Tours from Home: Journey into St. Mark’s Basilica, the Venetian Gem

Every day the intrepid eyes of a bronze statue watches earnestly over his domain, over the piazza that bears his name. This fiercely loyal guardian is the winged Lion of St. Mark’s, and his domain is Saint Mark’s Square in the Rialto district of Venice. Everyday the Lion slowly scans the area—the Doge’s Palace rises to the east, the tower of the Campanile to the west, the arcade of perfectly formed arches flank both his sides, and then with great eminence, he rests his eyes upon the Square’s holy masterpiece - the Basilica of St. Mark’s.

Join Walks in this incredible storytelling experience, along with our Venetian expert from their home amongst the canals of the lagoon, who will deconstruct the legend of St. Mark’s Basilica and the role Venetian culture had on its building, its art and architecture, and its legacy. Venice is a city with a convoluted past, a city with a veining history that detours in every direction but in the company of our local expert, the past begins to align.

Your guide will answer intriguing questions such as why Venetians favored glass mosaic over the rising Renaissance tradition of fresco paintings within the Basilica, as well as further define one of the city’s greatest accomplishments - its historical blend of flavors within art, architecture, economics, and politics.

With the Lion’s eyes in constant watch upon the facade of the Basilica—a facade where every artful detail is a small contribution to the history of not only Venice, but also its once ferocious sovereignty, the Republic of Venice. The Lion stands proudly with each memory of the economic and political triumphs he stands for.

By booking this online tour, you receive a $25 gift voucher which you can use to book any Walks tour in one of our global destinations (valid for 2 years).

Expressing gratitude to your guide through gratuities has never been easier—now featuring an online tipping portal!

All times specified are in Eastern Daylight Time (EDT)