Private Venice Doge Palace and St. Mark's Basilica and terraces Tour

Power, spirituality, conspiracy and grandeur: St Mark’s Basilica and Palazzo Ducale Venice

Description

Discover Venice led by the knowledge and insight of a private charismatic guide. Our signature Palazzo Ducale Venice and St. Mark’s Basilica tour leads you through the squares and across the bridges to discover this dazzling city’s eventful centuries-old history, legendary landmarks and manifold secrets! With the exclusive privilege of a private dedicated guide, all for yourself and family or friends, and entrance to the grandiose and bewitching Palazzo Ducale Venice.

Meet your private guide, a highly specialized pro, and walk to St Mark’s Square, one of the world’s most stunning piazzas. Framed by the arcaded Procuratie building and Correr Museum it is topped off by the exotic-looking polychrome domes of the majestic St Mark’s Basilica.  This tour takes you inside the center of the religious power of Venice, the beautiful Basilica of St Marks and its terraces (EXCLUSIVE ENTRANCE) with our skip-the-line access. Hear about its history, and the artists who contributed to creating this masterpiece, and enter the church comfortably and stress-free thanks to exclusive skip-the-line tickets. Once inside, marvel at the shimmering ceiling mosaics, Apostles with the Madonna mosaics and golden domes.

Then follow your guide across the square to the monumental Doge’s Palace, the Palazzo Ducale Venice, which anciently housed the Venetian government, Palace of Justice and eerie dungeons, as well as the Doge’s own apartments.

Enter the Palace whilst admiring its rich gothic architecture. Built in the 1300s, and refurbished for many a year, it gained its current aspect no earlier than 1424, when the last wing was added, and is a veritable treasure chest of world-acclaimed artwork by artists such as Titian, Tiepolo, Tintoretto and Veronese.

Follow your private guide through the sumptuous courtyard and hear about the palace’s mysteries, anecdotes and bewitching legends. Admire the salons and ballrooms, Great Council’s hall and the opulent apartments where the Doge used to live.

Rambling down the eerie passages you’ll see mysterious prisons and dark ancient torture chambers, including the dungeon where Casanova was imprisoned. During your visit you will also have the chance to admire the “Opera Museum” and its collection of Renaissance, Mannerism and “Venitian school” paintings by Titian, Tintoretto and Veronese.

Finally reach the world-celebrated Bridge of Sighs, admire it  and hear the sad history behind its name.

Including in-depth tours of St Mark’s Basilica and exclusive access to untrodden parts of the Doge’s Palace our signature Private Tour leads you through centuries of history to discover the heart and soul of Venice.

Inclusions

• Private guided walking tour
• Private English-speaking guide
• Skip the line entrance to San Mark's Basilica adn terraces

Meeting Point

ST MARK'S SQUARE: meet our tour leader under the column with the lion on the top, in front of the Doge's Palace - SEE ON MAP

Notes

 

Please let us know in advance any special need or impaired mobility of the clients and we will do our best to accomodate them.

Rain Policy

This tour runs rain or shine.