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Offered languages
- English
- Italian
Explore the enchanting Doge's Palace and St. Mark’s Square as the evening crowds diminish. This private tour offers an intimate experience with a licensed local guide who reveals the rich history and art of the Venetian Republic. Enjoy a 1.5-hour guided visit inside the Doge’s Palace, where you can marvel at the Giant’s Staircase, Golden Staircase, and masterpieces by Tintoretto and Veronese. After your palace exploration, take a twilight stroll through St. Mark’s Square, admiring the illuminated Basilica, Bell Tower, and Clock Tower, while delving into the captivating stories of Venice's past.
- Private evening tour lasting 2 hours, focusing on art and history
- 1.5-hour guided visit inside the Doge’s Palace with skip-the-line admission
- Twilight walk through St. Mark’s Square with exterior views of major landmarks
- Expert commentary from a licensed local guide and historian
What's Included
Meeting and pickup
Outside Hard Rock Boutique
Outside the Doge's Palace
Itinerary
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1Rialto
Rialto Market and Rialto Bridge Begin your private tour in Rialto, the ancient commercial heart of Venice. Begin y Walk through the historic market area, where Venetians have purchased fish, fruit and vegetables for generations. Learn how Rialto developed into one of Europe’s most important trading centres and how merchants, bankers and sailors contributed to the wealth of the Venetian Republic. Market activity depends on the day and starting time of the tour. Continue to the magnificent Rialto Bridge, the oldest bridge crossing the Grand Canal. Enjoy beautiful canal views while your guide explains the bridge’s history, construction and essential role in Venetian commerce.
30 minutes • Admission ticket free -
2Canal Grande
Marco Polo’s District and Hidden Venice Leave the busy Rialto area and follow your guide through quieter streets, small squares and atmospheric passageways. Visit the area traditionally associated with the house of Marco Polo and hear the story of the Venetian merchant, explorer and author whose travels connected Venice with the distant cultures of Asia. Continue through Hidden Venice, where everyday local life unfolds beyond the city’s principal landmarks.
15 minutes • Admission ticket free -
3Chiesa di Santa Maria dei Miracoli
Santa Maria dei Miracoli and Campo Santi Giovanni e Paolo See the exterior of Santa Maria dei Miracoli, one of the finest jewels of the Venetian Renaissance. Covered with beautifully coloured marble, this elegant church is often described as Venice’s “marble treasure chest.” Continue to Campo Santi Giovanni e Paolo, one of the city’s most impressive squares. Learn about the great Dominican church, the funerary monuments of Venice’s Doges and the history of the Scuole Grandi. These important Venetian confraternities combined religious devotion, charity, social welfare and artistic patronage, commissioning works from some of Venice’s greatest artists.
10 minutes • Admission ticket free -
gondola ride (Pass by)
Optional Private Gondola Ride – 30 Minutes Before continuing to St. Mark’s Square, experience Venice from the water during an optional private gondola ride. Glide through atmospheric canals while passing historic palaces, graceful stone bridges and picturesque waterside buildings. Your guide will explain the gondola’s distinctive design, how these traditional boats are constructed and their historical role in Venetian life. The gondola ride is operated by a professional gondolier and is payable separately on-site.
Admission ticket free -
4St. Mark's Basilica
St. Mark’s Square and Basilica – Approximately 30 Minutes Arrive in Piazza San Marco, Venice’s magnificent ceremonial centre and one of the most celebrated squares in the world. Learn about the square’s principal monuments and their importance in the political and religious life of the Venetian Republic. Enjoy skip-the-line access to St. Mark’s Basilica and follow your guide through its spectacular interior. Admire the golden Byzantine mosaics, impressive domes and richly decorated architecture while discovering how the basilica became the spiritual heart of Venice. Your guide will also explain the history and artistic importance of the celebrated Pala d’Oro. Access to the Pala d’Oro may require a separate ticket, depending on the selected tour option.
30 minutes • Admission ticket included -
5Doge's Palace
Doge’s Palace – Approximately 90 Minutes Conclude your experience with a guided visit to the Doge’s Palace, the greatest symbol of Venice’s political power. Enjoy skip-the-line admission and explore the palace’s magnificent institutional chambers, where the government of the Venetian Republic operated for centuries. Visit the Great Council Hall, where members of Venice’s powerful assembly met to make important decisions affecting the Republic. Admire masterpieces by Tintoretto and Veronese while learning about the Doges, magistrates and institutions that governed Venice. Finally, cross the famous Bridge of Sighs and enter the New Prisons, where your guide will reveal stories of justice, political intrigue and imprisonment in the Venetian Republic. The guided experience concludes at the Doge’s Palace in St. Mark’s Square.
1 hour 30 minutes • Admission ticket included
Additional info
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap
- Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness
Tags
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Cancellation Policy
- For a full refund, you must cancel at least 24 hours before the experience’s start time.
- If you cancel less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time, the amount you paid will not be refunded.
- Any changes made less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time will not be accepted.
You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.
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