In its earliest days Venice was under the control of the Byzantine Empire. Though soon emerging as an independent State, the cultural and artistic influences of Byzantium  were to remain evidently strong for many centuries.

Byzantine artists made the Mosaic decorations for the most important 11th C churches still existing in Venice. A considerable part of those early Byzantine mosaics today is still well preserved.

The most well-known and visited mosaics in Venice are those decorating the walls and the domes of the Basilica of St Mark.We will discuss in details the symbolism and artistic features of these mosaics. You will see also the famous Pala d’Oro and the Treasury of the Basilica.

The tour Golden Venice will continue on a private boat that will  take you to the island of Murano to  see the 12th C church of the Santi Maria and Donato, with its unbelievable mosaic floor, the cryptic symbolism of which has been recently revealed.

The last stop will be the island of Torcello. Here the first refugees, fleeing the Barbarian invasions, founded the earliest lagoon settlement. The church Santa Maria Assunta was founded in 639 a.D., and rebuilt in 1008. This is the oldest building preserved in the Venetian Lagoon, and contains the most impressive mosaics you can see in Venice: the Last Judgment, covering the entire west wall of the church. The symbolic and fascinating details of the mosaics will be all revealed, before returning to Venice.

DURATION: 5 hrs

THE PRICE OF GOLDEN VENICE PRIVATE TOUR INCLUDES:

• the service of a qualified tour guide for 5 hours
• the service of a private boat for 4 hours
• skip-the-line admissions to St. Mark’s Basilica
• admissions to the Pala d’Oro and the Treasury
• Admissions to the Basilica Santa Maria Assunta in Torcello