Hidden History — Private tours

Byzantine art on the walls in Venice

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:

  • Daghe adosso, Nino!

    Daghe adosso, Nino!

    An Austrian admiral giving orders in Venetian, in a naval battle against Italy, which eventually led to Venice becoming Italian

  • Differentiated rubbish collection in Venice

    Differentiated rubbish collection in Venice

    Venice had an organised system of differentiated garbage collections from the 1400s, to keep the city clean and the canals open.

  • Prostitution in Venice

    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

We learned so much

March 11, 2022

Rene is so knowledgable! He went above and beyond to show us the real Venice and to answer our many questions. He also did a wonderful job keeping my husband and I engaged, despite our very different historical interest levels. This is a fantastic glimpse into what makes Venice so special!

Chrissy
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That was a fantastic tour!

March 4, 2022

That was a fantastic tour! René talked a lot about architecture, history and culture in Venice through the times, as well as modern life. That’s definitely an amazing experience!

Elena
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Excellent trip

March 4, 2022

Excellent trip, René is a very knowledgeable and polite man. i highly recommend!”

Monika
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No Title

March 4, 2022

Intresting tour about a part of Venice that not so many people visit.

Lisen
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The experience goes beyond what initially meets the eye

February 19, 2022

René isn’t just knowledgeable but also truly passionate about Venice and its rich history. The experience goes beyond what initially meets the eye where René adds layers by comparing the various times in the past.

Anders
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Rene was a great tour guide.

February 18, 2022

He was full of cool information about Venice. It was obvious he enjoys leading the tours. He was also happy to answer questions.

Deanna
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We really enjoyed the experience

February 17, 2022

This was a brilliant experience! Rene was so knowledgeable and passionate about his subject. He made the stones come alive and took us through the history of the city with many entertaining stories along the way! We were also very lucky to have him to ourselves. Thank you Rene!”

Susan
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We all had a great time

February 17, 2022

Rene is a well of knowledge and a fantastic storyteller. We all had a great time and learned so much.

Lionel
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