Byzantine Venice & St. Mark’s Basilica: A Cultural Tour

Venice, Italy

2 hours 30 minutes (approx.)
Mobile ticket
Offered in: English

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Overview

No trip to Venice is complete without a visit to St Mark’s Basilica, but many tours miss out on the fascinating history behind Venice’s residential Castello area. This unique combination tour covers both. First, see landmarks like the former residence of Marco Polo, the resting place of several Venetian Doges, and the awe-inspiring Campo Santa Maria Formosa. Then, your tour continues inside the basilica’s dazzling gilded interior.

Entry to St. Mark's Basilica is included in the tour
Headsets are provided, so you can move freely without missing a word
Unique itineraries let you discover St. Mark's Square and surrounding areas
Get access to the basilica's upper level, including the terrace

What's Included

Guided walking tour covering the areas of Saint Mark's Square and Castello;
Pre-reserved tickets for St. Mark's Basilica (€12)
Skip the line entrance and guided tour to the Saint Marks Basilica
Live tour commentary provided in English, French, Spanish or German
Personal audio system and headset for tour commentary
Professional local guide
The tickets for the Basilica allow you to visit (within 6 months) the following sites:
Basilica di Santa Maria Assunta (Torcello), Sacrestia della Basilica della Salute
Pinacoteca Manfrediniana, Madonna dell'orto - S. Alvise, S. Andrea de la Zirada, S. Antonin
S. Beneto, S. Fantin, S. Felice, S. Giacomo dell’Orio, S. Giobbe, S. Giovanni elemosinario
S. Giovanni in Bragora, S. Marcuola, S. Maria dei Miracoli, S. Maria del Carmelo vulgo Carmini
S.Luca, S. Maria del Giglio, S. Maria del Rosario vulgo Gesuati, S. Maria Formosa
S. Martino di Castello, S. Marziale, S. Pietro di Castello, S. Polo, S. Samuele, S. Sebastiano
S. Simeon Piccolo, S. Sofia, S. Stae, S. Stefano, S. Trovaso
Santuario di Lucia - SS. Redentore, The Human Safety Net

Food and drink,
Hotel pickup and drop-off,
Optional gratuities,
Entrance fee - Pala d'oro

€12.00 per person
Museum and Loggia dei Cavalli on the 1st floor

€12.00 per person

Meeting and Pickup

Meeting point

TU.RI.VE. Meeting Point
Calle larga de l'Ascension, 30124 Venezia VE, Italy
15 min before in Calle larga de l’Ascension - 30124 (behind the Correr museum on the opposite side of the Saint Marks Basilica). Look for the TURIVE assistant next to the post office San Marco.

End point

Piazzetta dei Leoncini, 30124 Venezia VE, Italy
The tour ends outside the Saint Mark's Basilica in piazzetta dei Leoncini in Saint Mark's square

Itinerary

Get an insider’s view of St Mark’s Square and avoid the tourist rush with this informative, 1-hour tour. Your experienced English-speaking guide will lead you in a group of no more than 25 people on a walking tour of Venice’s famed architectural complex.
Skip the long lines at St Mark’s Basilica and step inside its Italo-Byzantine splendor. Walk among the intricate mosaics and murals that decorate every surface of the cathedral, and admire the work of generations of Venetian goldsmiths who created the glittering Pala d’Oro, or golden altar (additional expense).
Gaze up at the iconic clock tower in St Mark’s Square and discover the fascinating history of the Doge’s Palace, Sansovino library and the ornate bell tower crowned by a massive winged lion statue. Your guide will entertain you with tales of legendary Venetian figures including Marco Polo and Casanova. At the end of the tour, you’ll have a great orientation to Venice’s central highlights to help you plan further exploration.
Please note: St Mark’s Basilica is occasionally closed to the public due to flooding or special events.

Piazza San Marco

10 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

Campo Santa Maria Formosa

30 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

Basilica Dei Santi Giovanni E Paolo

30 minutes • Admission Ticket Not Included

Casa di Marco Polo

30 minutes • Admission Ticket Not Included

Basilica di San Marco

50 minutes • Admission Ticket Included

Additional Info

Confirmation will be received at time of booking
Not wheelchair accessible
Stroller accessible
Near public transportation
Most travelers can participate
Check-in is 15 minutes prior to booked tour start time;
Shoulders and knees must be covered inside the Basilica;

Backpacks are not allowed inside the Basilica;
This tour operates rain or shine;
Tour maybe affected in the case of high tides;
Please provide the full names of all travelers when booking. Failure to present a voucher with all travelers’ full names at the ticket office prior to entry may result in denied entry to the attraction.
Each traveler must present a valid passport or ID document that matches the name provided at the time of booking for successful entry to St. Mark’s Basilica.
This tour/activity will have a maximum of 20 travelers

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Cancellation Policy

You can cancel up to 3 days in advance of the experience for a full refund.

Traveler Photos

Gallery picture 1 (from a traveler's review)

Reviews

3.6

based on 133 reviews

Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor

We perform checks on reviews

Our guide was excellent. Learned so...

lynnvivian, Nov 2016

Our guide was excellent. Learned so much about the history, architecture, and art in the church and in the square.

Informative, animated, engaging tour...

Mireille S, Oct 2016

Informative, animated, engaging tour guide who really shared her passion for Venice and it's history. You must ask when you book to stay in the Basilica at the end of the tour to go upstairs and visit the horses an extra 5. If you have more time you can always visit them at another time.

This was our 4th tour with Viator, and...

Gretchen M, Sep 2016

This was our 4th tour with Viator, and they did not disappoint! I can't remember our guides name it was a very unique name but do remember that he was very knowledgeable and made the tour a lot of fun! I was only disappointed with the tour b/c I didn't see the 2 hour tour option and my friend and I had to leave the tour after an hour so we didn't get to see the castle. I know to look a bit more in the future, but this was a great little tour and would totally recommend it!

Very disorganised, tour started 2 and...

adrian.selinapearce, Aug 2016

Very disorganised, tour started 2 and half hours late, extremely disappointed

We found the tour very borring, we had...

Elizabeth S, Aug 2016

We found the tour very borring, we had to cut in half because we were bored.

The title of this tour should be...

David N, May 2016

The title of this tour should be changed to St. Marks Cathedral tour as this is what the tour was about...and very good at it too. Unfortunately we did not tour or discuss the square which has a different history and story. I will use this tour company again as the tour and ease of signing up is easy but would call ahead when possible to confirm the content.

The tour was only of St Mark's and...

IVEYK1, Oct 2015

The tour was only of St Mark's and started an hour late. The tour company was incredibly disorganized. That said the guide did an excellent job in St Marks and gave a greater understanding of the Basilica's history and art.

When we were trying to skip the line...

Terry P, Sep 2015

When we were trying to skip the line, another tour guide spoke to us about not skipping the line, so not sure what that meant. Also, wondering why after paying for the tour on-line, they asked for more money to see one more feature. It would be better if it was all inclusive. The guide was knowledgeable and easy to listen to. I enjoyed the tour very much.

Was good to skip the queues. Our guide...

Jane B, Aug 2015

Was good to skip the queues. Our guide was very hard to understand with a very strong accent. We were moved along at a rapid pace and he did say to us this was a new rule and before he had been allowed time to stand and describe everything in more detail.

My daughter and I could not hear the...

Katherine M, Aug 2015

My daughter and I could not hear the tour guide because the basilica was so crowded and noisy and the headset they provided only had one ear piece. It was not worth my money.

Guide was a little hard to understand...

gmdevils, Jul 2015

Guide was a little hard to understand and my teenage kids lost interest. Church was beautiful and where Saint Mark is buried is amazing to see.

Interesting, you could see Mark square...

Relinda M, Jul 2015

Interesting, you could see Mark square from the balcony giving you a different view of the place.

This tour was worth the money if for no...

Mary S, Jul 2015

This tour was worth the money if for no other reason but to eliminate the long wait in line to get into St. Mark's basilica. The tour guide was very pleasant and accommodating given that we had to work through a large number of crowds. At some points through the tour it was hard to hear, but given the crowds I think that was unavoidable.

This one was the BIGGEST rip off! We...

Sandda M, Jun 2015

This one was the BIGGEST rip off! We didn't learn anything except basilica was "splendid." Just go early and get in line to go in yourself. The entrance is free! Also look at fine print, tour guide collects 4 Euro per person for Pala de Oro, but the TRUE fee the basilica charge is actually 2 Euro.

The company itself was good and the...

Alana K, Oct 2014

The company itself was good and the ladies who met us were lovely. The guide however was far from it. She seemed to be in a hurry, and rushed through the tour with all information given about the basilica beginning with 'of course, as you know..' um no we don't know; that's why we are doing a tour

Very knowledgeable guide and we'll...

Meredith F, Sep 2014

Very knowledgeable guide and we'll worth bypassing the line to get in to the basilica

Very good tour. The tour guide was just...

Vladimir E, Sep 2014

Very good tour. The tour guide was just excellent keeping in mind craziness of St Mark's square

Very informative guide who also gave...

Tom D, Sep 2014

Very informative guide who also gave interesting facts. Extremely friendly as were other representatives who we met. Easy to find them at the meeting point and consequently negotiate S.Marco at a busy time of the day as the tour began. I Noticed also how well frail and disabled we supported which was impressive. Excellent value for money,thank you.

OK - only wish the guide could speak...

David L, Sep 2014

OK - only wish the guide could speak English well enough to understand and also spend less time telling us how good it was getting past all the queues and how good it is to have a guide - not once but at least 4 times - long and laboured. Got stung and extra 4€ a head entrance fee when the ticket price was 2€

Highly recommended as the line was v e...

thegrants3, Aug 2014

Highly recommended as the line was v e r y long. The guide was most knowledgeable and interesting.

Good tour but far too many people...

daptor, Aug 2014

Good tour but far too many people inside at one time, to fully enjoy the experience.

We were 5 mins late arriving but the...

ANDREw J BORLeY B, Aug 2014

We were 5 mins late arriving but the company and guide were very helpful. We were just able to get on the tour which had already started but not entered the cathedral. The guide gave an interesting and informative tour about the cathedral and square although didn't answer all questions. For a first visit recommended, but maybe not for anyone wanting a more detailed history than that.

I did this tour to skip the lines to...

catie, Aug 2014

I did this tour to skip the lines to see in the basilica. Overall the tour was interesting but I felt a little rushed, especially in the basilica. The guide was knowledgeable though and the staff well organised giving out headsets etc

I thought this tour was well done. It...

Jonathan S J, Jul 2014

I thought this tour was well done. It would be better to let people know that they can go upstairs for an extra fee before we leave the building.

Worth doing just to skip the line...

J G, Jul 2014

Worth doing just to skip the line! We did not go on the walk as it was raining and we had done a similar thing the night before, so just check that when you book your tours they do not overlap! Charming personnel. All very helpful and easy to find.

The lady guide's English was...

Ronit L, Jul 2014

The lady guide's English was incomprehensible and it was further muffled by the poor sound equipment which seems not to work from time to time. But her English was really poor. I was annoyed by the fact that the tour company had not told us that there was an extra 4 Euro to enter the basilica. This should have been highlighted on the website or on the ticket, or included in the upfront purchase ticket. Secondly we were not told about backpacks, so I had to find a secure location to leave mine which meant I wasted time on the tour. This should be made very clear to customers right at start. However, the tour itself was ok as we got to go inside the Church without having to wait in a long queue.

I highly recommend this tour of saint...

Jeremiah O, Jul 2014

I highly recommend this tour of saint marks the guide was great he explained everything both in the square and the cathedral

We arrived in the location in front of...

Wilfred r C, Jul 2014

We arrived in the location in front of the pre-ticketed door 15 minutes prior to our required time. No tour guide showed!! We went to the door and showed the attendant our form. He had no idea what tour group it was. We watched several groups form and enter. We asked all of them if they included me. After 30 minutes I leave.