You’ll begin in St. Mark’s Square, where your guide will help you look past the postcard and into the real story of Venice’s most famous church. Since its foundation, St. Mark’s Basilica stands apart from most of the other churches in Italy. It wasn’t originally built as a cathedral, but as the private chapel of the Doges, with clergy appointed by the government, in classic Venetian anti-papal tradition. You’ll also hear the legendary tale of how Venetian merchants “acquired” Saint Mark’s relics in a daring heist involving cabbage leaves, pork, and a few conveniently squeamish customs officers. Even the church’s wild blend of styles is intentional: designed to impress traders from every corner of the known world.

Inside the Basilica, you’ll admire its over 45,000 square feet of golden mosaics and see the Pala d’Oro, a dazzling altar screen crafted in gold, silver, and over 2,000 gems. Then, you will head up to the terraces for the sweeping views over the square. Your guide will share the story of the ancient bronze horses—taken from Constantinople during the 4th Crusade, stolen again by Napoleon, and finally returned to Venice in 1815—and explain why they became a symbol of the city’s ambition to become the new Rome.

Next, you will slip into a quieter part of the city, to the Church of San Zaccaria, beautiful on the outside, but also full of ghosts. A pope once hid here during a political chase. Several doges are buried here. One was even assassinated by conspirators just outside, and the nuns had to wait until nightfall to retrieve his body. Your guide will bring these stories to life as you explore the art-filled chapels and finally descend into the crypt. 

This rare underground space, so unusual in a city built on water, is quietly spectacular. Partially filled with a permanent level of water from the canal outside, you’ll find columns reflected in still water, tombs half-floating in silence in a sort of mirror pool. This space has a strangely peaceful, haunting, and eerie feeling. 

Throughout the tour, your guide will help you connect the dots between architecture and ideology, and you will leave with a better understanding of the connection between what’s seen and what’s buried beneath.

We understand that some of our valued guests may have mobility concerns, and we want to ensure you have a comfortable and enjoyable experience throughout your tour. If there are any accessibility concerns that your tour guide will need to be aware of, please let our team know at the time of booking.

In the afternoon, it is! We start your tour after 2 pm on Sundays. Earlier than that, the Basilica is closed for mass.

Is this tour suitable for families? We can certainly assign a guide with experience with families, but this tour is designed to provide detailed focus on historical and archaeological themes and deep insight so it might be heavy for younger learners. For a more family-friendly experience, we recommend checking out our Venice for Kids Tour with St. Mark’s Square or our Introduction to Venice, which feature a shorter duration and slower pace, more suitable to families.

Can I take this tour even if it’s my first time in Venice? Certainly. This tour is designed to provide detailed focus on historical and archaeological themes, but our guides will be more than happy to dedicate some time to an orientation and introduction to navigating the city.

Is the “sunken” crypt claustrophobic? The crypt is generally quite spacious, with a wide, open layout that typically does not feel claustrophobic, certainly not like a catacomb. But if you are concerned about feeling uncomfortable, please don’t hesitate to let your guide know. You are never obligated to enter the crypt, since the visit only lasts a few minutes, you’re welcome to stay above ground and listen to the explanation from there.

We want to see the “sunken” crypt with water. How can we be assured of this? The crypt and church are open to visitors daily, and all tours include a visit to the crypt. The water level inside the crypt varies with the tide, but there is always some water inside. On a few days each year, during the highest tides, access may be limited to just the stair steps. However, most of the time, visitors can walk on wooden platforms that allow full access to the space. However, because it is a delicate and historically significant site, it is continuously monitored by cultural authorities. On rare occasions, it may be temporarily closed for maintenance or preservation work. Should that happen, we will do our best to inform you in advance. That said, closures are very infrequent, and in most cases, the crypt will be accessible during your visit.

Book with confidence — see Context's flexible cancellation policy here.