Checking...
Retry »
Sending message...
Request a quote
Fill in the form below and we will be in touch soon
Marble and Mosaic Masters
Enjoy exclusive visit to marble and mosaic workshops during this private Venice artisan tour, including the only remaining glass furnace in Venice.
HIGHLIGHTS:
- Visit Giancarlo Comelato’s workshop where traditional techniques of sculpting marble are still used
- Witness Giancarlo’s pride and passion for tradition and artisanship in the shop’s Marble Garden
- Visit the Orsoni Mosaic Glass Furnace to see how glass sheets and mosaic tiles are made
- See the ‘Library of Colors’ which contains countless tones, nuances, and colors beyond imagination showing the Orsoni family’s passion for mosaic art
- Description
- Additional information
Description
Venice Artisan Tour
Marble and stone cover many of Venice’s brick-based buildings, and this private Venice artisan tour visits the last remaining marble shop in the city, shedding light on this artisan craft. The pride and passion for tradition and artisanship are evident in the works that you’ll find displayed here in an enclosed “Marble Garden.” You’ll marvel at the carved benches, bas-relief sculptures, inlaid tables, fountains, thrones, and more. Your tour will include a visit to the Orsoni Mosaic Glass Furnace, the only glass furnace still active in Venice, to see how glass sheets and mosaic tiles are made, and you’ll be amazed by their “Library of Colors” which showcases the amazing variety of possible hues and shades, as well as the mosaic artworks gallery which hosts an astonishing international collection.
Additional information
| Duration | |
|---|---|
| Includes | |
| Excludes |
Related Products
-
Read MoreQuick ViewDoge’s Palace Secret Itineraries Tour & Mask Making
This Secret Itineraries Tour of the Doge’s Palace is followed by a mask making workshop, making a perfect day for the entire family.
HIGHLIGHTS:
- Marvel at the magnificent frescoes by Tintoretto on the ceiling of the Hall of Four Doors
- Get privileged insights into the private rooms in the palace like the Office of the Doge’s Secretary, the rooms of the Deputy of the Secret Works of the Council of Ten, the Office of the Grand Chancellor, and the Secret Chancellery
- Continue to the Salon of the Regent to the Chancellery for some of Venice’s more sinister secrets, starting with the Torture Room and the Piombi (the attic prison which Casanova successfully escaped), the attic at Ponte della Paglia, and the Inquisitors’ Room
- Finish your exclusive tour in the Room of the Three Heads and take a walk toward the Accademia bridge and the Dorsoduro area for great views of the Grand Canal
- Visit an expert Venetian mask maker to learn about Venice’s most iconic product
- Create your own mask with the tools, paints, techniques, and secrets of the experts
-
Read MoreQuick ViewThe Venetian School of Color: Frari and San Rocco
This private Venice art tour is aimed at art lovers through a visit to the Frari church and school of San Rocco, with work by Titian and Tintoretto.
HIGHLIGHTS:
- Visit the Basilica of Santa Maria Gloriosa dei Frari, the main Venetian Franciscan church
- Admire the masterpieces by Venetian painters such as Bellini’s Sacra Conversazione, Titian’s Assumption of the Virgin, and works by Donatello, Veneziano, and Vivarini
- Visit the Scuola Grande di San Rocco, the former seat of a religious brotherhood, and marvel at an unforgettable collection of paintings by Tintoretto
-
Read MoreQuick ViewDoge’s Palace Secret Itinerary Tour
Enjoy this visit to the Doge’s Palace on the Secret Itinerary tour to view areas of the palace normally closed to the public.
HIGHLIGHTS:
- Start your secret reconnaissance in the Office of the Doge’s Secretary, the assistant to many of Venice’s ministers.
- Move on to the rooms of the Deputy of the Secret Works of the Council of Ten.
- See the Office of the Grand Chancellor, the only Venetian official elected directly by the Grand Council.
- Explore the Secret Chancellery where cupboard-covered walls were once filled with documents charting both public acts and secret deals.
- Continue from the Salon of the Regent to the Chancellery to some of Venice’s more sinister secrets, starting with the Torture Room.
- Get privileged insights into the Piombi, the attic prison where Casanova, Venice’s famous lover and writer, was kept for months before he managed a successful escape.
- Visit the attic at Ponte della Paglia where the walls bear coats of arms.
- Marvel at the Inquisitors’ Room’s beautiful ceiling, decorated by Tintoretto.
- Finish this exclusive tour at the Room of the Three Heads.
-
Read MoreQuick ViewDistricts of Venice: A Walk Through Castello & the Arsenale
This private tour takes in the Castello district of Venice, including the Arsenale. The tour includes a vaporetto trip to Palladio’s San Giorgio Maggiore.
HIGHLIGHTS:
- Make a short vaporetto ride to Palladio‘s famous domed church, San Giorgio Maggiore
- Admire a stupendous bird’s-eye view of the city from the vantage point of the church’s soaring brick Bell Tower
- Stroll through the quintessentially Venetian Castello neighborhood, where the streets are filled with small workshops and everywhere there’s laundry hanging to dry
- Enjoy another trip by vaporetto to the colossal Arsenale shipyard to see where Venice’s mighty flee was built
- Take a look inside the Museo Storico Navale
-
Read MoreQuick ViewVenice Tour for Kids
With its boats, canals, islands, ancient mansions and mysterious alleyways, Venice is like a child’s fairytale come true. This tour offers an entertaining and informative look at Venice’s illustrious maritime past that is fun for the entire family.
HIGHLIGHTS:
- Start at one of the world’s most beautiful squares, the elegant Piazza San Marco
- At the eastern end of the spacious piazza, marvel at the impressive Basilica of San Marco
- Enjoy a short boat ride across the Bacino di San Marco
- Admire the Church of San Giorgio Maggiore, which floats like a huge galleon on the lagoon
- Enjoy another short boat ride across to the pier of the Zattere, a wide waterfront promenade
- Visit the boat-building yard where the fascinating art of gondola making will be explained
- Travel by yet another boat ride to the Arsenale, the shipyards where the war galleys and trading ships were built
-
Read MoreQuick ViewDiscover Venice
During this private Venice orientation tour, visit Piazza di San Marco, the Doge’s Palace and other highlights of the lagoon.
HIGHLIGHTS:
- Begin your adventure at the elegant Piazza San Marco, the political and religious heart of Venice
- Admire the stunning golden mosaics and Byzantine-style domes of the Basilica of San Marco
- Visit the adjacent Doge’s Palace, the center of Venice’s maritime empire and a fascinating landmark
- See one of the largest canvas works ever painted: the exquisite Renaissance masterpiece Paradiso by Tintoretto
- Take a look at the famous Bridge of Sighs over the Rio di Palazzo
- Climb up to the Loggia dei Cavalli for a close-up view of the famous equestrian statues or visit the Basilica’s Pala d’Oro, a stunning gold altarpiece (optional)
- Enjoy a breathtaking gondola ride down Venice’s Grand Canal
-
Read MoreQuick ViewVenice Family Orientation Tour
During this this Venice family orientation tour, tour the San Marco area and enjoy a private gondola ride while your gondolier highlights Venice’s history.
HIGHLIGHTS:
- Start at one of the world’s most beautiful public squares, the elegant Piazza San Marco
- At the eastern end of the spacious piazza, marvel at the impressive Basilica of San Marco
- Enjoy a short boat ride across the Bacino di San Marco
- Admire the Church of San Giorgio Maggiore, which floats like a huge galleon in the lagoon
- From the vantage point of the church’s soaring bell tower, be astounded at the stupendous bird’s-eye view of the city and the lagoon
- Enjoy a private gondola ride as you glide through the waters of the Grand Canal
-
Read MoreQuick ViewLeather School with Private Master
During this exclusive visit to a leather school in Florence, learn how to make your own handcrafted leather souvenir to bring home.
HIGHLIGHTS:
- Private lesson with a Scuola del Cuoio Master Craftsman
- Make your own exclusive Italian leather journal, or a traditional pouch-style handbag or even a monogrammed belt
- Demonstration on the traditional leather gilding technique, using 22 karat gold
- Walk away with a handmade Italian souvenir
-
Read MoreQuick ViewSt. Mark’s Basilica After Hours
Tour St. Mark’s Basilica after hours with this exclusive experience from Italy’s Best. Enjoy a private tour with a VIP opening of St. Mark’s in Venice.
HIGHLIGHTS:
- This tour itself is one big highlight! On this private after-hours visit, you’ll submerge yourself in the beauty and peace of the magnificent San Marco Basilica, with its mix of Italo-Byzantine, Gothic, and Romanesque styles
- Marvel at the colorful columns that decorate the façade of the church
- Admire the basilica’s world-famous gleaming, golden Byzantine mosaics
- See the gorgeous Pala d’Oro, a golden altarpiece decorated with valuable jewels
- Pass by the tomb of Saint Mark, the church’s namesake
- View many more impressive pieces of art inside this incredible building
-
Read MoreQuick ViewFlorence to Venice – Verona
On your way from Florence to Venice visit the historic town of Verona, where you can visit Juliet’s balcony or marvel at the ancient Roman Arena.
HIGHLIGHTS:
- Leave Florence in the morning to travel to Venice, making a stopover in Verona
- Enjoy a lunch of authentic Veronese cuisine at the famous restaurant ‘12 Apostoli’, which includes an aperitivo in its wine cellar featuring historic Roman ruins
- Meet our guide to help navigate the city’s circuitous streets or wander on your own
- Stroll through the Piazza Erbe, view the Church of San Zeno and admire the impressive Arena that dates back to 30 AD.
- Pass by Juliet’s balcony from Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet
- Visit a prestigious winery for a tasting of local Valpolicella wine just outside Verona (optional)
- Spend time on your own in the historical center (optional, time permitting)
