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 View
The 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 View
Discover 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 View
Doge’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 View
Artisans of Florence
Enjoy this artisan tour in Florence where your expert guide will help you explore the hidden artisan workshops of the Oltrarno neighborhood.
HIGHLIGHTS:
- Stroll through the beautiful Oltrarno quarter and see artisans at work
- Learn about the crafting techniques of leatherworkers, silversmiths and shoe manufacturers
- Lecture on the Tuscan artisan traditions
-
Read MoreQuick View
Venice Mask Makers & Rialto Market Tour
Enjoy a visit to the bustling Rialto Market and then enjoy an exclusive tour of a Venetian making making workshop with a private guide.
HIGHLIGHTS:
- Explore the local fruit, vegetable, and fish stands of the Rialto Food Market and learn about its history and daily activities
- Enjoy the view from the top of the Rialto Bridge, the first bridge built over the Grand Canal
- Sip a glass of wine and try the local finger food in one of the Rialto’s many wine bars
- Explore the Basilica di Santa Maria Gloriosa dei Frari with its precious altarpieces by Titian and Bellini
- Visit a Venetian mask-making workshop and learn about the different types and meanings of the city’s typical masks
-
Read MoreQuick View
Venice 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 View
St. 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 View
Venice’s Finest Museum: Palazzo Rezzonico
Enjoy the spectacular art collection and Rococo furnishings during this private Palazzo Rezzonico tour in Venice in the company of an expert guide.
HIGHLIGHTS:
- Enjoy a spectacular view of the Grand Canal from the street entrance of Palazzo Rezzonico
- Enter the Browning Mezzanine, which houses the Mestrovich Collection
- Ascend the large staircase to the first floor to visit 11 rooms full of paintings and sculptures, including the Tiepolo-frescoed ballroom with its glistening glass chandeliers
- Climb to the second floor, where you will visit the Alcove Room and the Chinese-style Green-Lacquered Room, among others, and admire works by Canaletto, Pietro Longhi, and Tiepolo
- Continue to the top floor to see the reconstructed 18th-century Ai Do San Marchi Pharmacy, complete with original vases, alembics and vials
-
Read MoreQuick View
Florence to Venice – Bologna
Enjoy a 3-hour stopover in the beautiful town of Bologna during this sightseeing transfer from Florence to Venice in a luxury Mercedes.
HIGHLIGHTS:
- Leave Florence in the morning to travel to Venice, making a stopover in Bologna
- Stroll at your leisure or take a walking tour stopping at famed sites like Neptune’s fountain, the medieval Two Towers, or the Santo Stefano Basilica
- Visit the Basilica of San Petronio, the fifth largest church in the world
- Stroll under archways through the narrow streets of the old Medieval market, learning more about the history and traditions of Bologna’s typical products
- Enjoy a delicious lunch at a local restaurant, savoring seasonal and fresh ingredients
-
Read MoreQuick View
Lagoon of Venice: Murano and Burano
A half-day excursion to the islands of Murano and Burano in Venice, including a visit to a glass-blowing factory.
HIGHLIGHTS:
- Explore the famous islands of Venice lagoon (Murano, Burano and Torcello) on a private comfortable motor boat.
- Enjoy privileged, personalized attention from your expert English-speaking guide on this special private tour of Venice’s islands.
- Visit a glass-blowing factory to see how age-old techniques are used to create exquisite pieces of art.
- Visit the Museo Vetrario, one of the world’s largest Venetian glass collections, inside the impressive 17th-century Palazzo Giustinian.
- Take a boat ride to the neighboring island of Burano.
- Enjoy a complete tour of the island while soaking up the charm of this fishing town complete with nets and sail cloths, and learn about a tombolo, the local lace-making technique.
