Our guided visit will exclusively open up the squeaking gates of time to you and offer you an unforgettable adventure. This tour will let you discover the fascinating island of Torcello, the most northerly island in the Venice lagoon, and also visit two areas within the Torcello Basilica that have remained inaccessible for centuries: the crypt and sacristy.

The island of Torcello is imbued with a mysterious aura, heightened by the deserted aspect of the island. The wild nature is on the contrary highly appreciated by visitors who find in Torcello an oasis of peace and only a stone’s throw from Venice.

The island was developed during the barbarian invasions and was the most important island of the Venice lagoon until a plague and expanding swamps forced its inhabitants to flee to Venice.

Besides the Torcello Basilica, the focus of this tour, the island of Torcello is also home to the Church of Santa Fosca, the Province Museum of Torcello, the Attila’s Throne and the legendary Devil’s Bridge.

The Torcello Basilica was commissioned in 639 by the Exarch of Ravenna after the Episcopal seat of Altino had been moved to Torcello.

As soon as you have entered the Torcello Basilica, you will be able to admire the marvellous mosaic depicting the Last Judgement, where Jesus, is flanked by Mary and John and towering over the souls of humans. Besides this, the Torcello Basilica houses many more mosaic masterpieces of the Venetian and Byzantine style, constructed between the 11th and 13th century.

Our tour will offer you the opportunity of an exclusive visit of two sites within the Torcello Basilica that have been remained inaccessible to the public for centuries: the crypt and the sacristy.

The crypt is a very rare feature in the Venice area: it is a passage underneath the altar where the old brick structure of the Medieval basilica can be examined. As it is often flooded by the water of the lagoon it has been equipped with a small footbridge so that visiting is possible at all times.

Once the ancient portico of the Torcello Basilica and later closed off to add a fourth nave to the church, the sacristy contains many stone elements dating back to the 9th century church and a splendid and somehow mysterious roman sarcophagus, hidden away in a secret passageway, brought here by the inhabitants of Altino during whilst fleeing to Torcello. An ancient legend has it that it once housed, for some time, the body of the Evangelist Mark, until the church where he is now buried was completed.

This itinerary will let you discover a new part of Venice: the island of Torcello. The cradle of Venice, the island of Torcello exudes history and mystery as well as peace and tranquillity.

Immersed in the lush vegetation of the island, this Venice tour will give you the opportunity to open a door into the past, and step into the atmosphere of the thousand year long history of the island of Torcello, thanks to the visit to the crypt and sacristy of the Torcello Basilica.