Shore Excursions & Tours ITALY
Shore Excursions in VENICE

Shore Excursions
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                                                   Shore Excursion Gondola Serenade                                             
Duration: Approximately 2 hours

This delightful evening gondola ride, with music and serenade of musicians, Will take our guests along the small canals of Venice and part of the Grand Canal, under the moon and the shadows of the illuminated palaces on the water. You will depart the ship by motorlaunch for the Basin of St.Mark to transfer to a gondola for a ride entering the maze of the small canals inside Venice. Your itinerary will venture into the picturesque part of Venice and your gondola will return to St. Mark's Square by passing beneath the Bridge of Sighs. After the ride they will have time at their leisure, perhaps to go for a drink in the well-known Caffè Florian or Caffè Quadri. You will return to the ship's pier by motorlaunch.

Depart by special Vaporetto from the ship passing St. Mark and entering the Canal Grande at Piazzale Roma. The Vaporetto will proceed slowly and the guide will explain the history of the most important Palaces and buildings along this canal. Admire the beauty of sites such as the Church and Bridge of Scalzi, Fontego dei Turchi (Veneto-Byzantine house) and Palazzo Loredan Vendramin Calergi where Wagner died in 1883. You will take a short walk through the Jewish Getto to see the beautiful synagogues as well as the interesting Museum of Jewish Art. After returning to your motorlaunch continue admiring the many palaces and famous sites such as the Rialto Bridge, Palazzo Farsetti, Accademia Bridge, Palazzo Venier de Leoni (now Guggenheim Museum), Church Della Salute and Doges Palace, just to name a few. The motorlaunch will pass in front of the Island of St. George and then return onboard slowly cruising the Giudecca Canal.

Note: This special motorlaunch enables you to sit, stand, walk and easily take photographs. Making this a more comfortable way to cruise the Lagoon.

Depart by private motorlaunch for St. Mark's Basin where you will disembark between the columns of St. Theodore and the Lion in St. Mark's Square, which was the political and religious center of the city during the Serenissima Republic period. Here you will visit the Doge's Palace that houses the private residence of the Doge, the Government seat and the Court of Justice. The original Palace was started in a Byzantine style during the 9th century and was destroyed by fire and rebuilt several times during its history. Your guide will accompany you throughout the palace where you will feel the strength of the Venetian history through the stunning paintings by Titian, Tiepolo and Tintoretto. At the end of your visit to the Hall of Magistrate you'll walk over the Bridge of Sighs and continue to the Cathedral of St. Mark, a magnificent cathedral built on the plan of a Greek cross. The Cathedral facades show the different architectural style incorporated into the building . Inside the Cathedral you will admire the famous mosaics and the Golden Altarpiece (Pala D'Oro). The bones of St. Mark, smuggled out of Alexandria to give the city a prestigious saint as its benefactor, are also entombed here beneath the main altar.

Note: This tour involves extensive walking. Comfortable walking shoes are recommended. As this tour includes a visit to religious sites, custom requires all visitors to cover bare shoulders and not to wear shorts or dresses above the knee. This tour is not suitable for disabled passengers.

                                                    Shore Excursion Private Concert                                                   
Duration: Approximately 2 hours

Depart from the ship by private motor launch with the assistance of an English-speaking hostess to get to one of the beautiful churches of Venice. After arriving in Campo San Giovanni and Paolo you will walk for approximately two minutes to the Church of Santa Maria dei Miracoli, where we have arranged for an exclusive private concert held by professional musicians, in this charming and relaxing atmosphere. The façade is entirely covered with fine marbles, which according to an old tradition, were left over from the work on the basilica of St Mark. The single nave, barrel-vaulted interior has smooth marble-encrusted sides, embellished by ornamental motives and is preceded by a choir gallery; the wooden ceiling of the choir, carved and gilded, is composed by Titian School painted square compartments. In this marvelous setting, you will be treated to works by Vivaldi, Pachelbel & Bach. At the end of the concert, you will return to the ship by private motorlaunch.

Board your motor launch for this panoramic journey of one of the most beautiful cities in the world. Glide past Tronchetto Island on your way to the section of the Grand Canal, the city's main thoroughfare. The s-shaped canal winds for more that two miles through the heart of the city. You will view many of the Gothic Renaissance palaces such as the Palazzo Loredan Vendramin Calergi and the Palazzo Pesaro, housing the Museum of Modern Art. You will travel beneath the large Rialto Bridge, the oldest of the three bridges which span the Grand Canal. As the city's marketplace, the Rialto was the historic center where traders from all nations converged to buy and sell merchandise of every description. Continue on as your guide explains the history of the palaces and the architecture of this fascinating city. Cruise by St. George Island and the Arsenale, for centuries, Venice's shipyard and catch a glimps of the church of San Michele on your way to Murano Island. Here you will see the delicate art of glass blowing. Back on board your motor launch you can relax and enjoy your journey to the ship.

Note: This special motor launch enables you to sit, stand, walk and easily take photographs. Making this a more comfortable way to cruise the Lagoon