New - Maleficia: Inquisition, Torture and Witchcraft between the centuries

Anastasia our guide was fantastic and took the time to explain the different events starting from the creation of the prison and the ones that happened with Casanova etc.. it was great. The exhibition itself with torture machines is not so interesting compared to her commentary about history of Venice. I would recommend the visit only if you have her as a guide.

Yet another exhibition on the instruments of torture, which, perhaps not everyone knows, are almost entirely dated between the end of the 18th and the beginning of the 19th century, when it became fashionable to redo, a little seriously, a little with much imagination, the instruments of torture used between the 15th and 16th centuries during the period of the Counter-Reformations first and then of the Catholic Inquisition. In any case, by now the pieces are to be considered ancient, since they are at least 200 years old. The bad news is that these exhibitions are all the same. We saw it more to see the environments of the old prisons that were used as pre-trial detention before the final judgments. There's also an interrogation room. The exhibition is quite didactic, although there is nothing already seen.

We do not recommend this tour. They are sloppy and disingenuous. Meeting place is unclear and confusing because building signage indicates a different exhibit. Operator did not have any visible sign like a flag or company sign, no phone to reach them on Viator ticket itself. We acually passed the meeting place several times and finally called Viator, who could not reach this man either. He never called us to check in. We've been w other Viator arranged tours and everyone has called the no shows to check in. At one point we were, unbeknownst to us, in the right place. My husband saw a very young man. He tried to ask this man if he knew where the exhibit was. The young man ignored him as he quickly ushered another couple upstairs. My husband tried to follow him but at the top of the stairs he had disappeared. We entered a room where people were watching a film about the other exhibit. We then left, thinking we had rhe wrong place. When we requested a refund their answer was that we should have showed up earlier, when their instruction was to show up 5 minutes before. As proof we have a text to them indicating we were confused about where the operator was, time stamped before the tour. Their reply was for me to call a number, but the number was my cellphone number. This experience was unpleasant and the operator's staff was unprofessional.

There wasn’t any queuing when we got there, which was a plus, when compared to other attractions. The lady at the till was very friendly and welcoming. We didn’t have the audio guide and regret it because, I think that may have made the experience better. It was very interesting to see the torture devices and for which crimes they would be used. The information signs provided information in 4/5 different languages , which was good. There was a staff member on the first floor who was kind and helped us find where to go, as it wasn’t sign posted very well. Overall, a nice little museum. Given 3 stars because the staff were really nice!

Excellent tour, our guide was very engaging and informative we really enjoyed it, a must with a guide.

Beautiful guided tour, the boy who was the guide was very well prepared and fit into the role perfectly. Exhibition curious in its crudeness, you learn a historical part that is often forgotten but very current! Recommended for strong stomachs

A very interesting visit to a well-kept and uncrowded museum behind the ducal palace. It deserves it.

Very interesting show with attentive guide Kristian and competent. Venice is always beautiful even in the most terrifying places!