St. Mark's and the Rialto Visit With Expert Guide, Venice

This guided walk will explore the city's distinct relationship with the East, and how it shaped the political, commercial, social and aesthetic development of Venice. Explore St Mark’s Basilica and wander Venice’s back streets with an expert. Begin your walk in Piazza San Marco, the most well known public space in the city and, historically, its social and political focal point.

Basilica San Marco, built as the private church of the Doge, was created in the early 9th century after Venetian merchants plundered the relics of Saint Mark the Evangelist from Alexandria – marking a symbolic turning point for a city that was beginning to dominate the Mediterranean. Behold the architectural marvels and spend some time dissecting the exterior of the Doge's Palace, with its distinctively Eastern-styled facade. Exiting from the square, the duration of your walk takes in the surrounding sestiere and uses a handful of churches, palaces and public spaces that give evidence to the city's relationship with the East.

Some of the talking points may include: Corte del Milion, the reported ancestral home of Marco Polo, merchant and explorer who introduced Europeans to the wonders of the Far East; the Fondaco dei Tedeschi, used to exemplify a typical trading center for visiting merchants; small clusters of Armenian homes and churches; and finally, the Grand Canal and the Rialto, which reinforce the theme of trade as cultural liaison. Architectural styles and building techniques will help you understand the depth of influence the East had on Venetian life.

About The Supplier:

Your travel partner Context lets you learn directly from an expert as their crew is comprised of architects, art historians, ecologists, chefs, and more who are all scholars and specialists in their fields and make the best natural teachers and storytellers! All guided tours with Context allow you to discover new places through dialogue and conversation-driven learning which is structured, not scripted. Travel with context across the globe and allow your Context expert guide show you the way!