Venice: Doges Palace, Prison, and Secret Passageways Tour

Venice: Doges Palace, Prison, and Secret Passageways Tour

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Go behind the scenes on a special access tour of the Doge’s Palace and discover the secret itinerary of the rulers of the Venetian Empire. See secret archives, offices, torture chambers, and more.

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Highlights

View of secret prison chambers & archives of Doge's Palace
Skip-the-line access and exclusive tour limited to 20 people
Special visit to Casanova's prison cell & torture chamber
Route including the best general access areas and apartments
Hear fascinating stories of Venice's history from your guide

Description

See parts of the Doge's Palace that most visitors and many Venetians don't even know exist on this special access tour. Open to just 20 people at a time, this exclusive tour explores secret prisons, archives, offices, and even a torture chamber in Palazzo Ducale to reveal a darker side of history. For those with an interest in art, history, literature, or scandal, the Doge's Palace is by far the most interesting building in Venice. Home to the world's oldest republic, it's quite literally a repository for its greatest secret and artworks all laid bare on this in-depth tour, offering a much more detailed picture of life in the Republic of Venice. With your guide, a Venetian art expert and historian, enjoy skip-the-line access to the Doge's Palace and make a beeline for backstage. After a guard opens a special door, enter the hidden side of the palace to see the prison cell where Casanova was held, hear the unlikely tale of his escape, and visit the archives to learn how secrets were kept. See hidden council rooms to learn of the system of checks and balances that made Venice the world's oldest republic and enter the best general access areas such as huge audience rooms, ballrooms with incredible paintings by Veronese and Tintoretto, and the private apartments of the Duke of Venice. Your VIP experiences ends with crossing the famed Bridge of Sighs to see the New Prisons on this small-group tour.

Includes

Skip-the-line Doge's Palace entry Special access to the Doge’s Palace Secret Itineraries Guide

Important Information

Children under 6 are not allowed inside the secret passages
The prisons and secret itineraries are not wheelchair-accessible. The route is not suitable for those with walking disabilities or for pregnant women.
This is a small group tour of 20 people or fewer
Please note, both men and women must wear clothes that cover at least their shoulders and knees. You may be denied entry if you do not follow the dress code.