Doge’s Palace “Prisons & Tyranny” Tour in Venice
Discover the real and shocking history of Venice's famed palace with a passionate guide
Wondering if the Doge's Palace is interesting enough to visit? You'll definitely think so after spending a couple of hours exploring this incredible palace with a controversial past. Your guide will keep you engaged on this immersive tour that explains the fear tactics, imprisonments, and tortures used by the Venetian rulers in ancient times. You'll see incredible art, architecture, and even prison cells as your guide leads you to the coolest spots within this gothic palace.
Tour Details
- Skip the Line
- St. Mark’s Square
- Doge’s Palace Exterior
- The Palace Courtyard
- Giant Staircase
- Golden Staircase
- Great Council Chamber
- Doge’s Palace Prison Cells
- Bridge of Sighs
- Explore Even More!
The Doge's Palace is where the highest-elected magistrates ruled Venice with an iron fist. Go back in time with your passionate tour guide to hear stories of crime and betrayal, as well as the legal system that once kept Venice in check. Inside the Venetian Gothic palace, admire works of art by Titian, Tintoretto and Veronese. See the Golden Staircase, the Bridge of Sighs and even some prison cells. This 2-hour includes:
Great stories and secrets unveiled
Skip-the-line entry to Doge's Palace
Fun, English-speaking guide
Maximum group size of 10
Experience Doge's Palace History
Meet your local, passionate guide outside Doge's Palace. Before skipping the line on your guided tour, admire the building’s exterior and learn about St. Mark’s Square. The Doge's Palace, or Palazzo Ducale in Italiano, is a perfect example of Venetian Gothic architecture.
Once home to the Doge when the city was a Republic, the palace sits next to St. Mark's Basilica (the former private place of worship for the Doge).
Doge's Palace Interior
The interior of the Doge's Palace is grand to say the least. Inside you’ll find marble fireplaces, friezes and stucco adorning the walls. Some works of art stand out over the rest and our guide will lead you straight to them.
These grand creations include frescoes by Titian and Veronese. Take a look at the Stairs of Gold, which connect the first floor of the palace to the third, where offices were located.
Bridge of Sighs
Doge's Palace not only held the seat of the Venetian Republic, it also connected to a prison via the famous Bridge of Sighs. Linking freedom with incarceration, prisoners walked across this bridge before spending years or even the remainder of their lives behind bars.
If that wasn’t enough to sigh about, look out from the small windows carved into the bridge that once offered convicts their last glance of beautiful Venice. That's plenty to sigh about.
What you get with this tour
See what people are saying
47 total reviews
Leave a reviewThomas McNamara
Femi Awodele
Great job!
Todd Bailey
Fantastic tour! What a beautiful palace! Truly awe inspiring and jaw dropping!
Frequently Asked Questions
Where to meet?
Between the two big columns in St. Mark’s Square (columns of San Marco & San Teodoro) located on the south side of the square, near the canal. A representative will be there holding a sign with our company name on it. Please arrive 15 minutes early to check in.
What to bring?
We recommend bringing comfortable walking shoes and a water bottle. Large bags and backpacks are not allowed.
Where to meet?
Between the two big columns in St. Mark’s Square (columns of San Marco & San Teodoro) located on the south side of the square, near the canal. A representative will be there holding a sign with our company name on it. Please arrive 15 minutes early to check in.
What to bring?
We recommend bringing comfortable walking shoes and a water bottle. Large bags and backpacks are not allowed.
What if I have concerns about my mobility on this tour?
If you have any doubts about your mobility, we suggest taking a Doge's Palace tour. The itinerary is much more flexible and easily modified.
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