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Santa Maria Formosa

Santa Maria Formosa: Our most recommended tours and activities

Venice: Walking Tour & Gondola Ride

1. Venice: Walking Tour & Gondola Ride

This combined tour will allow you to discover the most important historical places and buildings of Venice in two parts. From a centrally located meeting point, you will be led by a professional guide through the most characteristic places around the areas of St. Mark's Square and Castello. After this walk, you will enjoy a view of the city from the water on-board a gondola. The tour will start with a historical introduction in St. Marks’s Square, and its architectural delights, allowing you to discover the history of the Doge’s Palace, once the seat of the power for the Republic of Venice, and the surrounding buildings. Leaving the square, you will be guided into the residential Castello area, allowing you to discover this part of Venice in all of its elegance through its labyrinth of narrow alleys or calli, many bridges, winding canals and wide picturesque squares known as campi. Discover the Santa Maria Formosa Square, one of the largest squares in Venice with its church, named after its visitation of the Holy Virgin, the Saints Giovanni and Paolo Square where you will be able to admire the famous church, the resting place of several Doges and the equestrian monument of Bartolomeo Colleoni, an Italian mercenary captain. The former residence of Marco Polo, probably the most famous Venetian merchant, and the Malibran Theatre will also be part of the itinerary. After the walking tour, you will be accompanied to Saint Moisè Square, the landing stage of the famous Venetian transportation, the gondola. Relax aboard this historic vessel, enjoying the thrills of both the Grand Canal and minor canals. Admire Venice from this amazing point of view, witness its magnificent architecture and whilst gliding under its bridges, discover secret entrances to the elegant palaces and hidden corners. The gondola ride will not be a guided tour. This 2-hour combined tour will conclude in Campo San Moisè, a short walk from St. Mark’s Square.

Venice: Morning Walking Tour

2. Venice: Morning Walking Tour

Explore Venice through its narrow calli (alleys) and encounter countless bridges and picturesque squares at the heart of the city's social scene. Follow a professional guide on an unforgettable journey through the history of the "Serenissima" and discover famous sites and hidden gems. Get an animated description of majestic St. Mark’s Basilica in Piazza San Marco, and learn the function of the Doge's Palace. Hear about the ornate St. Mark's Clocktower and the 3 connected buildings of the Procuratie. Then, make your way to the Campo Santa Maria Formosa to see the Basilica di San Giovanni e Paolo, where all of the city's doges were buried after the 15th century. Go to the Scuola Grande di San Marco (“Great School of Charity”) to hear about the "Captains of Fortune," and then head back through the San Marco sestiere (district) to see the Teatro Malibran. Stroll down the famous Mercerie, the historic heart of commercial life in the city and now one of the main shopping streets of Venice between the Rialto Bridge and Piazza San Marco.

Venice: St. Mark's, Walking Tour and Gondola Combo

3. Venice: St. Mark's, Walking Tour and Gondola Combo

Discover Venice from land and water on a combined half-day tour of 3 distinct itineraries; a walking tour from St. Mark’s Square to the Rialto Bridge and market, a 30-minute gondola ride on some of the smaller canals and a guided visit to St. Mark’s Basilica. First, meet your guide near St. Mark’s Square for a walking tour from St. Mark’s to the Rialto Bridge. Your guide will reveal the magic and history of Venice outside some its most famous buildings. Admire the Byzantine façade of St. Mark’s Basilica and the imposing Doge’s Palace before you depart. Head towards Campo Santa Maria Formosa to learn the story of one of the most beautiful churches in Venice. See the former home of the explorer Marco Polo, and pass the Malibran Theatre, known for having the most extravagant stage in the city. Finally, walk to the Mercerie to discover a fascinating array of narrow streets where the valuable goods brought to the city from distant markets were sold. The second part of the tour includes a gondola ride to discover some new and not very well-known areas of one of the most beautiful cities in the world! The gondola tour will let you discover the Basilica della Salute, one of the finest examples of Baroque architecture, which offers a different perspective view according to the point from which it is observed. Re-group outside St. Mark's Basilica to skip-the-line to see its gilded interior around 30 minutes after the conclusion of the gondola ride. Learn the history of one of the world’s most iconic cathedrals. Get advantage of this combined tour, which covers three fascinating itineraries at a lower price than purchasing the individual ones!

Venice: City Pass Including Doge’s Palace & Public Transport

4. Venice: City Pass Including Doge’s Palace & Public Transport

Make your trip to Venice easy with the Venice City Pass. Gain access to all of the city's greatest churches, museums, monuments, and more. Choose from multiple day passes and take the option of an extra public transport ticket as well. Hop on and off around the city, and enter wherever you like. Visit the Byzantine monuments of St. Mark's Square and venture inside the former palace of the dukes, Doge's Palace. Make your way into the Museo Correr, Ca'Rezzonico, Ca'Pesaro, Glass Museum, Natural History Museum, Mocenigo Palace, and many others. Take the challenge to see all 16 churches of the Chorus Curicuit such as Chiesa di Sata Maria del Giglio, Chiesa di Santo Stefano, and Santa Maria dei Miracoli. Save some time at the end of your day and try your luck at the Venice Casino.

Venice: St Mark's Square Walking Tour & Gondola Ride

5. Venice: St Mark's Square Walking Tour & Gondola Ride

Start the tour in the historical heart of Venice with a morning promenade from Saint Mark’s Square to some of the most important monuments in Venice. See Santa Maria Formosa, the Teatro Malibran, the Basilica di San Giovanni e Paolo, known as the Venetian Pantheon, and much more. Learn about the amazing history of these monuments from your professional guide. Pass through the main shopping street, until you reach Rialto Bridge. Stroll through the typical markets which were once the commercial center of Europe. Continue your experience with a gondola ride on the Grand Canal, towards the Salute Church, and the Peggy Guggenheim Collection. See some of the stunning Venetian palaces that run along the canal like Mozart’s house, Gritti Hotel, and many others. Pass by Punta de la Dogana before making your way back to the start point in front of Campo San Moisè. Enjoy commentary on your gondola tour by downloading the mobile App onto your phone. The App will provide audio commentary to explain all about the magnificent palaces and attractions around you. Later, enjoy the audio guide with digital map to discover the five districts of Venice and their best attractions and squares, day or night, on a self-guided tour. Listen to the automatic audio narration of the city’s highlights, with more than 200 points of interest including the glorious La Fenice theater, Rialto Bridge, Jewish Ghetto, the Arsenale, the majestic Accademia Bridge, and much more. Thanks to this app, you will also enjoy the most secret and picturesque places of Venice known only by true Venetians.

Venice Walking Tour and Gondola Ride Combo

6. Venice Walking Tour and Gondola Ride Combo

Combine an engaging 1.5-hour walking tour of Venice, strolling the streets between St Mark’s Square and the Rialto Bridge and market, with a Venice experience that everyone must try: a 30-minute gondola ride! During the 1st part of your itinerary, an expert guide will reveal the magic and history of Venice outside some its most famous buildings. Walk from St. Mark’s Square at the heart of the former Venetian Republic. Admire the Byzantine façade of St. Mark’s Basilica and the imposing edifice of the Doge’s Palace before you depart. Head towards Campo Santa Maria Formosa to learn the story of one of the most beautiful churches in Venice. See the former home of the explorer Marco Polo, and pass the Malibran Theatre, known for having the most extravagant stage in the city. Finally, walk to the Mercerie to discover a fascinating array of narrow streets where the valuable goods brought to the city from distant markets were sold. Then, climb aboard a gondola for a 30-minute punt along the canals of Venice. Be lulled by the gentle sway of the lagoon as you move deeper into the minor canals. Coast past lesser known areas to see quaint corners and majestic palaces from a new perspective. Admire the Basilica della Salute as you drift gently back to St Mark’s Basin and the start of the Grand Canal.

Venice: Walking Tour & Gondola Ride

7. Venice: Walking Tour & Gondola Ride

Enjoy a tour of Venice that gives you the luxury of seeing it from two different perspectives. First, a walking tour which will take you to visit some of the most beautiful and hidden locations surrounding St Mark's Square. Second, a gondola ride which will have you marvelling at the reflections and majestic facades dotting the channels. A unique way to discover Venice away from the crowded alleys. Your walking portion of the tour of Venice will take you to discover some of its more famous sites as well as hidden gems. The first highlight is St. Mark’s square and the majestic St. Mark’s Basilica, the elegant Doge’s Palace, the Clock Tower and the Procuratie (only external). From St. Mark’s square you will head to Campo Santa Maria Formosa, where you will admire the SS. Giovanni e Paolo church with the famous Pantheon. Follow the Scuola Grande di San Marco also known as “Great School of Charity” (the Captains of Fortune). Last but not least, head back to St. Mark’s and admire the Malibran Theatre, step through the famous Mercerie, once the pulsing heart of commercial life. On the second part of your tour you will have the opportunity to experience a gondola tour through the canals of the city. An enchanting and relaxing way to enjoy the colors, lights, sights, charm and beauty of Venice. Get the chance to admire elegant bank-side palaces, unique bridges and experience the charming and magic atmosphere that only a city like Venice can give you. 

Venice: 4-Hour City Tour with Doge's Palace & Basilica Visit

8. Venice: 4-Hour City Tour with Doge's Palace & Basilica Visit

After leaving your centrally located meeting point, you will be guided into the residential Castello area, allowing you to discover this part of Venice in all of its elegance. You can expect to see the Santa Maria Formosa Square, one of the largest squares in Venice complete with its church named after its visitation of the Holy Virgin. You will also experience the Saints Giovanni and Paolo Square where you will be able to admire the famous church, the resting place of several Doges, and the equestrian monument of Bartolomeo Colleoni, an Italian mercenary captain. You can also explore the former residence of Marco Polo, probably the most famous Venetian merchant. On your return to Saint Mark’s Square, you will be accompanied inside the Doge’s Palace where you will visit the halls where the Duke (Doge) and his council controlled the fate of the Serene Republic. You will be surrounded by hundreds of artistic masterpieces and discover the political history of Venice and its people. You will be able to admire famous paintings by some of the most important artists of the Italian Renaissance, including the world's largest oil painting by Tintoretto. Passing through the famous Bridge of Sighs, you will reach the new prisons. Finally you will visit the interior of St. Mark’s Basilica, once the private chapel of the Doge of Venice, and the only one of its kind in Italy. You will be able to sit down in the church and absorb the atmosphere, whilst listening to your guide who will describe the biblical scenes represented throughout the building. This is the only tour with special authorization to be seated in the central nave inside the Basilica. Your 4-hour combined tour will then conclude outside the Basilica in Saint Mark's Square.  At the end of the tour have the opportunity to visit the Correr Museum with the same ticket.

Venice: Guided Tour with Skip-the-Line Basilica Ticket

9. Venice: Guided Tour with Skip-the-Line Basilica Ticket

Take part in this small-group tour of Venice to see the best tourist spots and hidden gems. See the Bell Tower and Clock Tower, St. Mark's Square, and get an in-depth tour of St. Mark’s Basilica. Start your tour by strolling through St. Mark’s Square, equipped with complimentary headphones so that you can follow every word of your local guide. Listen as your guide discusses the major monuments including Doge's Palace, Bridge of Sighs, the Bell Tower, and the Clock Tower. Head into St. Marks Basilica for a special tour. Walk through the famous church as your guide describes the history of the church and shows you the intricate mosaics and Byzantine architecture. Afterward, leave St. Mark's Square behind to admire a very different Venice. Visit Santa Maria Formosa, Calle Paradiso, Castello district, and areas known only to the locals.  Explore a world of narrow alleyways and meandering canals, punctuated by delicate bridges, and hidden architectural gems.  Hear stories about the Venetians who created this city from nothing.

Venice: Private Ghost Tour and Gondola Ride

10. Venice: Private Ghost Tour and Gondola Ride

Venture into the darker side of Venice on a private ghost tour after dark, and hear stories from its bloody past as you creep down dank alleys that still fire the imagination. Meet your guide in the shadows of the church of San Giacomo di Rialto, before walking to the Rialto Bridge. They will take you through a mass of spooky alleys, telling of the spirits that lurk in hidden doorways along the way. Learn about the ghosts of the Campo della Fava. Go to Marco Polo’s house and hear about his Chinese wife. Visit San Gallo, site of one of the most terrible murders in the history of the city, and where the famous sculptor Antonio Canova died. If that’s not enough to get your heart racing, take a 30-minute gondola ride through the network of silent canals. Keep your nerve as the only noise you hope to hear will be the sound of paddles touching water… Your guide will continue to spook you as you sail under the Bridge of Sighs, where captured criminals took their final walk. Cruise into the Campiello Querini, and see the Bell Tower in Santa Maria Formosa, designed to scare off the Devil. End at Campo Santi Giovanni e Paolo, where the ghost of the Doge continues to haunt the city to this day!

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What people are saying about Santa Maria Formosa

Overall rating

4.5 / 5

based on 1,251 reviews

The city pass was well worth it! We went to almost all of the civic museums! We were not able to go to all of them because we have run out of time! It took us about an hour on some of them and at least half an hour for the rest. You have to find every place on the map so you can plan your visit better. It took us longer to find some of the places because Venice is a wonderful little maze of narrow alleyways. I have added a three day transport which was a bad idea because we only needed one day to go to Burano and Murano. The transport ticket is also non-refundable so if I were you, buy your transport tickets when you get to Venice instead, so you will have an idea of how much you will be needing the transport. I could not really see the point of buying it if you are not planning on going to the other islands because you can walk everywhere and there is so much to see along the way.

The guide was exceptionally well versed in the history and culture of Venice. She was delightful, insightful, the tour was great, thank you again for your warm persona. Grazie mielle. Tomas

places we discovered through the guide, which would be impossible to discover alone, the guide was very good !!!

Great experience, great guide! We learn a lot of very interesting things!

Very knowledgable guide this is my aecond time on this tour.