St. Mark's Basilica and Doge's Palace Tour: Small Group

About the Tour:

Great for history buffs and culture enthusiasts, this tour brings you deep inside The Floating City's two most awe-inspiring landmarks: St. Mark’s Basilica and the Doge's Palace. You'll bypass long entry lines, giving you more time to explore these architectural wonders; and you'll be accompanied by an English-speaking guide, whose knowledge of Venetian culture and history will illuminate your experience.

What We Love About This Tour:

• Wandering through the vast, arcade-lined expanse of the Piazza San Marco—the city's cultural and architectural jewel
  
• Marveling at the extravagant onion domes, gilded mosaics, and bronze sculptures of the Basilica San Marco—along with views from its exclusive terraces
• Learning the fascinating history of the Venetian Republic while strolling through the grand, fresco-lined salons of the Doge’s Palace

Tour Itinerary:

Stop 1: Piazza San Marco

You'll start your tour by meeting your guide in city’s grandest main plaza: Piazza San Marco. Here, the bronze, winged lion sculpture atop a high column—the Lion of Venice—has stood watch since the 12th century.

Stop 2: Basilica San Marco

Completed in the 2nd century, the exterior of St. Mark's Cathedral—topped by five glorious Byzantine domes, and fronted by massive, elaborate arches and statuary (including the four life-sized bronze horse sculptures known as the Horses of St. Mark)—is dazzling. But your group will skip entry lines to head inside, where you’ll take in the interior’s spectacular gilded mosaics (which depict scenes from the Old Testament and the life of St. Mark), and its soaring baldacchino and altar. You’ll also get rare access to the cathedral’s terraces, which offer bird’s-eye views over the piazza, the Doge’s Palace, and the city beyond.

Stop 3: Doge’s Palace

Though it’s one of the most elegant and impressive-looking buildings in Venice—with a fortress-like upper story of patterned marble that seems to float above an arcade of delicate archways—the Doge’s Palace has an importance that goes far beyond the architectural. As the onetime residence of the doge (the highest government official in the city for more than 1,000 years), the palace was also the seat of the Venetian Republic. You’ll learn about the republic’s history—which dates to the 7th century—as you wander through the palace’s grand halls and salons, some of which are graced by Tintoretto and Veronese frescoes. You'll also get the rare chance to cross the famous Bridge of Sighs—which connected long-ago interrogation rooms to prison cells, and likely offered prisoners their last glimpse of Venice.

What’s Included:

• All entry fees
  
• Special Skip-the-Line access at St. Mark’s Basilica and Doge's Palace
  
• Headsets that insure you always hear your guide

Not Included:

• Hotel pick-up and drop-off
• Gratuities

Important to Know:

• Please be sure to arrive at the tour departure point 15 minutes before the starting time. Guests arriving after departure cannot be accommodated, and missed tours or tickets will not be refunded.
• Unfortunately, wheelchairs and strollers cannot be accommodated on this tour.
  
• Please note that photography is prohibited inside St. Mark’s Basilica and the Doge’s Palace. Photography is permitted on all other parts of the tour.

Important to Bring:

• A small purse or camera bag only (no backpacks or large shoulder bags). Security checks at St. Mark’s Basilica restrict the size of bags that can be brought inside.
• Clothing that covers your knees and shoulders. Entry into St. Mark’s Basilica requires strict adherence to these dress codes.
• Good walking shoes.