Fable of Venice: Hugo Pratt & Corto Maltese Tour

Tour Overview

Follow Corto Maltese through the “Fable of Venice” by Hugo Pratt. A private tour blending comics, secrets, and the city’s most evocative corners.

Wander through the dreamlike world of Hugo Pratt’s Venice, where fantasy meets reality and every alley holds a story. On this private tour, we’ll follow the adventures of Corto Maltese, the mysterious sailor and reluctant hero, through the very streets and courtyards that inspired Pratt’s masterpiece Favola di Venezia.

This experience is more than a tribute—it’s a journey into hidden Venice, led by a guide passionate about comics, history, and storytelling. You’ll discover real places drawn in the panels of Pratt’s work, walk past secretive corti, encounter the Bridge of Nostalgia, and hear tales that blur the lines between fiction and history.

Whether you're a lifelong fan or a curious explorer, this tour is a magical portal into the city’s esoteric soul and the visual poetry of one of Italy’s most iconic graphic novelists.

What's Included

Top-rated local guide (licensed tour guide – registration no. 06000001)

What's Not Included

Gratuities at your discretion

Your Itinerary

1

A curated itinerary

This curated itinerary takes you through lesser-known corners of Venice tied to Hugo Pratt’s life and imagination. The route is primarily in the Castello and Cannaregio districts, the heart of Pratt’s childhood, and the stage for Favola di Venezia. Our meeting point will be Combo a former jesuit monastery, a place of memory and reflection—just like the opening of a graphic novel.

2

Calle Tiziano – Corto Maltese’s House

In this quiet corte, Pratt imagined Corto’s Venetian residence. It’s a hidden gem for fans, tucked away in Cannaregio’s maze of alleys.

3

Ponte della Nostalgia

Pratt renamed this ordinary bridge as the “Bridge of Nostalgia”—a poetic reinterpretation of the everyday. A perfect metaphor for his Venice.

4

Palazzo Soranzo Van Axel

A Gothic dream. This palace appears as one of Corto’s homes in the comics. It also reflects the aristocratic and mysterious mood of Pratt’s visual style.

5

Calle del Forno – Pratt’s Childhood Home

Here lived young Hugo before the war. His memories of this area permeate his stories with deep emotional resonance.

6

Corte Botera – Corte Sconta detta Arcana

A legendary courtyard blocked by a gate. Pratt gave it an aura of magical realism. This is where Favola di Venezia truly begins—a gateway to another dimension.

7

San Pietro di Castello

Once the city’s cathedral, this ancient island holds deep symbolic and narrative meaning in Fable of Venice. It’s where Corto confronts Venice’s Masonic mysteries, and a powerful closing chapter for our walk. The tour is customizable and may include additional stops such as the Arsenal lion, Campiello dell’Arabo d’Oro, Calle dei Marrani, and more, depending on interest and time.