Doge's Palace tour with secret itineraries
Attractions & guided tours

Doge's Palace tour with secret itineraries

Free cancellation
Language: English
Availability: Everyday
Mobile voucher accepted
Duration: up to 1 hour 25 minutes
Do this because
  • See areas of the Doge’s Palace normally closed to the general public
  • The ticket includes also the visit of the rest of main areas of the Doge’s Palace
  • Walk through the ‘Bridge of Sighs’ by your own
What to expect

The Doge’s palace features the very best and the very worst of Venice’s history – from vast paintings by Tintoretto and Veronese to the wooden slot where accusations of treason were slipped to the fearsome Secret Police. To wander the corridors of the Duke’s palace is to understand the Republic of Venice, for better or for worse.

Our tour of the palace combines a guided visit to the Secret Itineraries with a free visit to Doge’s Chambers, assuring you get the most complete tour of the Doge’s Palace. Marvel over ceilings frescoed by Tintoretto to show Justice presenting herself to the Doge while you think of all the feet that have shuffled on the tiles you stand on – ambassadors waited nervously in this very spot for an audience with the Doge in the Hall of Four Doors. Then there’s the numerous flattering works produced on demand by the masters of the time – ‘Virtues of the Republic’ in the Council Room was Veronese’s rosy outlook on the state of his nation while ‘The Triumph of Venice’ in the Senate Hall was where Tintoretto paid his dues on a high ceiling.

For all of the splendor that its corridors hold, you would never guess what is hidden in the attic upstairs in the Doge's palace. Follow your guide to the attic prison where Venice’s famous lover and writer Casanova was kept for months before he managed a successful escape. Peering around this dark room, considering the security that must have existed, it’s almost impossible to imagine how he did it – never mind, our guides have the answers.

Casanova was not the only man to see the Doge’s palace on less than favorable terms. After your guide has left you, you’ll have the opportunity to walk the Bridge of Sighs – so named for the prisoners that walked its length on their way to cells across the canal. As they took their last look at beautiful Venice they couldn’t help but sigh. Your guide will leave you inside the Doge's palace so that you can cross over to the 16th century New Prisons. If time allows wander around inside to see the graffiti that lines cells here, protestations of innocence etched out on the walls.

A visit to the Doge’s Palace is a rollercoaster experience, taking you from the artistic highs of Renaissance Venice to its grim bottom. When you step, blinking back into the sun, your head will be full of masterfully executed paintings and needlessly executed prisoners. One thing is for sure – you’ll never again see Venice in the same light.

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What's included
  • check Expert, English-speaking tour guide
  • check Small groups of 25 people or less
  • check Skip the line Access and entrance ticket to the Doge’s Palace
What's not included
  • x_not_included Hotel pick-up and drop-off
  • x_not_included Gratuities
  • x_not_included Food/Beverage
Where

Riva degli Schiavoni, Venice, Metropolitan City of Venice, Italy

Meeting point:
Meet us 15 minutes before the departure of the tour at the foot of Ponte della Paglia, the bridge with the view of the Ponte dei Sospiri (Bridge of Sighs), just outside in front of the Doge's Palace, facing the lagoon. Our coordinators will be wearing blue City Wonders polo shirts or jackets at the meeting point for easy recognition.
What to remember
  • Government-imposed COVID restrictions for entering countries and venues (e.g. booster shot, negative COVID test, vaccinecertificate with a QR code…) may change with little notice. It is the responsibility of all visitors to ensure they check the official travel adviceon the government websites and comply with each country’s requirements. City Wonders will not be held responsible for refused access to museums and tourist attractions and no refund will be due
  • Children under the age of 6 years are not permitted on this tour
  • Tour not accessible to guests with wheelchairs, strollers or baby carriages
  • This tour involves a fair amount of walking and steep staircases
  • Photography is prohibited inside the Doge's Palace
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Provider
City Wonders
Booking fee
Good news! No extra fees are applied to this booking.
Cancellation policy
Receive a 100% refund if you cancel up to 1 day before the experience begins.

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