Leo was fantastic. As a Venetian native, he knew all the insights, including a gift left to the city by the Ottoman Empire! This tour was the highlight of the trip.

We’d bern to the Doge’s palace before but were looking for more depth in terms of the politics and court practices behind the scenes. This tour delivered it in the most tangible of ways, you literally go behind and above the facades of the palace to the “rooms where it happened”, to paraphrase Hamilton. The places behind the ballrooms and paintings where prisoners resided, clerks transcribed voluminous transactions and the government exercised the day to day decisions that built the Venetian empire. A fascinating look literally behind the scenes, from decisions to documentation to, uh, enforced interrogation. Out guide Matteo was not only personable and intensely knowledgable; he was sensitive to out needs as older folks scaling the many stairs and answered all our questions, both factual and quizzical. Highly recommended.

We had a great time and Monica was very patient with our 4 year old’s finicky interest level. She was happy to answer our 13 year old’s very random assortment of questions. We are in Venice for only a few days so it was nice to get much more insight into the sights than we would have gotten just by walking around. I know that my kids will always think of this tour whenever they see a lion!!