Inside Venice: the golden Basilica and the Doge´s Palace

Begin the day with a visit to Doge’s Palace, or Palazzo Ducale in Italian. Located near the spacious Piazza San Marco, stepping inside this construction is like jumping into a time warp that zaps you back to the European Middle Ages. As you explore its immense interior, contemplate the masterpieces of painting that line the walls, as well as other opulent decorations such as the breathtaking golden staircase, which leads to the first floor, where the duke and his council controlled the future of the republic.

Cross the famous Bridge of Sighs which connects to the Doge´s Palace and relive the anguish that the prisoners endured. Delve into the sinister prisons, where the legendary Giacomo Casanova was held.

Leave behind the earthly treasures of the Palazzo Ducale and get in touch with the heavenly ones of the Golden Basilica. Also known as the Basilica of San Marcos, this extraordinary cathedral is a masterpiece of byzantine architecture, unparalleled in the rest of Italy. Alongside your tour guide, prepared in accordance with the Curia of Venice, admire the shimmering golden mosaics and the marble inlays of the floors as you learn about the biblical stories depicted in the cathedrals decorations.

?Important information

On certain dates, most travellers staying outside Venice who wish to visit for the day must pay an access fee directly to the Municipality of Venice. For further details (including exceptions) and to find out on which days this fee applies and how to register or make payment, please visit: https://cda.ve.it/en/. The fee is not required if you are only visiting the islands of Murano, Torcello and Burano.