Private Doges Palace Secret Passages Tour and St. Mark's Basilica
Description
Experience the Doge's Palace with special access to areas that most visitors never see. With a dedicated guide, explore the secret passages connecting hidden archives, council rooms, and the notorious torture chamber. Climb into the palace attic to view high-security prison cells, including the one famously escaped by Casanova. Continue with a complete tour of the Doge's Palace, including grand halls filled with works by Venetian masters that show the city at its height. This tour is completely private, with no other guests in your group and a guide that's focused on you. Enjoy more time to ask questions, linger where interest strikes, and appreciate the details.
Tour Options
Itinerary
Explore the Doge's Palace on a private tour that begins inside the restricted Secret Itineraries, where hidden archives, council rooms, and the torture chamber reveal the workings of the Venetian Republic. Continue into the attic to see high security prison cells, including the one tied to Casanova, and learn the stories behind his escape. After the backstage route, enjoy a complete tour of the palace's grand halls decorated with masterpieces and finish by crossing the Bridge of Sighs into the New Prisons for a final view of Venice's judicial past.
Your tour finishes next door at St. Mark's Basilica. Bypass the lines and gaze up at the shimmering gold mosaics on the church's ceiling. On a fully guided tour of the basilica, your guide will uncover the dramatic story of how St. Mark’s relics arrived in Venice and help you appreciate the unique blend of eastern and western architecture.
Highlights
What's included
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- Unfortunately due to the nature of this tour it is not suitable for guests with mobility impairments or with wheelchairs, or strollers.
- Guests should be prepared for a moderate level of physical activity, including standing for extended periods and climbing stairs, which may not be suitable for travelers with certain health conditions or mobility limitations.
- Due to Doge's Palace regulations, children under the age of 6 are not permitted inside the secret itineraries and therefore cannot take this tour.
- This tour is not suitable for people who are claustrophobic.
- No refund will be provided if high tide prevents certain parts of the tour, but adjustments to the route will be made for client safety and comfort.
- If access is restricted due to private events inside the Doge's Palace, we cannot be held responsible. This is a situation beyond our control. No refund will be issued.
- All guests must supply their full name that matches a valid ID at the time of the booking. Should you fail to provide these, your reservation will be canceled. Name changes are not permitted.
- St. Mark’s Basilica can be subject to closures due to particular liturgical celebrations, especially during major religious holidays such as Easter or Christmas. In the event that the Basilica is closed, explanations will be provided from the outside.
Reviews(11)
A wonderful & engaging tour of the behind the scenes prison and secret chambers within Doges Palace followed by a visit to St. Mark's Basilica. Our guide Iole was well versed in the history and facts but also the intrigue and mystery of ancient Venice. Highly recommend!
It was an incredible experience, highly recommend. Our guide Paola was excellent! We learned so much about the history, architecture, culture and art of Venice. We enjoyed the Basilica and Doge’s Palace, plus toured the secret passages and learned of Casanova’s life and escape. Paola provided the right amount of information so we were not overwhelmed, and shared so many details if we asked for more. Her passion and knowledge was superior. Well worth the expense.
Our tour guide Sabrina was wonderful. She gave us the inside scoop on so much of the Doges Palace and St Marks it was extremely impressive. Highly recommend her if you’re a real history geek.
Giulia was AMAZING! She was so knowledgeable and so happy. Best tour guide I’ve had.
Valentina S was superb!! A wealth of knowledge and very enthusiastic.
Best guide till now, very informative and explained all about Venice - Roberta
Valentina S was so great! We enjoyed the whole thing.
Valentina S did such an amazing job giving our family a tour. We had younger children with us and she was understanding. Thank you so much!
Paulo was great! She is native to Venice and was very informative. We did a private tour (4 in our family) and it was an intimate, personalized experience. Highly recommend!
We did the Venice VIP After hours tour if Doge Palace and St. Mark’s. Our guide Marina was fantastic. She was very informative and passionate about her job. We were the only group in Doge Palace, which was amazing and one of only two groups in St. Mark’s. By doing the after hours tour, we were able to see the crypt in St. Mark’s, which you are unable to see during the day.
