Charming Gondola Ride on the Grand Canal & Gondola Gallery™
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Experience the enchanting essence of Venice as you glide along its romantic waterways with a skilled gondolier. Enjoy complimentary access to an app featuring insightful commentary about your gondola journey. As you soak in stunning views of the Grand Canal, admire landmarks like the Peggy Guggenheim Collection and the historic Gritti Palace, along with famous sites such as La Fenice Theatre, Punta della Dogana, and the Mozart House. At the end of your ride, take in a breathtaking panorama of Saint Mark’s Basin and picturesque San Giorgio Island. For an immersive experience, enjoy a unique virtual reality segment that allows you to glide over tranquil waters at sunset, witnessing Venice’s beauty through the ages. Sail through the Grand Canal and serene inner waterways aboard a traditional gondola, bypassing long lines to step directly onto your boat. Charming Gondola Ride on the Grand Canal™ © Venice Tours S.r.l. Licensed to City Tours Co. Ltd. All rights reserved.
Your experience
Stop 1
“The most beautiful road in the world”, this is how the Canal Grande is known as. If you look around, what you will see is almost the same view that a 18th-century nobleman would have seen, and before him a Renaissance courtesan, and even before that, a merchant who lived in the Middle Ages.
Stop 2
Peggy Guggenheim Collection is one of the most important art collections in the world. Peggy Guggenheim, from New York, arrived in Venice in 1949 and began to satisfy her art addiction by buying this wonderful building where she put on display invaluable artworks for the whole world to see. The beautiful terrace you see is where Guggenheim sun-bathed regularly enjoying the view over the Canal Grande
Stop 3
The Gritti Palace got its name from the Gritti family, an old Venetian family, the most important member of which was Andrea Gritti,, the Doge of Venice in the Renaissance. Andrea Gritti led the Venetian armies against the League of Cambrai, consisting in France, Spain and the Holy Roman Empire, which wanted to stop Venice’s expansionist ambitions in France.
Stop 4
Once one of 7 major theatres in the city, today the Fenice is Venice’s one and only opera house. It is surely a jewel among European theatres, and began to shine from the beginning, as the best composers of the age wrote and performed their operas here, among which Bellini, Donizetti and Rossini. But it was Giuseppe Verdi who is most attached to the Fenice and to Venetian memory.
Stop 5
Here, as you come into the Grand Canal you are opened to the church of the Madonna della Salute. The first thing that strikes a viewer is how imposing the church is, strategically placed at the entrance of the Grand Canal looking out onto the rest of the city in every direction, thanks to its circular shape. Today, ever 21 November the city celebrates the Madonna della Salute in memory of the end of the plague
Stop 6
We are a unique gallery where you can see and touch a real Venetian Gondola, the only place in Venice where you can have this experience. Discover how a Gondola is made, exploring every detail of this city icon. Get a 3D and VR Experiences: A Dive into the Past on board of the Gondola Immerse yourself in a unique experience thanks to our 3D and VR technology. We invite you to experience Venice as it once was, virtually strolling through its historic alleys, observing its monuments in their original glory, and feeling the authentic atmosphere of past eras. This experience will allow you to step into a book, to become part of the history you are reading.
What’s included
- VR Experience - Journey in the past
- 20-minute Gondola Gallery - introduction to the experience (except for the private option)
- 30-minute gondola ride (approx.)
- Multilingual staff at the embarkation point
- Private Gondola Ride (if option is selected)
- In-app commentary
Not included
- Hotel pick up
- Earphones
- Audio-devices
Meeting and pickup
The gondola landing stage is located next to the Bauer Palazzo Hotel in Campo St. Moisé, near the entrance of St. Mark’s Square.
Having the Basilica of San Marco behind you, stay on the right side of the square and go under the arches. Find Olivetti Museum, turn right, pass under the archways, cross the little bridge and go straight to “Campo San Gallo”. Please be at the meeting point 10 minutes before the departure time.
Before you go
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- Unfortunately the tour is not totally accessible for wheelchair users or people with walking disabilities.
- Comfortable shoes and appropriate clothes suggested
- It is mandatory to be at the meeting point 10 minutes before the departure time
- The itinerary could change in case of wind or bad weather
- On certain dates, most travelers staying outside of Venice who are planning to visit for the day will be required to pay a €5 access fee. For further details (including exemptions) and to learn what days this fee is applicable, please visit: https://cda.ve.it
- The gondolier serves as the driver of the gondola, providing rowing and navigation services throughout the ride.
Cancellation policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Check the policy for your selected date and option before booking.
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