Tips re. topa tours - calling Peter_S_Aus and others!
 

We've decided to do a topa tour with Gianluca when we visit Venice mid-June and have already emailed him. I know that several of you have done similar tours, Peter_S_Aus had spoken about it in a recent thread. Am looking for tips from you about an interesting route, anything particular to see or avoid, any dos/don'ts? Thanks in advance:)

I think let Gianluca choose the route - it may depend a bit on what is happening in Venice. Maybe a canal is being drained, or blocked when a crane on a boat is doing a lift. He took us under the Church of San Stefano, which was fun - but if the tide is high, you might not make it.

We saw a lot of Venice in the two hours, all the way from the Arsenal to Campo San Barnaba, with a bit of a dig into Cannaregio and around the Ghetto. He moves along pretty quickly, and you will see twenty times as much as you would see from a gondola - they just limp along, barely walking speed.

We know Venice pretty intimately, because we've spent several months here - and yet, we saw new things with Gianluca. A good idea to give him your cell phone number, and we found SMS messaging works well with him. He asked us where we were staying, and then picked us up at a bridge that was easy to find.

You'll enjoy it, for sure.

A ten euro tip would be appreciated. ViviVenezia is a volunteer organisation.

After reading about, and envying Peter and Lou's trip with Gianluca, I've gone on his tours twice, and will go again! The first trip was largely (but not exclusively) north of the Grand Canal, the next one was more to the southern areas. Anything Pete can do .... I've been under the church of San Stefano twice now, and we also backed out the second time, so does that count as 3 times?

If you have any particular areas you'd like to see from the water, ask Gianluca if that would be feasible. Say hello from me.

Yvonne

Thanks a ton, letting Gianluca decide on the route makes sense as he's a local and knows best. Going under the church of San Stefano sound exciting, need to ask if we could do it. Peter, wish I could spend several months in Venice, unfortunately all we could squeeze in this trip is four days:(

This might sound silly but before leaving home I emailed Gianluca a photo of my husband, Stephen, and I seeing I didn't know what Gianluca looked like. Stephen thought I was a nut but it actually worked out well. We were meeting him at the canal near the Arsenale vaporetto stop but there were two canals and we weren't entirely sure which one. While Stephen hung around one canal I vascilated between the two and found Gianluca scanning the crowd while looking at our photo on his phone! Just a thought.

Hello,

I have read the threads above about the topa tours offered by Vivi Venezia in Venice. However, when I am trying to reach the company on email address [email protected] or via telephone on +393281791833, all attempts are failing.

I would appreciate if anyone may shed some light whether this company is still offering services.

Thank you in advance.

Hi. The phone number I have is +39 327 899 1391. (I may have answered you elsewhere!)