Venice: Doge's Palace & Prisons Tour｜Italy

After meeting your guide outside the Royal Gardens in central Venice, walk to the nearby Doge’s Palace at St Mark’s Square.

Admire the magnificent Gothic exterior, and then skip straight to the front of the queue so you can head inside and start exploring.

Follow your guide through the palace’s public rooms adorned from floor to ceiling with gilded decor and murals, including paintings by Renaissance masters Tintoretto and Veronese. As you explore, your guide will share details about the powerful doges who ruled the Venetian Republic for centuries.

Hear about their fearsome governing tactics, and then step across the famous Bridge of Sighs into the connected prison network where enemies of the republic were locked up.

After you’ve emerged back into the daylight of St Mark’s Square, enjoy a lunch break ( not included) , before starting the second part of your tour.

Meet your tour back in St Mark’s Square and learn about the crown jewel of this piazza — St Mark’s Basilica.

Head to the front of the line and step inside the awe-inspiring cathedral. Admire the soaring golden domes, marble mosaics and intricate murals of the lavish interior. You’ll have approximately 30 minutes inside the Basilica to explore.

Next, escape the crowds of St Mark’s Square and follow your guide through lesser-known backstreets. Learn about some of Venice’s hidden gems, such as the Gothic San Zaccaria Church or Campo Santa Maria Formosa and Hidden Venice, as your guide shares tales of the city’s colorful characters and history.

Your tour concludes back at the original departure point in St Mark’s Square.