4-Hour Venice guided walking tour with Doge’s Palace & St Mark’s Basilica

Enjoy this combined guided walking and the best way to see Venice, part of our tour is off the beaten track and away from the main tourist sites giving you a great overview of the city, also included on the tour are two of the most important monuments in Venice, we skip the line into Saint Marks Basilica and the Doges Palace.

A combined walking city tour that allows you to discover the most important historical places and buildings of Venice.
This guided tour is divided into three parts.
The tour starts with a historical introduction of St. Marks’s Square, and its architectural delights.
You will be lead then by a professional guide through the most characteristic places around the areas of Saint Mark’s Square and Castello.
After this walk you will visit the the Doge’s Palace, once the seat of the power of the Republic of Venice, and to conclude, a visit to the interiors of Saint Mark’s Basilica, with is golden mosaics and its byzantine history.

Starting in Saint Mark’s square, this atmospheric walking tour will then whisk you away from the crowded streets into the treasure filled pockets of the Castello area.
A qualified guide will walk you through the hidden squares, winding canals and historical buildings providing you with a perfect introduction to the origins, symbols, traditions, architecture, and life in current day Venice.

The tour starts with a historical introduction of St. Marks’s Square, and its architectural delights, allowing you to discover the history of the majestic St. Mark’s Basilica, the illustrious Doge’s Palace, once the seat of the power of the Republic of Venice, and the extraordinary, renaissance clock tower.

Leaving the square, you will be guided into the residential Castello area, allowing you to discover this part of Venice in all of its elegance, through its labyrinth of narrow alleys – “calli”, many bridges, winding canals and wide picturesque squares – “campi”.

You can expect to discover campo Santa Maria Formosa, one of the largest squares in Venice with its church, named after its visitation of the Holy Virgin.

Campo Santi Giovanni and Paolo where you will be able to admire the famous church, the resting place of several Doges; and the equestrian monument of Bartolomeo Colleoni, an Italian mercenary Captain.

The former residence of Marco Polo in Corte Seconda del Milion, probably the most famous Venetian merchant.

The Malibran theatre (only external) is also part of the itinerary.
The theatre of San Giovanni Grisostomo was built in only four months at the end of 1677.
It was renovated many times and the renovation of 1919, gave us the theatre, as we know it today.

Our guide will accompany you to the Doge’s Palace, which dominates Saint Mark’s Square, the heart of Venice, standing out for its size and its extraordinary structure, where Byzantine, European and Oriental architecture collide. Immediately entering the Palace you will pass through the great courtyard and admire the wealth of detail on the famous Golden Staircase.
Once inside the Palace, you will visit the halls where the Duke (Doge) and his Council controlled the fate of the Serene Republic, whilst surrounded by hundreds of artistic masterpieces and discover the political history of Venice and its people. You will be able to admire the paintings realised by some of the most important artists of the Italian Renaissance, amongst them, the world’s largest oil painting by Tintoretto. Passing through the famous Bridge of Sighs, you will reach the new prisons. The bridge was given its name by the English poet Lord Byron, probably referring to the last breath of the prisoners, who had their last view of the lagoon and of Venice from the window of this bridge, before they were to be imprisoned.

During the second part of the tour you will visit the Basilica, once the private chapel of the Doge of Venice, and the only one of its kind in Italy, thanks to the sumptous golden mosaics and impressive marble inlay flooring.
During the tour you will be able to sit down in the church and absorb the atmosphere whilst listening to your guide who will describe the biblical scenes represented throughout the building, together with history and particularities of this ancient Basilica.
The tour includes the visit of the famous Pala d’Oro, an altarpiece made of gold and silver and an exquisite example of Byzantine art with a myriad of gems and precious stones.

At the end of the tour, keep your Doge’s Palace ticket to visit on your own: Museo Correr, Museo Archeologico Nazionale and Monumental Rooms of the Biblioteca Nazionale Marciana in Saint Mark’s square, opposite side of the Saint Mark’s Basilica.

• Public transportation options are available nearby
• Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness
• Knees and shoulders MUST be covered for both men and women. You may risk refused entry if you fail to comply with these dress requirements;
• Large bags or ruck sacks are NOT allowed on this tour;
• On very few occasions the Basilica may be closed due to high water, the tour will not be cancelled but the explanation of the Basilica will take place form the outside;
• Check-in is 15 minutes before the tour start time;
• From November 1 to March 31, there is no skip-the-line entrance to the Basilica;
• For all late arrivals or no show, NO REFUND.
• On certain dates, most travelers staying outside of Venice who are planning to visit for the day will be required to pay a €5 access fee. For further details (including exemptions) and to learn what days this fee is applicable, please visit: https://cda.ve.it

• German Tour
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  4-hour walking tour including guided tour of Saint Mark’s Basilica and Doge’s Palace.
• French Tour
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  9.00 a.m. from Monday to Saturday
• Spanish Tour
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  4-hour walking tour including guided tour of Saint Mark’s Basilica and Doge’s Palace.
• English Tour
  Add
  4-hour walking tour including guided tour of Saint Mark’s Basilica and Doge’s Palace.

• Personal audio system and headset for tour commentary
• 4-h guided tour with a local and professional guide
• Entrance fees and skip the line
• Live tour commentary in English, French, German, Italian, Spanish

• Food and drinks
• Hotel pickup and drop-off
• Pala d’oro

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MEETING POINT:

15 min before in Calle larga de l’Ascension 1256 – 30124 next to the post office San Marco (opposite side of the Saint Marks Basilica). Look for the yellow sign “Meeting point” on the wooden kiosk.

• Please be at the meeting point 15 min before the departure time;
• Knees and shoulders MUST be covered in the Saint Mark’s Basilica;
• Backpacks and large bags are NOT allowed inside the Basilica and the Doge’s Palace;
• Parents will need to have an ID for the children on the date of travel to prove they are under 6;
• Not wheelchair accessible;
• On very few occasions Saint Mark’s Basilica may be closed due to religious ceremonies, public holidays, private events or high water and we are not always informed in advance;
• From the 1st of November to the 31st of March there is no skip-the-line entrance to the Basilica;
• At the end of the tour, keep your Doge’s Palace ticket to visit: Museo Correr, Museo Archeologico Nazionale and Monumental Rooms of the Biblioteca Nazionale Marciana in Saint Mark’s square.

It is your responsibility to be at the meeting point punctually.
All the late arrivals or no show are NO REFUND.

Emergency Number:
Office 0039 041 5239979 Mobile 0039 349 3054767

Please be advised..

• This Tour is Provided by Venice Events srl.
• Tour Timezone & Starts at Europe/Rome.
• Mobile or paper ticket accepted.
• For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
• This Tour is Rated 4.5 Stars based on 25 valid reviews on VIATOR.
• Minimum 1 Travelers is required to book.
• Maximum 15 Travelers is accepted for booking.