30 Mar 2024
We don’t often do tours but after coming to Venice for more than 30 years we decided to visit St Mark’s. We didn’t fancy the crowds there now are during the day so chose this.
Ottavia was our guide. There was one other private tour and two group tours and the other tours didn’t impact our tour.
The tour started with a tour of the square where Ottavia gave a bit of history on the square, Venice and the architecture. Some we knew some we didn’t. Then it was into the basilica for an hour. Yes you had to wait at mosaics pointed out to all tours or the Pala d’Oro but it never felt like waiting in a queue as Ottavia gave some history or pointed out something of interest.
During the tour all the lights were turned out and then relit one by one. You see the Pala d’Oro - generally only revealed for mass and the crypt which has a system to clear water and is used for services during tourist visits. A first for us.