Giudecca disputed history begins with its name. We will learn that its name does not come from one time jewish inhanbitants (an italian word for Jews is also Giudei) but from a Venetian word "zudega" meaning "the judged", referring to rebel aristocratic families banished here during the 9th century. In recent years, the large abandoned spaces attracted a new set of exiles: artists, who could no longer afford rents in central venice for their lofts and studios.
We will visit a AD 890 church with a simple Veneto-Byzantine structure dated from 14th century. It is named after a Byzantine Christan martyr, who was thrown to hungry lions, which, after biting off her hand they refused to eat her holy virgin flesh.
We will discover a huge Neo-Gothic building, who served as a flour mill supplied by boats across the lagoon and also operated as a pasta factory and as of today, it houses a luxury 5-star hotel.
We will get lost in the hidden part of the island, passing by an organic prison market, adjacent to a women's correction facility.
We will enter a former monastery, nowadays a center for promotion of local artists and artisans of all kind.
we will see how a former factory for glasses has been converted to a modern residential neighbourhood and a contemporary theatre facing the southern lagoon.
We will admire a church designed by Palladio, built to celebrate the city's deliverance from the black death. Survival is never taken for granted in this tidal town and to give thanks every July Venetian have been mking the pilgrimage acroos the canal to this church on a shaky pontoon bridge from the Zattere since 1578
We will enter an Art Noveau villa off the beaten paths, enjoying breath-taking views over the southern lagoon.
We will end up our tour with scenic views on San Marco and Punta della Salute, walking by a palace with a distinctive neo gothic brick facade and three peculiar arched windows.
Not my first time in Venice but definitly my first time on the Giudecca island, we took the tour to get orientated and discover more about the history of the place. We loved the tour and Valerio, our tour guide, did a great job and shared with us a lot of knowledwe and interesting facts. My favourite part was the former flour mill transformed into 5 star hotel, crazy! Grazie Valerio!
We paid for a regular tour, but it ended up being a private tour anyway, which was great, because we could ask lots of questions and get answers from our native Venetian guide. He was ready with everything from restaurant recommendations to reminiscences about growing up in Venice, and gave us his card after so we could call or contact him with any questions we had during the rest of our stay. Also recommended we get the ACTV pass that covered the length of our stay, which was super convenient for getting around during the rest of our trip. The tour itself was mostly an outdoor walking tour, though we did go in a church and an artist's studio. The studio was in a cloister turned artist colony. We got to see real Venetian neighbourhoods, with kids having birthday parties, cats roaming, and residents raising ducks. It was a great break from the narrow, crowded streets around St. Mark's that most tourists stick to. Our guide kept saying, this is what Venice was like in the 1950s, and it's more sustainable to have tourism spread out over the city, rather than everyone concentrating on the same three sites. Great slice of life tour. My only suggestion would be, when meeting tour groups, have a small A4 sign with the tour company name printed on it so people can spot the guide more easily. (We ended up calling him even though we were standing very near each other - it's the Zattere ACTV stop, not the Alilaguna one that you meet at.) Would recommend tours like this to anyone staying in Venice on more than just a day-trip.
This was a super out-of-track discovery with Valerio. Something which helped us understanding better the true Venetian life. Definitely worth....and moreover with the stunning view at the end.
Valerio is very competent, friendly and very attentive. We will be happy to use his services in the future
Valerio gave us an unforgettable tour of the Giudecca, showing us the rich history of the island and its hidden treasures with an unsurpassed mix of humor and deep local knowledge. His witty anecdotes entertained us throughout the journey, while his deep understanding of the area illuminated lesser-known aspects. Valerio's passion for storytelling and his genuine enthusiasm made the experience truly memorable. We left the tour not only with a new admiration for the island, but also with a desire to explore more of Venice under Valerio's guidance. Highly recommended to anyone looking for an engaging and enlightening journey into the heart of Venice.
Thanks to Valerio, I had the opportunity to discover the wonderful Giudecca for the first time. His preparation is evident, but what sets him apart is his communication skills. With him, I explored hidden corners that I would never have imagined, and the time of the visit literally flew by. I highly recommend the experience with Valerio, even if you have already visited Venice in the past: you will discover new perspectives and further enrich your trip.
Beautiful and original family visit, very knowledgeable guide who was able to involve the children a lot too! Highly recommended
I have been to Venice dozens of times, but I had never yet visited the island of Giudecca. The tour organized by Valerio was interesting, fun and engaging. I will certainly take part in his other tours and I recommend him to anyone who wants to discover a new Venice. Thanks Valerio
It was a beautiful tour, informative and much to discover. Interesting places , beautiful palazzi and a parking garage for boats! Valerio gave us two carefree hours and also found shady places. For us, the days on Giudecca were much nicer, you saw a lot, away from the hustle and bustle in Venice at that time. we can definitely recommend the tour to all curious like us. Thanks again, Valerio! Best regards Kerstin & Gerd
An in-depth tour that allows you to discover the hidden and unexpected corners of the island. Valerio guide is a treasure trove of knowledge
The tour is interesting and stimulating; Valerio knows his city perfectly and entertains with details that are not those of the usual sightseeing tours. The Giudecca hides many unique corners worth visiting, and the guide knows how to entertain with great kindness, sympathy and preparation.
Beautiful walk in a charming place of Venice. Thanks to the very good guide Genny I discovered the Giudecca and many curiosities.
Nice experience, an unusual walk. You pass many times in front of the Giudecca but you do not imagine "what is inside" and the transformations that he has seen over time. Recommended walk!
They introduced us to a part of Giudecca unknown to almost everyone. We spent a very interesting day with very prepared guides, all well apart from the cold wind, for those who do not know, Giudecca is called "island of seals". Gian Carlo and Maria
But what a great experience to do this tour with Valerio! It was a real discovery, being from Mestre I saw this island passing by vaporetto going to the Lido. I really didn't think it could gather so many interesting places. Valerio made us spend two carefree hours and sometimes you don't have to go so far to make new visits. Definitely recommend the tour to all the curious like me. Bravo Valerio!
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