Venice Doge's Palace Private Tour

Alongside beautiful features such as the Golden Staircase and the paintings of Titian, Tintoretto and Veronese, you’ll explore its darker side as you see where prisoners once caught their final glimpse of freedom on the somber Bridge of Sighs.

Venice Doge's Palace Private Tour Description

Your 2-hour private tour includes:

• Skip-the-line entry to Doge's Palace

• Private guided tour the palace highlights

• See famous artwork and the Golden Staircase

• Bridge of Sighs, prison cells, and much more

• A passionate, English-speaking private guide

Meet in St. Mark's Square

This private tour of the Doge's Palace begins in Piazza San Marco. Before entering and skipping the line, learn about the the Venetian Gothic architecture of the palace's beautiful exterior. The Doge’s Palace, or Palazzo Ducale in Italian, was renovated in the 15th century by one of the most famous Doge's, Francesco Foscari. 

Explore the Doge's Palace

From the 15th to 18th centuries, the Doges of Venice lived and ruled over the city from the inside the walls of this incredible building. The interior of the Doge's Palace is as impressive as the outside, full of marble fireplaces, friezes, and stucco adorning the walls. Some works of art stand out, including famous pieces by Titian, Tintoretto, and Veronese, and your guide will explain the stories and interpretations behind the art as your private tour leads you through the palace.

You'll also pass through the imposing Great Council Chamber, which is one of the largest rooms in Europe and the place where the most important decisions were discussed.

One of the palace's most striking features is the Golden Staircase, considered the richest staircase ever built. It connects the first floor of the palace to the third, where the Doge's offices were located. Your guide will show you the grand offices from which Venice was ruled for centuries, including the rooms that housed the powerful Council of Ten—the city's governing body.

Prison Cells and the Bridge of Sighs

Not all of the palace is beautiful and golden, since this place was also the setting for some of Venice's darkest moments. The fortress-like Doge's Palace not only held the seat of the Venetian Republic, but it also connected to a prison via the famous Bridge of Sighs. Legend has it, prisoners looked out of the small windows for what was often their final sight of freedom before their fate was sealed by a judge.

Your guide will show you some of the cramped cells where famous Venetians like Casanova were once held, and you'll take a walk across the Bridge of Sighs to trace the steps of those unfortunate enough to walk this bridge centuries ago.