a typical Venetian scene Traghetto at S. Toma, photo by © Lesley Powell Painting (1870) of S. Marco by JW Bunney commissioned by Ruskin and in the Ruskin Collection in the Sheffield City Museum Titian's great 'Assunta' in the Frari. A powerful and, arguably, immodest Virgin, being presented in the Renaissance ideal John Ruskin who wrote the important 'Stones of Venice' and who, at the time, was responsible for changing the perception of Venice from a hedonistic playground to an immensely important treasure trove of art and architecture worth preserving. Grand Canal from the Accademia Bridge with Salute in background. In the second house on the left (Palazzo Barbaro) Whistler and Singer Sargent painted and Henry James lived and wrote. Isabella Stewart Gardner used this Palazzo as her base when she was collecting Renaissance art.

Venice Art Tours

(since 1999)

 

    

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

 

 

  

           

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

     

 

 

S. Marco during flooding

 

 

Note that all houses on canals have water-gates through which the merchant's goods would enter and leave

 

 

 

Giovanni Bellini's great S. Giobbe Altarpiece at the Accademia. This painting single-handedly changed the altarpiece tradition from triptychs to single panel sacred conversations

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

About Venice Art Tours

Welcome to our website.

We offer half-day Venice guided tours for couples or small groups travelling together. Our itineraries are flexible and we aim to combine an appreciation of Venice with an insider’s view of how this wonderful city works.

Venice Art Tours was founded by New Yorker Howard Fitzpatrick in 1999. Since Howard’s retirement our Venice Walks are led by Eric Bagan, a Californian who has lived in Venice for many years.

Click here to read about the kind of after-sales service that has put Venice Art Tours in a class of its own.

The Walking Tour                 click the box for the itinerary         

This walking tour is for people who wish to learn Venice's art, history, and architecture, and at the  same time get a good feeling of what Venice is and was all about. We collect you at your hotel and  stroll to selected churches, squares and other locations, some well known, some not so well known.  We'll take a traghetto (gondola-ferry) across the Grand Canal and, of course, we'll take a short coffee break along the way...

"We all learned a lot and it made the subsequent museum and church visits much more interesting for all of us.  The girls remembered much of what you spoke about and were able to use it in our visits to the Vatican and the Uffizi Gallery.  You added a lot of value to our visit to Italy and just wanted to say thank you."  Eileen Serra, New York

The Renaissance Art Tour      click the box for the itinerary  

We collect you at your hotel and we visit the Accademia and other principle locations. We look at some of  Venice's greatest art and we place Renaissance art into historical and art perspective, especially  comparing it to the same period in Florence. There'll be a stop for coffee and we'll take a traghetto  (gondola-ferry) across the Grand Canal....

"Many thanks for a wonderful tour of Venice and a chance to see the many splendors of the city under your excellent tutelage.  You introduced us to masters of art, previously a blur, and to the  wonderful "highlights" of the city.  Although the flooding was a nuisance to Venetians, we were delighted to see Venice as it's so often portrayed...under water.  Wishing you and yours happiness and health, we send our thanks and best wishes."      Barbara and Bill Charlton, Annapolis, MD

Practicalities and Prices   

Booking: Just send an email suggesting a date. If the day is open and if you confirm it you need do nothing else except advise of any change to your plans.

Pricing: €240 per tour for up to 5 persons. If there are more than 5 in your group contact us for a price. In addition, some museums and churches charge a small entrance fee which is not included in the above price. Payment is at the end of the tour.

Contact by email: venicearttours@yahoo.com

Telephone:  +39 041 713793  or +39 348 269 9901(cell).

Thank you for visiting the website

Click here for some Venice ideas you will not find in most guide books.

Click here for tips on visiting Venice (tipping, flooding, transportation, etc)

We look forward to meeting you on one of our Venice Guided Tours

 

  © Howard Fitzpatrick, 2009-2012  .