Virtual Venice

Overview

Never been to Venice? You have our deepest gondolences. Try this fascinating short tour instead—it’s the next best thing. Take a quick tour of Venice with a brilliant professor of Italian history as your personal tour guide while you examine the history and culture of this truly magical city.

Video Lectures

• Piazza San Marco

Duration: 10 min

Approach Venice the way it was meant to be approached—by taking a boat into the Basin of Saint Mark. Join Professor Bartlett as he provides an insightful tour of the political and historical center of Venice—St. Mark’s Square. You’ll meet the city’s patron saints, examine the great Ducal palace, marvel at the Basilica of St. Mark, have an espresso at Caffè Quadri, and more.

2. A Tour Down the Grand Canal

Duration: 7 min

Travel down Venice’s Grand Canal by boat and admire some of the city’s most beautiful waterfront attractions, including the imposing Customs House, the lovely Peggy Guggenheim museum, the world-famous Rialto Bridge, beautiful and historical palaces, and much more. Along the way, hear the fascinating and sometimes scandalous stories that made these sites so famous, including tales of Casanova, Lord Byron, and others.

• A Walking Tour of Venice

Duration: 11 min

Stretch your legs as Professor Bartlett takes you on a walking tour through the city of canals. Start at San Zanipolo with its large plaza, church, and equestrian statue and hear the story of the clever Venetian leader who created it. Along the way, visit the gorgeous Church of the Miracle—a favorite site for weddings. Tour the Ghetto Nuovo—the historic Jewish area of Venice and the origin of our word Ghetto. End with a visit to the gates of the Venetian Arsenal—the naval factory from which all Venetian power was derived.

• A Ride on a Gondola

Duration: 6 min

Venice is famous for its native form of transportation—the gondola. Professor Bartlett starts this tour at the Squero di San Trovaso—the last remaining boatyard in Venice—where you’ll be treated to an in-depth lesson on how boats are made and decorated. Then travel down the canals to visit the Bridge of Fists—named for being the site of a Venetian “Fight Club,” the world-famous Bridge of Sighs, the house of an adventurous Venetian named Marco Polo, and the Ponte delle Tette—the red light district of Renaissance Venice.

• A Taste of Venetian Culture

Duration: 5 min

Wrap up your Venetian adventure with a look at some of the unique cultural experiences for which Venice is known. Tour the Ca’ Macana mask shop to learn about how these works of art are created, the varieties, and the historical uses. Then visit the Campo de la Pescaria, the fish market of Venice. Lastly, join a master artist for a lesson in glass blowing at Vetreria Murano Arte.