unlike some gondoliers his history lessons are grounded in years of careful study. >> this is a marvelous house. is the same as my building and they have an overflow or breach that goes from there to the garden. it's fantastic. >> i didn't know there were gardens in venice. >> look, they're secret gardens. and it's marvelous because it goes from the overflow, they past the bridge and they are in that. i think it's the only one existing in venice. >> we slip into the grand canal so he can show me the palace that would be his if his great-great-great-great-grand aunt hadn't been unlucky in love. this is yours here? this is the family. was. >> went out in the 17th century. one of the family, a woman that married four times, left everything to another guy. >> venice is the only city in the world that allows you to step out of your door and sail around the world.