This is the perfect must sees experience, the best tour you can imagine to immerse yourself into the highlights of Venice!
Discover the city on the water through the eyes of a local tour guide and art historian!
Are you ready to explore the best of Venice with a local art historian and licensed tour guide? Join me for a captivating journey through the city’s most iconic sites and hidden corners on this Venice Highlights Tour—a perfect introduction for first-time visitors or anyone curious to discover the real soul of Venice.
This must-see experience is more than a walk through beautiful streets—it’s a storytelling adventure through centuries of art, culture, and tradition. I’ll guide you through the heart of Venice, sharing insights, legends, and fun facts that bring this magical city to life.
We’ll begin in the heart of it all: the world-famous Piazza San Marco, often called “the drawing room of Europe.” As we stand in this magnificent square, I’ll reveal its secrets, symbols, and superstitions that even many Venetians still respect today. Want to know which steps to avoid if you don’t want bad luck? Or why there’s always one café with music and one without? You’ll find out here!
You’ll also meet the “landlord” of the square, a historic figure whose presence you might not expect. And we’ll interact with one of the most curious features of the square—a mysterious column connected to a terrible Doge’s joke. Ready to play and discover what it’s all about? This is not just a tour—it’s a fun, interactive way to learn!
From there, we’ll venture into the quieter Campo Santa Maria Formosa, where a hidden stone “mask” watches silently over the square. You’ll hear the fascinating story behind it and why it’s so symbolic of Venetian character—mysterious, artistic, and full of humor.
We’ll then continue toward Campo San Zanipolo, a square that holds deep meaning for Venetians and is often missed by tourists. This was the traditional location of state funerals for the Doges (the leaders of the Venetian Republic), and nearby you’ll find monuments to great figures in Venetian history. Wondering what a Doge really was? By the end of the tour, you’ll know everything about this unique political role, its privileges, and even its darker sides.
Nearby, we’ll also pass by the majestic Scuola Grande di San Marco, one of the city’s most impressive Renaissance buildings. Together, we’ll play a little guessing game—what do you think is hidden inside this stunning structure today? (Spoiler: it’s not what you expect!)
And of course, we’ll talk about Venice’s contribution to the world of art and science, including its connection to Leonardo da Vinci. Did you know his master worked right here in Venice? We’ll explore their fascinating relationship and how Venice inspired generations of artists and thinkers.
Throughout the tour, I’ll share plenty of stories, answer your questions, and make history come alive in a way that’s accessible, fun, and family-friendly. Whether you’re a curious traveler, a family with kids, or a couple looking for a deeper experience, this tour offers something for everyone.
Tour Name: Venice Highlights Tour with an Art Historian
Duration: Approx. 2 hours
Type: Walking tour
Ideal for: First-time visitors, families, art lovers, curious minds
Group Size: Private tour (up to 6 people recommended)
This Venice Highlights Tour is fully customizable—we can adjust the route based on your interests or add more in-depth stops if you’d like to dive deeper into Venice’s art, architecture, or hidden corners. I’d be happy to personalize the experience for you!
So, if you’re dreaming of discovering Venice not just through its monuments but through the stories, symbols, and secrets that only a local art historian can reveal—this is the tour for you.
Let’s explore Venice together—book your unforgettable Highlights Tour today!
Of course, we will admire the most famous bridge of Venice: Rialto bridge. We will discover the old city of Rialto. I am sure you will fall in love with Venice must sees and secrets!
- Aug, 03, 2024 -
Lucy was amazing in her explanations, true Venetian, she was lovely & engaging throughout, also gave some amazing food & other suggestions & tips, I would highly recommend Lucy for your Venice walking tour. All the best to Lucy!
- Jun, 02, 2023 -
Lucia was an amazing tour guide. We had a great time. She was able to get us onto this really pretty terrace that we didn’t even know about. She gave us lots of cool tips such as what the real gondolas look like and really gave us a locals insight into the best things to do in Venice. 10 out of 10 would recommend the tour.
- Apr, 14, 2022 -
Lucia is an excellent guide. Our group had a wonderful time with her during out walking tour of Venice. She showed us the Venice that locals know of and we also tasted some great local food while doing the tour. She answered all our questions about Venice and some tips we may need if we would like to explore Venice on our own.
- Apr, 09, 2022 -
Lucia was the best! Prompt, energetic, extremely knowledgeable about Venice, and excellent English. Made the tour interesting for 18 and 20 year old daughters (related to them nicely). Picked the best spots to stop in for snacks, shopping, and was great at suggesting other places for meals where the locals eat. It was great to learn about her home and its rich history through her eyes.
- Mar, 12, 2022 -
Even though Venice was cold and rainy, Lucia's beautiful smiling face and upbeat attitude made us want to hear everything. I will use her again the next time we come back and learn more about her city which is rich in history and quite interesting being on the water! We love spending the day with Lucia. She is such a gem❣️
- Mar, 03, 2022 -
Lucia provided a very informative and interesting tour of Murano and Burano. She was friendly and welcoming the entire duration of the tour. She stayed with us right to the end to ensure we were back on our cruise ship, which she most certainly did not have to do. She also managed to squeeze in a brief tour of Torccello. Would certainly recommend Lucia for any tour you may have in the Venice area.
- Jan, 03, 2022 -
Lucia was the BEST tour guide we had in Italy! She was personable, friendly, and had great knowledge. We thoroughly enjoyed our time with her and will definitely book her again for our next trip to Venice!