Venice- Saint Mark's Basilica Exclusive Night Tour
From the piazza we’ll head into a special entrance of the basilica accessible only to visitors joining a special night tour of St. Mark’s. It goes without saying that we won’t have to wait in line. As it is after hours, the church will be dark when we enter. But then as the lights are turned on one by one, the full majesty of St. Mark’s Basilica will be revealed in all its glory. The basilica’s glittering mosaics extend over more than 4,000 square metres, and this jaw-dropping expanse of gold has for good reason given St. Mark’s the nickname of the Church of Gold.
On our tour, your expert guide will teach you about the complicated iconography of these mosaics, how they were made and the enormous influence they were to have on the story of medieval art. From the oldest mosaics, crafted in the 11th-century, through the highpoint of medieval artisanship in the 1200s and right up to designs created by Renaissance and Mannerist masters like Titian, Tintoretto and Veronese.
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Saint Mark's Basilica Exclusive Night Tour
What's included in Venice- Saint Mark's Basilica Exclusive Night Tour
(Subject to Option Inclusions)Itinerary
Piazza San MarcoPass-by Only
It is the city’s main public square and contains its most famous buildings such as St Mark’s Basilica and the Doge's Palace.
Basilica di San Marco
On our night tour of St. Mark’s, you’ll meet your guide in beautiful St. Mark’s Square, for centuries the spiritual and political centre of Venice - the Doge’s palace also stands silent watch over the piazza. To start our tour, your guide will explain the significance of the square to the history and geography of the city - for good reason Napoleon described the Piazza as the ‘drawing room of Europe,’ and the elegant cafes that line the square, including Caffe Quadri and famous Caffe Florian, have lost none of their old-world charm. During our time in the piazza we’ll learn about some of the other highlights on show here, including the stunning Torre dell’Orologio - a Renaissance clock tower decorated with fabulous sculptures, as well as St. Mark’s Campanile, the soaring 12th-century brick bell tower that is still the tallest building in Venice.
Inclusions
- Exclusive night entrance to St. Mark's Basilica
- All Fees and Taxes
- Headsets (for groups of 6 or more)
- Expert, English-Speaking Guide
- Transportation to and from the meeting and end points
- Food and beverages
- Gratuities (optional)
- Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- A dress code is required to enter places of worship and selected museums. No shorts or sleeveless tops allowed. Knees and shoulders must be covered for both men and women. You may risk refused entry if you fail to comply with these dress requirements.
- As this is a walking tour through various areas of the city centre, comfortable walking shoes and a bottle of water are strongly recommended.
- Please ensure you arrive 10 minutes early and at the right meeting point as we cannot wait for late arrivals.
- Please advise during the booking process if any travelers have mobility concerns so that we can best accommodate you.
- Availability of timed entrances to St. Mark's Basilica is limited and tour start time may vary between 7:00pm and 9:30pm. We recommend flexibility when booking this tour as the start time may change.
- 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
Meet
Pickup and Dropoff
You will make your own way to the meeting points
Meeting Points
- You will meet your guide in front of the Correr Museum located at the west end of the Piazza di San Marco.