to Venice. The tour we went on with her was engaging and informative and made us love the Venice even more. Highly recommend this tour with Lucia Bondetti
- May, 11, 2023 -
So many interesting things to know about Venice - and Lucia explained a lot of the curiosities very well. Great walking experience!!! Five stars for Lucia.
- Apr, 23, 2023 -
Lucia led us on a fascinating tour! Lucia is very knowledgeable and friendly. Her bright and joyful explanations were illuminating. We had our elderly mother with us and Lucia made sure the tour wasn't too taxing, including stops and places to sit and rest. Thank you, Lucia, it was a delight to meet you!
- Oct, 03, 2022 -
We have traveled a lot and had a lot of cultural tours and Lucia is at the best of the best of guides. A lover of Venice with a degree in art history and an engaging and generous personality, we explored Dorsoduro, were shown gorgeous vistas, quiet gardens, magnificent churches and sweet shopping areas. We also learned a lot about what it's like to live in Venice: fruit and vegetable shopping, transportation, recycling and economics. She answered my art history and history questions, recommended an excellent osteria that specialized in fish and told us where to get the best gelato. It was a lovely, satisfying experience and afterwards we walked for another 6 hours, stopping at many of her suggestions.
- Jul, 03, 2019 -
We met Lucia on a crowded, hot and humid Venetian day, with my kids (ages 10 and 13) not in the mood for ANYTHING. Despite this, she engaged them. We went on the hidden gardens tour, and were surprised at the tranquility to be found so near otherwise bustling spots. I loved climbing the completely non-touristy bell tower that she unexpectedly took us to, and my youngest was deliciously frightened by the crypt, and so excited that he had done it afterwards. I absolutely recommend this tour! Fantastic and surprising!