Discover Venice: Walking tour, Doge’s Palace, St. Marks Basilica
Description
Enjoy this combined guided walking and the best way to see Venice, part of our tour is off the beaten track and away from the main tourist sites giving you a great overview of the city, also included on the tour are two of the most important monuments in Venice, we skip the line into Saint Marks Basilica and the Doges Palace. A combined walking city tour that allows you to discover the most important historical places and buildings of Venice. This guided tour is divided into three parts. The tour starts with a historical introduction of St. Marks’s Square, and its architectural delights. You will be lead then by a professional guide through the most characteristic places around the areas of Saint Mark's Square and Castello. After this walk you will visit the the Doge's Palace, once the seat of the power of the Republic of Venice, and to conclude, a visit to the interiors of Saint Mark's Basilica, with is golden mosaics and its byzantine history.
Tour Options
Itinerary
Starting in Saint Mark’s square, this atmospheric walking tour will then whisk you away from the crowded streets into the treasure filled pockets of the Castello area. A qualified guide will walk you through the hidden squares, winding canals and historical buildings providing you with a perfect introduction to the origins, symbols, traditions, architecture, and life in current day Venice. The tour starts with a historical introduction of St. Marks’s Square, and its architectural delights, allowing you to discover the history of the majestic St. Mark’s Basilica, the illustrious Doge’s Palace, once the seat of the power of the Republic of Venice, and the extraordinary, renaissance clock tower.
Leaving the square, you will be guided into the residential Castello area, allowing you to discover this part of Venice in all of its elegance, through its labyrinth of narrow alleys - “calli”, many bridges, winding canals and wide picturesque squares - “campi”. You can expect to discover campo Santa Maria Formosa, one of the largest squares in Venice with its church, named after its visitation of the Holy Virgin.
Campo Santi Giovanni and Paolo where you will be able to admire the famous church, the resting place of several Doges; and the equestrian monument of Bartolomeo Colleoni, an Italian mercenary Captain.
The former residence of Marco Polo in Corte Seconda del Milion, probably the most famous Venetian merchant.
The Malibran theatre (only external) is also part of the itinerary. The theatre of San Giovanni Grisostomo was built in only four months at the end of 1677. It was renovated many times and the renovation of 1919, gave us the theatre, as we know it today.
Our guide will accompany you to the Doge’s Palace, which dominates Saint Mark's Square, the heart of Venice, standing out for its size and its extraordinary structure, where Byzantine, European and Oriental architecture collide. Immediately entering the Palace you will pass through the great courtyard and admire the wealth of detail on the famous Golden Staircase. Once inside the Palace, you will visit the halls where the Duke (Doge) and his Council controlled the fate of the Serene Republic, whilst surrounded by hundreds of artistic masterpieces and discover the political history of Venice and its people. You will be able to admire the paintings realised by some of the most important artists of the Italian Renaissance, amongst them, the world's largest oil painting by Tintoretto. Passing through the famous Bridge of Sighs, you will reach the new prisons. The bridge was given its name by the English poet Lord Byron, probably referring to the last breath of the prisoners, who had their last view of the lagoon and of Venice from the window of this bridge, before they were to be imprisoned.
During the second part of the tour you will visit the Basilica, once the private chapel of the Doge of Venice, and the only one of its kind in Italy, thanks to the sumptous golden mosaics and impressive marble inlay flooring. During the tour you will be able to sit down in the church and absorb the atmosphere whilst listening to your guide who will describe the biblical scenes represented throughout the building, together with history and particularities of this ancient Basilica. The tour includes the visit of the famous Pala d'Oro, an altarpiece made of gold and silver and an exquisite example of Byzantine art with a myriad of gems and precious stones.
At the end of the tour, keep your Doge's Palace ticket to visit on your own: Museo Correr, Museo Archeologico Nazionale and Monumental Rooms of the Biblioteca Nazionale Marciana in Saint Mark's square, opposite side of the Saint Mark's Basilica.
Highlights
What's included
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- Knees and shoulders MUST be covered for both men and women. You may risk refused entry if you fail to comply with these dress requirements;
- Large bags or ruck sacks are NOT allowed on this tour;
- Check-in is 15 minutes before the tour start time;
- For all late arrivals or no show, NO REFUND.
- On certain dates, most travelers staying outside of Venice who are planning to visit for the day will be required to pay a €5 access fee. For further details (including exemptions) and to learn what days this fee is applicable, please visit: https://cda.ve.it
- Please provide the full names of all travelers when booking. Failure to present a voucher with all travelers’ full names at the ticket office prior to entry may result in denied entry to the attraction.
- Each traveler must present a valid passport or ID document that matches the name provided at the time of booking for successful entry to St. Mark’s Basilica.
Reviews(28)
Fantastic experience! Our guide Elizabeth was so knowledgeable and shared so much history. Would definitely recommend this tour
Hello Elaine, Thank you for your kind and thoughtful review. It means so much to the Team. Thank you and sending kind regards from Venice. We hope to welcome you again in the future. Team Venice Events
Katarina was an excellent tour guide, full of wonderful stories to help us understand her home, Venice
Hello Marit, Thank you for your kind and thoughtful review. You kind feedback helps us improve our tours and experiences. We look forward to welcome you back in Venice. Sending kind regards, Team Venice Events
Thanks to Barbara, our guide. Very nice and very cultivated! Discover the alleys of Venice and then the must-sees (Basilica of St Mark and Doge's Palace) 4 full hours, thank you again Barbara
Bonjour Olivier, merci beaucoup pour votre commentaire aimable et honnête. Nous vous sommes reconnaissants d'avoir pu vous joindre à nous pour cette visite. Nous espérons vous accueillir à nouveau à l'avenir. Merci beaucoup, L'équipe Venice Events
Although a little hard to understand our guide at times, he was very knowledgeable and took his time. Answered questions. Would def recommend.
An AMAZING tour with a super knowledgeable guide. Our favorite tour of the entire trip. The skip the line access made both the basilica and palace very efficient, and we had a perfect amount of time to take in all the beauty.
Great tour with insights into the city and things to observe about the buildings. Palace and Basilica are two top sites and worth seeing, but the city tour adds a lot to the appreciation and understanding of Venice.
Perfect way to see a lot in 1/2 day. In the early morning we walked Venice with a knowledgable tour guide than went back to the meeting point and had a few min to grab a coffee than we met up with more people for the basilica and palace. So much to see inside but this tour got it all in. Your ticket also includes neighboring museums!
Thank you Chris for your review.
After meeting us under the clock tower in San Marcos Square, warning us very well that nothing would be refunded if we did not show up and giving us two contact phones, we were in the agreed place 20 minutes before the time. NOBODY showed up or answered us by phone (the office indicated that they opened at 9:15 and the “emergencies” message was not taken by anyone. We had to go to the tourist office where we were told that the meeting point of the TURIVA agency was another. We went there and the poor man who attended the kiosk called us to visit in the afternoon. After a few minutes we were called from the tour operator (Venice Events) so that we would go to 10:30 to do the tour. Since I was surprised because the kiosk guy had told me that “the same tour” only repeated in the afternoon, I told them to assure me that it was the same and in Spanish, they said yes and we went. The contracted 4-hour tour that included guided Venice poe ride, and also guided Basilica and Palace tours, stayed on a 2-hour tour without the city walk. Obviously, since it is practically impossible to contact TURIVA, I called Venice, where I was told that I had to talk to Turiva as it was a shared activity and they had done their part. Please request a refund of 60 euros (the activity of the ride is 29 per person according to the kiosk). I have been approved one of 47.99 (23,995 per person ????) that does not cover at all our wasted time, frustration, or fair price (pay 2 MONTHS ago in advance 223 euros for the “experience”) I won't discuss any more but I DON'T ADVISE ANYONE TO HIRE WITH THIS AGENCY.
Dear Customer, Thank you for your feedback, we will work to improve our offer and services.
Great tour, just the right length, very knowledgeable guide. We were lucky to only have 6 in the morning part of the tour. It got a little crowded for the second half, but manageable.
The tour itself was very good. But we had troubles with teh meeting place. Therea are two different places mention in the ticket. Be sure to choose the right one. Its not that place direct at the macus place. So we missed the first tour and had to book a new one at the next day. And we have to pay twice - late we got back the money for the first tour very soon. Take some snack and something to drink with you, 4 hours walking is not so short.
