VENICE: BETWEEN THE ARMENIANS AND HEALTH

There are days when Venice shows a different side—one that is more intimate and deeply rooted in its traditions. November 21, the feast day of Our Lady of Health, is one of those days.

A special day to experience the city through its islands, history, spirituality, and Venetian traditions, starting with one of the most fascinating and surprising places in the lagoon: the island of San Lazzaro degli Armeni.

We’ll meet at 9:30 a.m. at the Venice Santa Lucia Station, where a private boat will be waiting for us. We’ll slowly leave the city behind as we cross St. Mark’s Basin to reach the small island of San Lazzaro.

Since the 18th century, the island has been home to the community of Armenian Mechitarist Fathers and has, over time, become an extraordinary cultural bridge between East and West. Visiting San Lazzaro means discovering an unexpected side of Venice: the monastery, the church, the art collections, the ancient manuscripts, and the vestiges of a millennia-old culture preserved on a tiny island in the lagoon.

At the end of the tour, we’ll board our private boat again to return to the heart of Venice, disembarking in the San Marco area.

Lunch will be on your own, with time to choose where to eat.

For those interested, it will be possible to make a separate reservation for a group lunch at a traditional restaurant, where you can sample castradina, a dish traditionally associated with the Feast of the Madonna della Salute that many Venetians still eat on November 21.

This afternoon, we’ll be right in the thick of the festivities.

Every year, on the feast of the Madonna della Salute, Venice renews a vow that dates back to the 17th century, when the city, struck by the plague, promised to build a large church dedicated to the Virgin Mary if the epidemic were to end.

We will cross the votive bridge—the temporary footbridge built over the Grand Canal exclusively for the festival and which, for a few days, connects the two sides of the city.

We will then arrive at the monumental Basilica of Santa Maria della Salute, one of the most recognizable landmarks of the Venetian skyline, to learn about its history and its deep connection to the city.

But on November 21, the Salute is not just a church to visit. Above all, it is a tradition that is still alive: Venetians crossing the bridge, lit candles, market stalls, families, and generations who continue to repeat a ritual that dates back nearly four centuries.

We will then continue on foot through Dorsoduro, one of Venice’s most charming sestieri, gradually moving away from the more monumental routes to experience a more everyday side of the city.

Wandering through the narrow streets, squares, and views of the water, and listening to Venetian stories, we’ll finally arrive at Campo Santa Margherita, where our day will come to an end around 5:30 p.m.

A Venice to be experienced at a leisurely pace, from the Armenian Island to the great popular festival of the Salute: two seemingly distant worlds, united by the lagoon and centuries of history.

THE PRICE INCLUDES
Licensed guide for the entire day
Individual walkie-talkies
Transfers by private boat: Venice – San Lazzaro degli Armeni – Venice
Admission and tour of the island of San Lazzaro degli Armeni