In the Middle Ages, salt was the real "White Gold" of the world. It was the only existing way to store food, which made it a priceless commodity. The Republic of Venice understood this by establishing an absolute monopoly on the salt trade, transforming this mineral into the economic engine that financed the construction of palaces, galleons and the empire itself

In 1575, a terrible plague epidemic brought the city to its knees, decimating the population. Desperate, the Venetian Senate made a solemn vow: if Venice survived, they would build a magnificent church in honor of the Redeemer. When the plague finally ended, the Republic kept its promise, entrusting the project to Palladio.

In 1630, another devastating wave of plague struck Venice. The Doge and the people made a solemn vow to Our Lady: if the city had been saved, they would have erected the most beautiful church ever seen. The plague ended, and the young architect Baldassare Longhena devoted his entire life to creating this Baroque masterpiece. In order to bear the immense weight of this Istrian stone wonder, the Venetians had to perform a crazy feat of engineering: they planted more than a million wooden poles in the muddy bottom of the lagoon

Its dazzling white Istrian stone façade was designed to capture sunlight at any time of day, creating a stunning contrast to the deep blue of the lagoon. Over the centuries, St. George has been a powerful Benedictine monastery, a cultural center and even a military outpost

In the Middle Ages the island was a leper colony (hence the name San Lazzaro, patron saint of lepers). But the real turning point came in 1717, when the Republic of Venice donated it to Father Mechitar, an Armenian monk fleeing persecution from the Ottoman Empire. Mechitar and his confreres founded here a monastery that quickly became one of the most important centers of cultural production in the world, specializing in printing texts in dozens of different languages. This magical place holds staggering treasures: a library with over 150,000 volumes, thousands of rare ancient manuscripts and even a perfectly preserved Egyptian mummy from 1500 BC.C.!

The Lido is the thin golden island that divides the lagoon from the Adriatic Sea. Famous worldwide for hosting the legendary Venice Film Festival, this place embodies the charm of the Belle Époque, with its elegant beaches, historic grand hotels and Art Nouveau villas.

Born as an ancient village and strategic refuge of the Serenissima, the island of Poveglia became in the following centuries a lazaretto for quarantine and, finally, home to an old hospital, becoming the most mysterious, legendary and fascinating place of the Venice lagoon. Today it is a green oasis, completely uninhabited and off the mass tourist circuits. With our boat tour we will go this far, where history blends with myth. We will stop right in front of the island's evocative Listing for an exclusive boat stop: lulled by the water and enveloped in the fiery colors of the sunset, we will open a bottle of Prosecco for an unforgettable toast, away from the crowds and immersed in the most authentic quiet of the lagoon.

Before the Venice of St Mark's Square was born, the beating heart of power was here: Malamocco. This ancient village located on the Lido was one of the very first capitals of the Venetian Republic.

Born in the twelfth century as a hospice for pilgrims heading to the Holy Land and later transformed into an ancient monastery, this island was the favorite place of the Doge and Venetian nobles to retire to rest and welcome the most illustrious guests of the Serenissima in total privacy.

In the heart of the San Marco basin stands the undisputed symbol of Venice's greatness: St Mark's Basilica. Known throughout the world as the "Golden Church", this wonder of Byzantine architecture was built in the ninth century to house the remains of the saint of the same name, becoming the treasure chest and triumphs of the Serenissima. With its more than 8,000 square meters of golden mosaics, majestic domes and precious marbles brought from the East, the Basilica tells a story of power, faith and unparalleled maritime splendor.