Top Veneto Culture - page 9

Visit Villa Valmarana ai Nani near Vicenza and discover the stories behind the Palladian villa's famous dwarf statues and Tiepolo frescoes. With a multimedia tablet as your guide, you'll explore the frescoed rooms of the owner's residence and guest house along with the historical park and gardens. Learn about the Valmarana family who originally commissioned the artwork, and hear their story as the villa owners through to the present day. Most visits typically last around an hour.

Avoid the crowds and explore a quieter side of Venice on a small-group walking tour through backstreets, secret squares, and local landmarks between St. Mark’s Square and the Rialto Bridge. Then, board a traditional gondola for a scenic ride through the canals, passing under bridges and alongside historic palaces—a quintessentially Venetian experience.

Capture lasting memories of your trip to Venice with a private photoshoot with a professional photographer. Includes a gondola ride and your choice of one or more other locations, depending on the package selected. Pick a time that works for you and receive an online gallery of professionally edited digital photos within five days.

Visit the magnificent Doge’s Palace in Venice without having to wait in line on this 6.5-hour walking tour. Enjoy the skip-the-line entrance and a guided tour of the Doge’s Palace. The skip-the-line ticket for a self-guided tour of the palaces around Saint Mark’s Square is also included (Correr Museum, National Archaeological Museum, and Monumental Rooms of Marciana National Library). After the guided tour, you can wander through the maze of alleys and get to know some hidden gems using our fingertip digital map. Use your mobile phone to find out more than 200 points of interests.

Discover the ancient Venetian art of glassblowing on a tour from Venice to the artistic island of Murano. It can be tricky to figure out how to get to the island, but you’ll ride a water taxi across the Venetian Lagoon with a guide to visit one of the oldest glassblowing factories Murano. Watch master glassblowers at work creating intricate designs using a historic furnace, and tour a glass exhibition not usually open to the public on this exclusive tour.

See Verona's top attractions without getting footsore on this Segway tour of the old town. After a brief orientation for a safe ride, follow your guide past such highlights as the Basilica of St Anastasia and Porta Palio while listening to illuminating commentary. Travel at a leisurely pace to marvel at ancient treasures from the Arena di Verona to Castelvecchio. Receive personalized attention from your guide on this small-group tour, limited to eight people.

Admire the lush coastline, villas, and castles of Lake Garda from the water without the expense of a private boat tour with this group cruise. Set off from Garda or Bardolino and sail towards Sirmione, taking in the views along the way. Dock in Sirmione for a few hours of free time to explore the historic center at your own pace before the return cruise.

Calling all Donna Leon fans! Celebrate the popular crime series set in Venice with this exclusive tour that delves into the world of Commissario Brunetti, star of the novels and television shows. Follow your guide to see locations featured in the stories, including the iconic “questura”, or police headquarters. Learn new facts and trivia about the author and her books and enjoy a unique perspective on the “Floating City”.

Many of Venice’s most important and intriguing landmarks are clustered around the city’s vibrant heart at St. Mark's Square. Explore this treasure trove of history on a walking tour that takes you through the winding sidestreets surrounding the famous piazza. Take a break from your guidebook and hear the stories behind Marco Polo’s house, the Malibran Theater, and many others on a leisurely stroll that's great for first-time visitors.

The ideal introduction for first-time visitors to Padua, this private half-day tour covers the northern Italian city’s top attractions in just a few hours. Listen to in-depth context and commentary from your own personal tour guide. Highlights include the bustling downtown square, Piazza delle Erbe, the Basilica of St. Anthony, and a look at Giotto’s masterworks in the Scrovegni Chapel, with admission tickets included.

Explore the heart of Venice’s political and artistic legacy with a guided tour of the Doge’s Palace. Once the seat of the Venetian Republic, this Gothic masterpiece offers access to grand halls, monumental staircases, and Renaissance artworks by Titian, Tintoretto, and Veronese. Discover the secrets, masterpieces, and scandals that made Venice one of the region's most powerful empires. Audio and in-person tours are available in English, French, German, Italian, Portuguese, and Spanish.

Save time doing Venice research and tick off some of its most important sites—such as the Grand Canal and St Mark’s Square—by going on this guided walking tour. To help expand your knowledge of the “City of Water”, a guide teaches you fun facts and stories about Venetian history and culture along the way. Then, you’ll finish the trip in style with a motorboat ride through Venice’s largest canal–Giudecca.

See the best of Venice during one comprehensive tour—perfect for travelers with limited time in the city. Bypass the crowds with skip-the-line entry to St. Mark’s Basilica and Doge’s Palace, and cross the Bridge of Sighs, which once held the famous Casanova. Complete your experience with a gondola ride through the famous canals or a classic Venetian lunch in the St. Mark's area.

Spend a lazy day on Lake Garda with this day-long trip around the main lakeside towns. Aboard an air-conditioned bus, you’ll travel around the shores in comfort, stopping to visit towns such as Limone sul Garda, Lazise, and Salò along the way. Different routes operate on different days, so check before you book. No matter what tour you book, each experience ends on a high note with a boat ride on the lake.

Avoid the crowds that fill Venice by joining this small-group tour. In the company of your guide and no more than six guests, explore the city after dark when it is at its least crowded. Visit the Doge's Palace and Bridge of Sighs before enjoying exclusive access to the Saint Mark's Basilica: you'll enjoy a VIP experience after it has closed to all other visitors.

See the highlights of Venice at your own pace, without worrying about getting lost, when you explore with a guide on this private walking tour. Visit the floating city's famous buildings and canals, and venture off the beaten path to see a side of Venice that most visitors miss—from a textile factory to a charming neighborhood loved by locals.

On this private walking tour, take a break from the crowds and explore a quieter, more authentic side of the Floating City. Venice is captivating, but the throngs of tourists around the city’s main sights can make visiting a chore. Admire hidden gems and locals-only eateries, while learning about this area’s history and highlights from your insider local host.

This small-group tour is a hassle-free way to check off Valsanzibio Garden and Villa dei Vescovi in a day. Instead of worrying about organizing your own rental car, ride comfortably in a minivan. To help ensure the day runs as smoothly as possible, admission is included along the way, as well as a guide to lead the way.

Most travelers heading to Venice from Padua take the train and skip the Brenta Riviera entirely—but the scenic canal between the two cities is lined with the summer villas Venetian nobility commissioned from Palladio, Tiepolo, and others. Hop aboard a minivan to follow the route to Villa Widmann and Villa Pisani, with time to explore the frescoed interiors and gardens at your own pace.

Explore the picturesque town of Treviso with a local guide who will show you the notable landmarks and buildings without the hassle of following a map and guidebook. Stroll cobblestone streets and visit the historical center while you learn about the town’s impressive canal system, similar to that of Venice. The tour offers a laid-back view into local life away from the throngs of tourist crowds.

Discover Verona’s best-loved destination, Juliet’s House, with our fast-track entry tickets. Explore its storied history and connection with William Shakespeare at your own pace with our audio guide. Step into Juliet’s Courtyard, where you’ll see the gleaming bronze statue of the Shakespearean heroine. Fans of the popular play can enjoy the view from the iconic balcony while whispering sweet nothings to their sweetheart. You’ll also experience the medieval residence where the real Cappelletti family likely lived and feuded with the Montecchi family centuries ago – later inspiring the Bard’s tragedy. Enjoy the art, costumes, frescos and more, all while listening to entertaining and informative stories from the convenience of your smartphone.

Capture your trip to Venice during this private one, two, three, or four-hour photoshoot with a professional photographer. Let the city be your backdrop as you pose in front of iconic Venice locations—ideal for solo travelers, couples, or special events. Get between 20 and 50 final images (depending on the duration selected) in an online viewing gallery within two weeks.

No need to worry about spending hours reading up on Venice’s must-see sights. Explore the city in a much easier way—by letting a guide take the lead. During this walking tour, pass by top Venice attractions such as the House of Marco Polo, Rialto Bridge, and the Scuola Grande Di San Rocco with its Tintoretto paintings. Commentary about life in Venice completes the experience.

Explore Venice’s lesser-known artistic and architectural treasures on this 2-hour private walking tour. Your local guide will lead you through a labyrinth of narrow backstreets to discover fascinating churches, squares and other landmarks that lie off the beaten path. Learn the history of these sites and admire their stunning artistic elements while you enjoy the personalized experience of a private tour.