Venice Castello area : Private walking tour

Go off the beaten path with a private walking tour of a unique area of Venice with a visit to the area of Castello and the inside of the historical venetian Ships Pavilion part of the Arsenale.

Meet your local guide in front of the equestrian monument of Vittorio Emanuele II, which is just a short walk along the water front not too far from Saint Mark's Square.

Make your way through the maze of alleyways into the heart of Castello, the largest residential area of Venice. Pass through Campo Della Bragora, now Bandiera e Moro and then through Calle Della Morte (Street of death), as your guide tells you all about the people sentenced to death here, by the Venetian Council of 10. Arrive at the School of San Giorgio Degli Schiavoni, which holds a painting by the famous artist “Carpaccio”.

Continue to San Francesco Della Vigna, the church dedicated to San Francesco Di Assisi. Crossing the Ponte Del Cristo, arrive at the Celestia, which is on the eastern side of the city overlooking Saint Michele's cemetery and the Island of Murano where they make the glass.

Follow your guide over a specially constructed walkway which goes around the outer wall of the Arsenale, (which means the house of industry). Today this is a military area and not open to the public, and was once the most important ship building yard in Europe.

Make your way towards the magnificent entrance of the Arsenale, passing traditional maritime houses of famous captains and merchants from the Venetian Navy.

Enjoy skip-the-line admission at the Ships Pavilion and see many historical Venetian boats, including a copy of the Bucinotoro, the Disdotto, the funeral Gondola of the Venetian Doges and also several war ships, giving you a real feel of the maritime history of the city.