Venice Tour in the Grand Canal with Private Boat (4 hours)

In the Veneto Region, in the waters of the Adriatic, is one of the most romantic and evocative places in the world, a priceless treasure: the Venetian Lagoon. At the heart of this legendary Province is the Serenissima or Most Serene Republic, with its characteristic bridges spanning the canals navigated by gondolas, its monuments, piazzas, narrow lanes and silent waters. Venice is actually a group of fascinating small islands, where art and history combine with old trades and the beauty of the sea. Sandy beaches washed by the Adriatic Sea characterize the main resorts that offer vacationers every kind of comfort. The fascinating inland is composed of many paths traversing the green scenery, along with peaceful rivers that pass through small towns rich in history and fabulous villas.It is an area full of the exquisite flavors of its typical dishes and a renowned “wine list." Many opportunities for fun abound as well: outdoor sports, nightlife in the many glamorous night spots, and shopping in the typical crafts workshops to buy souvenirs. The heart of Venice is Piazza San Marco (St Mark's Square), considered as the "world's most elegant living room", surrounded by stunning architecture, with its historical cafes embedded in the ancient arcades. Representing a meeting place since the period of the Most Serene Republic, St Mark's Square is still the favorite destination for the Venetians and the tourists who choose this place to enjoy its beauty and to spend a few light-heartedness hours enjoying a coffee or, in the late afternoon, sipping a spritz. In the background we find the majestic Basilica, beautifully decorated with precious mosaics, covering the interiors for more than 8000 square metres, and precious marbles, mainly from the area of Constantinople. The light reflected on the golden mosaics creates a charming and suggestive atmosphere on the inside that changes during the day. The tall bell towers and dominates the square, with its nearly 100 metres height and the statue of the Archangel Gabriel on the cusp. MURANO On Murano, packed with Renaissance-style houses and in part defined by its dominant white lighthouse, glass production stands as the highest expression of refined objets and furnishings. It is an expression realized over time by several dynasties of master glassmakers, passing down this art of transforming sand with air and fire, and maintaining an archive of knowledge that has been kept very hush-hush on this semi-secluded little island. Some maintain that the glass arts hark back to ancient Egypt, whence the tradition arrived in old Rome for the purpose of adorning noble residences. Yet it was with Eastern and Arab influences that glass design and manufacture were further refined through the centuries. More specifically, such took place in Venice, but not in Venice proper – rather, on the outlying island of Murano. Here, the possibility of large fires destroying the Most Serene Republic (as a result of the glassmaking process) was minimized.The creation of objects in glass is rather complex, both materially and economically, which is why early on glassmakers enjoyed certain immunities and were allowed to possess swords for self-defense; the catch is they could never be permitted to leave the Republic, in the regrettable case that the secrets of the glass arts might be given up by any mode or means.For this, Murano's glassmakers held a tight monopoly on both quality and manufacturing techniques, including millefiori, crystal or lead glass, glazed and milk glass, up until the re-discovery of ancient Roman glass, today's murrine.