St.Mark’s Basilica & Doge’s Palace tour

 

With this tour you will discover the two most important places in the history of the Republic of Venice: Doge’s Palace, the centre of the temporal power, and St. Mark’s Basilica, the symbol of spiritual power and religion. The first structure of the Doge’s Palace was built around the ninth century…

Over the centuries it has been altered several times to become a real jewel of Venetian Gothic architecture art which represented for centuries the seat of the Venetian political power. In his splendid rooms, plastered and immersed in hundreds of masterpieces of painting, the Doge and his Council controlled the fate of a thousand-year history republic. You will live it together with your tour guide that will show you the halls of power, plunging you in a very particular historical context: the European Middle Ages and the immediately following centuries. You will be surprised of the rich details of the golden staircase, of the realism of the scenes depicted by many artists who have decorated this building, you will relive the anguish of the prisoners crossing the famous Bridge of Sighs, and entering the Venetian prisons, famous for hosting the famous Casanova.

After the Palace the tour guide will take you to the splendid St Mark’s Basilica, the chapel of Doge’s Palace until the fall of the Venetian Republic and later elected as the cathedral of Venice. In a deep spiritual atmosphere, mosaics, majestic architecture and sumptuous vestments make St Mark’s Basilica a work of art of inestimable value, it is one of the most majestic cathedral in the world. You will understand the strong message displayed in 8000 square meters of mosaics, explained in hundreds bibical episodes.

 

Tour Details

Duration: 2h 30 minutes.

Meeting point: At your Hotel or Apartment

What’s included: Professional tour guide, skip the line tickets Doge’s Palace, skip the line tickets Basilica.

Weather restrictions: The tour takes places rain or shine.

Dressing code: No restrictions, but dress up comfortably. In order to enter inside churches, shoulders and knees have to be covered. Shorts and skirts are fine, but below knees. For security reasons sacks, bags or knapsacks are not allowed inside the churches, also the visit during liturgical celebrations is not permitted.

Age groups: Suitable to everybody. Kids from 0 to 5 free entrance

Notes: St.Mark’s Basilica is closed on Sunday mornings and National holidays.