This is not a guided tour; it is a prepaid pass to visit on your own 16 churches. Chorus proposes a journey through 1000 years of faith, art and history. Purchasing the Chorus Pass you will be able to discover on your own the treasures kept in Venice's most surprising museum - its churches. The aim of Chorus is to contribute to the safeguard, conservation, restoration and maintenance of the churches of Venice.

Note: The amount of walking involved is at the guests' discretion and at the guests' own pace. Please bear in mind that you are visiting a church so appropriate dress is required. No food or drinks are allowed in the venues. Taking photographs with or without flash or using video cameras inside the church is severely prohibited. Please turn off mobile phones while in each venue.

Your tour will continue to the Frari (Friars) Church, where you will step in the beautiful Cathedral to admire the famous painting by Tiziano, The Assumption, before visiting the Scuola Grande of San Rocco. Founded in honor of St. Roch, it is the largest and grandest "Scuola", established by workers of the textile industry (tintori) and dedicated to assist members' victim of the plague. Its construction began in 1515 under Bartolomeo Bon and its premises house one of the most dramatic pictorial cycles of all times, painted by Jacopo Tintoretto, but also masterpieces by Tiepolo, Titian, and Giorgione. A short walk will take you to Piazzale Roma where you will board the motorboat for the transfer back to port.

Note: Guests must be able to walk approximately 1.5 miles (3.5 hours) over cobblestone and uneven surfaces with some 160 steps. A strict dress code is enforced in Carmini Church and Friars Church. Short pants and tank tops are not acceptable. Photography is not permitted inside the Carmini Church, Scuola of San Rocco and Frari Church. Please be aware that ongoing restoration work is often being carried out at the various venues visited. On Sundays and church holidays, tour groups are not allowed inside churches during services. However, time permitting and if the church permits, entry will be allowed on an individual basis to view the interior quietly and reverently.The order of visit may vary, however all sights described will be included.

You will visit a glass factory on the island of Murano, home to a centuries-old tradition of glass making. Once an exclusive product of Venice, glass production moved to Murano in 1291 when furnaces were banned from the city for fire prevention. The artisans have developed a unique style and world-famous reputation for producing blown glass. Your guide will lead you on a visit to one of the factories, where you will have the opportunity to observe the Maestri at work during a glass blowing demonstration. Of course, there will be an opportunity to browse through the enticing display rooms where items may also be purchased.

Arriving at Burano Island, you'll step ashore for a visit to this charming island cheerfully decorated with brightly painted houses. It is well known for lace making, fishing, and boat building. Your guide will describe the island and you will visit a leading shop where you'll have a chance to watch a demonstration of lace making, an art still practiced by some of the local women before having time to stroll through the narrow streets to purchase lace from one of the vendors lining the path near Piazza Galuppi.

Note: Guests must be able to walk approximately 1 mile over uneven and cobblestone surfaces with 15 - 35 steps. Tour order may vary but all listed sights will be covered. Time permitting; guests will have approximately 35 - 40 minutes for shopping/browsing on each island.

Note: Guests holding late seating dinner reservations should take (6:45 pm departure); guests holding main seating dinner reservations should take (8:00 pm departure). The transfer from the motor launch to the gondola involves a 20-minute walk over cobblestone surfaces. Please note that the tour cannot operate in rainy weather or during extremely high/low tidal conditions. Guests must be able to board the gondola with minimal assistance in order to participate on this tour.

Leaving the ship by motor launch, you will reach Piazzale Roma, where you will meet your guide to begin the walking tour. You will proceed to Campo San Rocco, to view the church of Saint Roch and the "Scuola Grande di San Rocco," one of the great charitable institutions of Renaissance Venice, and, a few steps ahead, the Franciscan Friars church "Santa Maria Gloriosa dei Frari." The facade of this vast 14th century Gothic Church is of a simple brick design punctuated with a white marble portico and pinnacles. Next is "Campo San Polo," one of the oldest and largest squares in Venice that in ancient times was a staging area for ceremonies, bull-running and theatrical performances. Proceeding through narrow streets and small squares you will find yourself in front of the Grand Canal with a splendid view of the Rialto Bridge, the largest of the three bridges spanning the Grand Canal and one of the most famous in Venice. Have your cameras ready to take photos from both the waterfront and the top of the bridge.

After crossing the bridge, you'll arrive at "Campo San Bartolomeo," with the statue of Carlo Goldoni, a famous Venetian dialect play-writer. Next comes the "Fondaco dei Tedeschi," formerly a German warehouse and later a rich commercial emporium, it now serves a more modest purpose as Venice's main post office. Silence reigns as you leave the busier thoroughfares and cross the "Corte del Milion," where Marco Polo's family lived to reach the "Campo San Giovanni e Paolo." After St. Mark's Square, it's one of the city's most monumental squares in Venice. There, you will have a chance to visit independently the church dedicated to the Saints John and Paul, the largest and most ambitious example of Gothic architecture in Venice. A refreshment stop will be made in this square so you can enjoy a complimentary coffee and sample a local Venetian biscuit. Rest your feet as you soak up the delightful atmosphere from one of the small local cafes. Your local guide will leave you at this venue.

After the refreshment stop, your escort will lead you through the winding narrow streets, courtyards, and squares to "Riva degli Schiavoni" where the tour terminates by the Church of the "Pietà," better known as Antonio Vivaldi's church. Some of his finest music was composed there, for the choir of orphan girls. Your motor launch will be available at this time to return to the ship. You may stay in town and return to the ship independently (at own expense) or return directly to the ship via motor launch. (When the ship is berthed close to St. Mark's Square, there will be no motor launch to take you back to the vessel since it is a short walk.)

Note: Guests must be able to walk approximately 1.8 miles (3 hours) over varying surfaces with steps. Participants should be in good physical condition since this tour involves extensive walking and standing on varying surfaces and climbing numerous bridges with 10 - 20 steps each. Comfortable, flat walking shoes are recommended. For those who wish to visit independently the Church of Saints John and Paul, a strict dress code is enforced. Short pants and tank tops are not acceptable. Photography is not permitted inside the church. Tour route may vary but all listed sights will be covered.

Note: Guests must be able to walk approximately 0.25 mile (1 hour) over uneven surfaces with 10 - 15 steps. A strict dress code is enforced in St. Mark's Cathedral. Short pants and tank tops are not acceptable. Photography is not permitted inside the Basilica. Please be aware that ongoing restoration work is often being carried out in the Basilica. Participants should be aware that other parties may be visiting the Basilica at the same time so your visit is not exclusive.