The Golden Age of Venice: Inside the Doge's Palace
Description
Step inside a legendary monument where supreme luxury masked absolute power. This guided tour is entirely dedicated to the majestic Doge’s Palace, offering an uninterrupted experience strictly within its historic walls. Bypassing the long lines with an expert storyteller, you will enter the heart of a vanished empire. Your journey begins beneath the dazzling, gold-dripping ceilings of the Great Council Chamber, surrounded by monumental Renaissance masterpieces. Your guide will unveil the secret alliances and gripping scandals that shaped history from these very rooms. The experience takes a dramatic turn as you descend into the chilling, historic stone dungeons within the complex. Stand inside the stark cells where secret tribunals sealed fates, and discover the exact corner where Casanova staged his legendary escape. A captivating plunge into the secrets locked inside the palace.
Tour Options
Itinerary
Led by an expert guide, you will explore the dual soul of Venice's empire. First, immerse yourself in the golden opulence of the lavish Golden Staircase and the majestic Great Council Chamber. Then, your guide will lead you into the shadows: cross the iconic Bridge of Sighs and descend into the chilling stone dungeons to uncover secret plots and see the very cell Casanova escaped from.
Highlights
What's included
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- Viator voucher is not your entry ticket. You will receive all the necessary information via email and Whatsapp.
- Visits inside the Doge’s Palace have a typical duration of 1 to 1.5 hours, depending on the time spent exploring the various rooms and exhibitions.
- The tour runs even in light rain. Please note that during certain time of the year, high tide may occur. In that case, raised walkways are set up to allow access and disposable shoe covers can be purchased in front of the entrance.
- Please note that to use the audio guide, you must have a smartphone and headphones.
- Meeting time is subject to change; if this occurs, you will receive a call or message from the activity provider. Please provide your correct phone number and country code.
- During the summer season, please allow up to two hours to travel from the train station to Saint Mark’s Square, as water taxis are in high demand and delays are common due to heavy crowds.
- If you wish to upgrade your experience with a Basilica entry ticket, please contact us
Reviews(17)
Although we did get to experience all the venues and experiences that were advertised, the tour felt rushed and we did not spend the amount of time, excluding the Gondola Ride, we expected to get a thorough and unique visitation.
Very helpful staff and excellent service. Everything was well organized and smooth. Highly recommended.
The Doge's Palace is truly majestic and enchanting; I suggest this experience to anyone visiting Venice!
Highly recommended experience. From arrival to the end of the tour, you feel welcomed and accompanied in a friendly and professional manner. Really well done.
Superb. Everything was excellent. I really enjoyed the tour, tour guide, information and scenary. Thanks to all those who arranged and organized the tour for us. I absolutely recommend it 🙏👍
I enjoyed my tour. Me and my boyfriend had a lovely vacation and especially gondola Ride was the best part of it
Excellent tour and a great way to explore the Doge’s Palace. The guide was knowledgeable and shared fascinating stories about Venice’s history and its golden age. The palace is stunning, and the tour was well organized from start to finish. Highly recommended!
Complete fraud, a scam!
Doges' Palace, prisons, Bridge of Sighs with gondola ride booked through Real Barcelona Tours - confirmation via Tripadvisor. The guide handed us tickets for the Doges' Palace and the museum. The gondola ride did not take place, although it was thoroughly described in the service package (30-minute shared gondola ride)! It supposedly does not belong to the package. We could have found the entrance to the Doges' Palace without a guide. Flat out scam!
The tour was organized very well, nothing to say except well done!
