Venice - Very Special Tours
After Hours: Private visits to the Palazzo Ducale
As both the home of the elected Doge and the seat of government of the Republic the Doge's Palace was the showcase of Venice's wealth, culture and power.
We are thrilled to be able to offer these special, private nights for a leisurely stroll through the multi-faceted architectural and artistic jewel that is the pride of Venice. This is a unique opportunity to soak up the atmosphere of the Serenissima in the way the Doge, privileged Venetian patricians and visiting Heads of State would have enjoyed it - calm and relaxed, in your own time, untroubled by jostling and distracting crowds.
From the splendour of the magnificent reception rooms - featuring works by such masters as Tintoretto, Veronese, Titian, and Sansovino, you will cross the Bridge of Sighs and see - from the inside - the last glimpse of the city afforded those unfortunate enough to get caught breaking the Republic's laws before being left to rot in her chilling stone prisons. Yours, however, will be a return trip - with memories to last a lifetime.
Prices for Venice tours:
Regular private tour - €250 for 3 hours and €50 per hour after that - entrance fees are not included.
Exclusive tours of the Palazzo Ducale (the Doge’s palace) - €150 per person, minimum 10 people. Private tours: If you want to keep the palace completely to yourself or for your own group of 9 or less - our special price is €1300.
Private dinner in a Venetian Palace – Price on enquiry.
Booking & for more information, please contact "our man in Venice" Andrea by email andrea@italywithus.com
SPECIAL EVENTS
Living like a Lord - at home with the aristocrats: Experience the living grandeur of Venice with an exclusive visit, by appointment, to a private ancestral palace. Built by the Doge of Venice in 1610, it is still the home of his descendants. Indulge yourself with a private dinner prepared and served exclusively for you in these unique and opulent surroundings. Enjoy a personal tour of the historic palazzo and hear the fascinating story behind it. This is an opportunity unavailable to the public - or to Venetians for that matter - and will be a special occasion that you will never forget, an extraordinary glimpse into the lives of the Venetian nobility.
Doge for a Night - surrender to splendour: Just for you - an exclusive, private, after hours tour of the Palazzo Ducale, the Doge's Palace; a personal visit to the centre of the Venetian Republic, where 1,000 years of unbroken power accumulated richness beyond the dreams of princes and potentates. Encounter masterpieces by Tintoretto, Veronese, Sansovino and other Venetian masters, in their luxurious settings, in a night immersed in stunning architectural opulence.
Venice Itinerary suggestions
1. The Music in Venice: Walk in the steps of the masters who found inspiration in the Serenissima - this wide-ranging itinerary will take us past the places where they lived and worked (and sometimes, died!) - Richard Wagner, Mozart, Vivaldi, Monteverdi. Even Elton John has a place in Venice.
2. Not just St Mark's Basilica: Discover the "unknown" churches in Venice - from Byzantine to Baroque - stunning architectural jewel-boxes containing some of the most precious treasures in the history of art in their original homes in the most evocative and suggestive ambiences.
3. Venetian artisans: Visit the native custodians of hundreds of years of applied artistry - the unique sources of treasures you can buy! Exquisite and authentic - jewellery, ceramics, glassware, masks, leather goods, woodwork and carvings, fabrics and homewares - objects that carry the unbroken tradition of Venetian handmade perfection.
4. Multi-ethnic Venice: Follow the trail of the nations who left their mark on the first genuinely multi-ethnic city. The world trading capital of its day, Venice welcomed its partners in commerce under its community umbrella. Hebrews, Turks, Germans, Greeks, Armenians and Dalmatians lived side by side, and bequeathed some of the most intriguing elements of the city that we still enjoy today.
5. Casanova: Get to know and understand this most famous Venetian libertine, the life he led and the exploits that got him into trouble - as well as out of it. A trip through the places where he lived, lied and libertined.
6. Venetian painters: Meet the person behind the persona. Titian, Tintoretto and Canaletto, not to mention Guardi, Longhi and Tiepolo - amongst the greatest masters of art, and all Venetian. Stroll by their houses and the places that inspired them and relate to their work.
7. English and American writers in Venice: Put yourself in the shoes of Robert Browning, Henry James, Lord Byron, Ezra Pound, John Ruskin or Ernest Hemingway and discover the specific places that fuelled their enduring fascination for Venice and inspired their work.
8. Behind the facade - Venice from the Inside Out: Share the views that only Venetians see with a personal trip through the inner canals. Travel the watery byways and peek into the private worlds of the locals - aristocrats and artisans, artists and tradesmen - true Venetians. See the Serenissima from the water and you will understand the exhilaration and fascination of Veniceís delicate relationship with the sea, her magnificent protector and her greatest potential enemy. This is the other side of the coin, an unforgettable experience of the daily life of a city at work and play, as unique as the city herself.
Itineraries can be combined at your request.
Private taxi boat is available from airport to hotel and return, for a tour through the canals at any time, or for a special tour to the islands of the lagoon, Murano, Burano and Torcello.
Booking & for more information, please contact "our man in Venice" Andrea by email andrea@italywithus.com
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