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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The Venetian Lazzaretti
The lazzaretti in Venice were the Venetian republic’s response to the emergency of the plague, and an efficient response too.
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Venice treacle
Venice treacle, or theriac, was an ancient wonder medicine, an antidote for most poisons and a cure for most ailments, including the plague.
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The Republic of Venice
The Republic of Venice never had an actual formal constitution, much less a written constitution. Neither did it have any kind of foundational event.
What others said
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I and my 14 yo daughter loved this tour. There were only the two of us on this tour, so the tour was a mix of Rene sharing his “must-know” information and his answering our questions. Rene has a wonderful depth of knowledge and keeps the tour interesting by tying pieces of historical information to things we might relate to in the modern day, e.g., the relationship between the Phrygian caps worn by the doge and the smurfs. He is not only a scholar, but also a gentleman – responding eagerly to our questions, taking us into a less windy spot when we looked uncomfortable, giving us extra time, and walking us to our restaurant where we had reservations after the tour. Next time I’m in Venice, I will be sure to book more time with Rene.
Grazie René per la tua dedizione
Bellissima esperienza, da rifare!
Grazie mille! Truly a pleasure.
As all have said, René has a great wealth of knowledge and seems passionate about sharing it. I also adore his dog 😉 It was a great experience and a treat to ask many questions that had been accumulating as I’d wandered the streets on my own.
Wonderful, Informative and Enjoyable
I spent a lovely and informative morning with Rene this January! He indulged all of my questions and interests. I felt like I had a private tutor in Venetian history – he has an abundance of knowledge and is a lively conversationalist. I highly recommend his tours. Thank you, Rene!
A history master class
This was an amazing experience of a Venice walking tour. I really wanted to learn and dig more into the Venice history and Renée made it real in the most inspiring way.
I found him along with so many other walking tours but this was convince me.
He understood our needs of learning more of the history and it exceeded our expectation.
This is not the traditional walking tour that takes you to the super highlights and touristic spots. If you want a very special tour, and unique, this is the experience.
We were riveted by the tour
Rene has an encyclopedic knowledge of Venice’s history. In fact, his grasp of world history in general is so expansive that he was easily able to pivot off of questions to draw connections between broader themes. The richness of his account and his enthusiasm for the subject made this a singular travel experience.
Magical Tour
We had a wonderful tour with René. He took us all around and shared the stories behind the beautiful places we were seeing. The pace was perfect for us as a family of 4 with two young children. We learned so much and it was truly a highlight of our time in Venice.
I’ve really enjoyed my tour
René is really knowledgeable and has lots of stories to tell that will help you better understand the history of the city and how to see the city. I’ve really enjoyed my tour!