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.

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
  • Hear fascinating stories of Venice's history from your guide
  • Route including the best general access areas and apartments

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

Special access to the Doge’s Palace Secret itineraries Skip-the-line Doge's Palace tickets Expert tour guide Small group of maximum 20 pax

Important Information

  • 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, 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.

Easy cancellation

Cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund

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