Port
Venice, Italy
Activity Level
Moderate Activity
Excursion Type
Information Not Currently Available
Wheelchair Accessible
No
Starting At (prices in USD)
$130
Minimum Age
Information Not Currently Available
Duration
Approximately 3 Hours
Meals Included
Meals not included
A city worth saving, Venice is a repository of countless artistic and architectural treasures. Among these treasures is the 16th-century Church of San Sebastiano, located in the Dorsoduro area, and the amazing artwork you will find within.
San Sebastiano houses three large canvas frescoes by Veronese, which narrate the Old Testament story of the Esther. A vast and beautiful decorative wooden ceiling provides a worthy backdrop for these priceless works. Today you have the chance to participate in an outing that contributes directly and transparently to the fund that will restore them.
You'll transfer to the Dorsoduro quarter by boat; then, walk along narrow paths and passageways to reach the Church of San Sebastiano. This is where you will learn about the collaborative effort undertaken by the Save Venice organization, Venetian authorities, restorers, and donors to restore both the church and its frescoes. Save Venice's engagement with San Sebastiano began in 2007 and has included extensive pre-restoration studies with a photogrammetric survey, pigment analysis, and trial cleaning of Paolo Veronese's works. Minor structural problems were corrected in the attic above the nave, ensuring the structural stability of Veronese's decorative ceiling. When the restoration is complete, visitors will once again experience the church exactly as Paolo Veronese intended -- an interior space unified by pictorial decoration that brilliantly brings to life the messages in the narrative paintings. The church also houses works by Titian and Tintoretto, but it is Veronese, perhaps not surprisingly, who is entombed here -- a fitting end to the decades he spent decorating the church.
Stroll with your guide back to the pier where a private boat waits to transfer you back to the ship.
Please note: Use of an audio headset (included) will enhance your tour experience. When you purchase this shore excursion, the tour operator will make a donation to Save Venice, Inc. Save Venice is a non-profit organization based in New York, with an office in Venice, and is dedicated to preserving the artistic heritage of Venice. Save Venice has raised more than us$20m to restore Venetian art and architecture since it was founded in 1971.
As an extension of the Spa & Wellness with Dr. Andrew Weil, this Mindful Living tour is designed to deliver the experience that contributes to mind and body wellness. You are invited to visit the on-board spa to speak to the Mindful Living coach to learn more about Dr. Weil and our holistic wellness program.
Please note: For more information, please visit www.savevenice.org