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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Strada Nova – from the Station to Rialto
Venice changed from a city which primarily existed for its inhabitants to a city dominated by tourism, and the Strada Nova was the first step.
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Prostitution in Venice
In ancient Venice prostitution was considered a necessary evil, where more harm would come from a ban than from a de facto acceptance
What others said
Do this first!
We booked René’s tour early in our trip to Venice, and it was the best decision we made. His deep knowledge of Venetian history gave us context that enriched everything we saw and explored on our own for the rest of the week — details and stories we never would have noticed or understood without him. His passion for the subject is obvious from the very first minute, and my husband said he could have spent many more hours with him! If you’re visiting Venice, do this first. You’ll see the whole city differently.
One of the best tours we have ever had!
René was incredibly thoughtful and took his time to tailor the experience to what we were interested in. We especially appreciated how he connected Venice’s local history with the broader international political history in the past. Highly recommended 🙂
We certainly learned a lot
I just wanted to say how much both I and Michelle enjoyed the tour you took us on the other day. We certainly learned a lot and we really appreciated the way you focused on social and economic history rather than just politics ( not that I’m uninterested in politics!) I was impressed with your dog as well.
Wealth of knowledge
René was an excellent guide, and our walking tour with him was one of the highlights of our trip to Venice. He has a seemingly limitless and encyclopedic knowledge of all aspects of Venetian history and society. He tailored the tour to our interests while also sharing many interesting and unique stories.
Deep into Venice history
Rene brings Venice history to life from the first minute you meet him. His enthusiasm for the topic and the depth of his research are evident throughout the tour. And it turns out every corner has a story to tell that Rene knows so you aren’t rushing from one site to another. Wherever you are is a jumping off point for all sorts of topics that illustrate the broader narrative of Venetian history. Rene is also learning and discovering alongside you as Venice presents endless mysteries even to one steeped in its history and its culture. Highly recommended and the more questions you bring the more fun you will have!
History Comes Alive
Rene is such an excellent and knowledgeable tour guide. His breadth and depth of the history of Venice in unparalleled. We enjoyed every minute of our tour and would highly recommend anyone who has an earnest desire to gain insight and understanding of Venetian history take one of his tours.
A memorable experience!
I have been a fan of René’s blog for a while now, so when I decided to visit Venice to do research for an upcoming book of mine set in 1817, I had to book him for a private tour/visit. I am so grateful that I did. René was incredibly informative about the history of Venice, allowing me a peek into the Republic’s past that will enrich my novel in countless ways. It was also nice to talk to him on the first day of the visit, because it complemented the other tours perfectly. Even if you aren’t writing a book that includes the history of Venice, I strongly urge anyone visiting this amazing and magical place to try to book René for their adventure. You won’t regret it!
Learn a million things about amazing Venice
I discovered “History Walks in Venice” on Internet, made the contact only based on reviews and the general good impression the page gives. The response was immediate, René asking what our particular interests are (Byzantine and Ottoman contacts throughout the History) and giving us an appointment at the time and slot that accommodated us best. We spent 2 hours listening to the amazing adventure that created this city, learned about the history of Venice, discovered details engraved on the stone of bridges and walls, asked our questions- none left unanswered. René is extremely knowledgeable and his narrative is captivating- also for the two young adults that I had with me. Highly recommended, especially, as we did, at the start of your visit.