We are honored to have been featured in National Geographic’s “I Heart My City” series, where Venice native Igor Scomparin shared his vision of the city. Today, we invite you to see Venice not as a checklist of sights, but as a living story — through the eyes of those who live it, guide it, and love it deeply.
📣 Press & Media Highlights
Tour Leader Venice has been featured in National Geographic, Condé Nast Traveler, and NBC News — and is trusted by thousands of travelers on TripAdvisor for authentic, private experiences that go far beyond the tourist surface.
If you’ve ever walked the moss-green alleys of Venice, listened to the soft splash of oars at twilight, or paused in a silent courtyard as church bells echoed across the lagoon, then you’ve touched the city’s soul. But most visitors only scratch the surface. As guides who live here, we at Tour Leader Venice believe that to truly know Venice you must drift beneath the gilded facades, into the hidden sestieri, and feel the rhythms of life that still pulse here.
Below are the insights Venetians themselves shared with National Geographic — what we call ten things locals wish you knew. Each one is rooted in the city’s tradition, its modern heartbeat, and the stories that rarely make the postcards.
1️⃣ Start at the Rialto Market — Venice’s Heartbeat
When National Geographic came to Venice, the first stop for Igor was the Rialto Market. Morning light filters through the arches as fish, fruit, and vegetables arrive fresh from the lagoon. You’ll smell tomatoes, apricots, and cuttlefish — and hear the quick rhythm of Venetian voices trading stories and seafood.
For many visitors, Venice begins at St. Mark’s. For Venetians, it starts here — where daily life is still vivid. We lead our Off-the-Beaten-Path Orientation Tour to the market at first light, so our guests can feel the city awaken before the crowds arrive.
2️⃣ The View from the Campanile — See Past the Skyline
“If you want to see my city best, go to the top of the bell tower.” That was Igor’s advice to National Geographic. From the Campanile of St. Mark’s Basilica, the whole lagoon unfolds — sometimes even revealing the distant Dolomites.
In our Private St. Mark’s Basilica & Doge’s Palace Tour, we include this breathtaking climb (or lift) and share stories of how Venetians once watched the tides, the trade ships, and the sunsets from this very tower.
3️⃣ Find Quiet in Castello & Cannaregio — Away from the Stage
While the world crowds around St. Mark’s, locals find peace in the sestieri of Castello and Cannaregio. Igor told National Geographic that those neighborhoods reveal a Venice still lived in — not performed.
Our Lagoon & Hidden Gems Tour follows that same rhythm. Slowly, easily, intimately. You’ll pass courtyards where neighbors chat from windows, see children play soccer in ancient squares, and sip a spritz in a family-run bar.
4️⃣ The Gondola Is a Masterpiece — Respect the Craft
In National Geographic, Igor described gliding through history aboard a gondola — but what many miss is that these boats are hand-crafted one by one, balanced perfectly for their gondolier.
On our Private Gondola Ride, you’ll meet real gondoliers, learn how the boats are shaped, and understand the symbolism behind every curve and stripe. It’s not just romance — it’s tradition in motion.
5️⃣ Tassels, Masks, Glass — The Crafts That Tell Venice’s Story
Venice isn’t just stone and water — it’s velvet, silk, and fire. Igor told National Geographic about Dorsoduro’s artisans who keep heritage alive: weavers, glassblowers, and mask-makers still shaping beauty by hand.
Join our Venetian Hands-On Workshops — from glassblowing in Murano to marbled-paper design — and you’ll see why craftsmanship is the real soul of the city.
6️⃣ When the Water Rises — It’s Part of the Dance
High tides (acqua alta) often alarm newcomers, but as Igor explained to National Geographic, Venetians don’t panic — they adapt. Boots on, bridges up, smiles intact.
We brief every guest on the tides. Our Acqua Alta Guide helps travelers understand the phenomenon — and even enjoy its surreal beauty. Venice doesn’t drown; she dances.
7️⃣ Coffee at the Bar — A Venetian Morning Ritual
Igor shared how locals start their day: standing at the bar with a quick espresso, greeting friends, no rush. National Geographic captured that perfectly.
We encourage guests to do the same on tour. Step into a neighborhood café, order un cappuccino e un cornetto, and feel the hum of morning life. It’s one of Venice’s simplest and sweetest traditions.
8️⃣ Get Lost — It’s the Most Venetian Thing You Can Do
“Getting lost is a great way to experience Venice,” Igor told National Geographic. With over 400 bridges, the best discoveries often come unplanned.
Our Off-the-Beaten-Path Orientation Tour is built around this philosophy. We leave space for serendipity — a detour into a secret garden, a glimpse of a hidden cloister — because that’s how Venice rewards curiosity.
9️⃣ Food, Lagoon & Life — More Than Photos
Seafood is the essence of Venice. As Igor described, “Our kitchen is built on the lagoon.” National Geographic quoted him on the daily market, the humble joy of a spritz with cicchetti.
Our Cicchetti & Wine Tour celebrates that same simplicity — eating and drinking where locals do, surrounded by laughter and clinking glasses.
🔟 Venice Is My City — And Possibly Yours Too
Igor’s final reflection for National Geographic still resonates: “My city has people, water, mistakes, magic, and memory.”
Here at Tour Leader Venice, we believe that when you step into Venice with respect, curiosity, and openness, you don’t just visit — you belong. The bridges may be ancient, but every sunrise renews the invitation.
🌍 Final Thought
Being featured in National Geographic is humbling. But more than that, it’s a reminder of responsibility — to show Venice with honesty and warmth, to connect rather than consume.
If the world only sees Venice at dusk on the Grand Canal, we’ll show you dawn in Cannaregio. If they only hear gondolas, we’ll take you where artisans still sing at work. Venice isn’t a stage — it’s home. And home deserves more than a snapshot.
