Your tour, your interests
A private Hidden History tour can be anywhere in central Venice, at any time of day, and concentrate on the topics which interest you.
I can meet you at your hotel in the morning, or at the restaurant where you’ve had lunch, or wherever it suits you in Venice, and we’ll walk around the city together, searching for messages from the past.
If you have any particular interests, we can concentrate more on those subjects.
A two-hour private tour is minimum €200 for the group, or €40/person. Longer tours are charged at €75, or €15/person, for each additional hour.
Payment is normally at the end of the tour. I accept most credit cards (Visa, Master, AmEx, etc.) and, of course, cash. Payment in advance is also possible, but not a requirement.
You can book by email to info@historywalksvenice.com.
Alternatively, you can browse the available times, and book your private tour directly in my calendar. You’ll get a confirmation email, and I will be notified immediately when you click the link in that email.
These articles are examples of some the topics we can discuss on a private tour:
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Early Venice
Venice wasn’t founded. Venice happened, and events and reasons behind it happening are rather complex. This series researches the origins of Venice.
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Le Arti che vanno per via (1753) — Gaetano Zompini
The “Arti che vanno per via nella città di Venezia”, by Gaetano Zompini, is a fantastic source for how people appeared on the streets of Venice in the mid-1700s.
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The Venetian Lazzaretti
The lazzaretti in Venice were the Venetian republic’s response to the emergency of the plague, and an efficient response too.
What others said
Venice History Tour
We had a private history tour of Venice with Rene, and it was an outstanding experience. We explained beforehand the things we were particularly interested in, and he tailored the tour exactly to what we had hoped for.
He was exceptionally knowledgeable, engaging and thoughtful, with a wonderful way of bringing Venice’s history to life. He was also extremely pleasant to spend time with, which made the tour both fascinating and enjoyable.
We learned so much and came away with a deeper appreciation of Venice. We would highly recommend Rene to anyone looking for a knowledgeable and personable guide who takes the time to make the experience truly personal.
Right in front of our eyes
Our tour was extraordinary, as Rene revealed the history of Venice written in the shape of buildings, the lines of long gone canals, the science of fountains and the history of public ball games. He pointed out features and tiny details and connected them with sweeping stories from history, making stuff from books become very real. Loved every minute.
A History Lesson
We learned more about the history of Venice in two hours than I thought possible, engaging, erudite and crammed with local knowledge.
It was truly an experience to remember!
Thank you again for a wonderful tour. It was truly an experience to remember! It gave us a great new perspective to see the buildings of Venice that I do not think we would have discovered elsewhere.
Rene beats all other guides here 10 to 1, he is simply the BEST
I took every available tour of Venice during my three days here. Rene beats all other guides here 10 to 1, he is simply the BEST story teller, accurate research, curious facts and attention to detail, very passionate about the city and loads to learn even for a book worm like me. If I could give him ten stars I would. He will definitely be my guide next time in Venice. You can miss out on all the other tours here but you will not have seen Venice if you don’t go on his tour. Thank you so much Rene for making this visit so special!
In-depth history tour
Rene provided an in-depth, sophisticated overview of the nuances of Venetian political and social history over 2 hours. This was definitely “history for history lovers”. Highly recommend for people who already understand the foundations of European and Venetian history and want to dive deeper with an expert.
Venice – The Inside Scoop
I spent a wonderful morning with Rene learning about Venetian history. He has a wealth of knowledge and stories which he joyfully shares.
Venetian history finally makes sense
From the time of the Lombards to the Venetian republic’s influence on American political structure to where does the sewage go. René covers all of it.