Top Veneto Historical & Heritage Tours

Saint Marks Basilica and the Doges Palace are two landmarks rarely left off any Venice Itinerary, but their popularity means that visitors often spend more time queuing outside than exploring inside. Visit both on this 4-hour tour, including skip-the-line entrance and a walking tour of romantic Venice.

Verona is best known as the setting for Shakespeare’s play, Romeo and Juliet, but it also has a complex history on par with any Italian city. This tour offers a unique way to learn about the darker sides of Verona’s past while taking a guided walk through its historic center. The goal is to make visitors step back in time and learn about the notorious murders, torture stories, family tombs, and beheaded skeletons of one of the world’s most romantic towns.

Journey off the typical tourist path to discover the fascinating history and fortifications of the Venetian Lagoon. On this private tour, board a motorized Bora cruiser and explore this unique aquatic ecosystem from a local’s perspective. Learn how the lagoon once provided the main defense system of Venice’s maritime republic, and see medieval fortifications including St Andrew’s Fort, Maximilian Tower and the Old Fort of Treporti. Enjoy the personalized attention of a private guide while discovering a side of Venice that most visitors miss.

Visit two Venice highlights on a 3-hour, guided tour through St. Mark’s Basilica and the Doges’ Palace, with skip-the-line entrance that lets you make the most of your time in the city. See the rich ornamentation and artwork inside St. Mark’s Basilica, then follow in the footsteps of Venice’s powerful doges in a sumptuous masterpiece of Venetian Gothic design. This 3-hour combination tour includes skip-the-line admission at both locations.

Immerse yourself in the rich cultural heritage of Venice with a visit to museum Ca’ Rezzonico with a local expert guide followed by  a visit with a Count or Countess.

Take a break from the hustle and bustle of Venice for a half-day tour to a pair of historic, serene islands in the Venetian Lagoon. Travel aboard a private motorboat to the island of San Francesco del Deserto for a tour of a 13th-century friary founded by St Francis of Assisi. Next, cruise over to the quiet community of Burano, known for its traditional lacemaking workshops and colorful fishermen’s huts. Enjoy the personalized attention of a private guide during this memorable island escape.

Discover the mysteries of the Doge’s Palace in Venice with this secret itineraries tour. Skip the long line and head straight inside to explore the palace’s opulent public chambers adorned with masterpieces of Renaissance art. Learn how the powerful doges ruled the Venetian Republic with an iron fist, and gain rare entry into shadowy quarters of the Piombi attic prison, where Casanova was once locked up. Walk across the famous Bridge of Sighs and wander the dark dungeons of the New Prison network.