Venice: Byzantine Tour and Skip-the-Line St Mark's Basilica
Duration: 2.5 - 4 hours
Venice: 4-Hour City Tour with Doge's Palace & Basilica Visit
Product ID: 194984
A combined 4-hour walking city tour that allows you to discover the most important historical places and buildings of Venice. Begin with Santa Maria Formosa Square and move on to St. Mark's Square, eventually touring St. Mark's Basilica and Doge's Palace.
About this activity
Duration: 4 hours
Skip the ticket line
Printed or mobile voucher accepted
Instant confirmation
Live tour guide
English, French, German, Spanish, Italian
Free cancellation up to 24 hours before activity starts
Experience
Highlights
- Take a 4-hour city guide to see the highlights of Venice
- Learn about your surroundings from your local guide
- Explore Saint Mark's Square and the residential Castello area
- Marvel at the Doge's Palace and Saint Mark's Basilica
- Cross the famous Bridge of Sighs and reach the prison cell of Giacomo Casanova
Full description
After leaving your centrally located meeting point, you will be guided into the residential Castello area, allowing you to discover this part of Venice in all of its elegance. You can expect to see the Santa Maria Formosa Square, one of the largest squares in Venice complete with its church named after its visitation of the Holy Virgin. You will also experience the Saints Giovanni and Paolo Square 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. You can also explore the former residence of Marco Polo, probably the most famous Venetian merchant.
On your return to Saint Mark’s Square, you will be accompanied inside the Doge’s Palace where you will visit the halls where the Duke (Doge) and his council controlled the fate of the Serene Republic. You will be surrounded by hundreds of artistic masterpieces and discover the political history of Venice and its people. You will be able to admire famous paintings by some of the most important artists of the Italian Renaissance, including the world's largest oil painting by Tintoretto. Passing through the famous Bridge of Sighs, you will reach the new prisons.
Finally you will visit the interior of St. Mark’s Basilica, once the private chapel of the Doge of Venice, and the only one of its kind in Italy. 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. 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. This is the only tour with special authorization to be seated in the central nave inside the Basilica. Your 4-hour combined tour will then conclude outside the Basilica in Saint Mark's Square.
At the end of the tour have the opportunity to visit the Correr Museum with the same ticket.
On your return to Saint Mark’s Square, you will be accompanied inside the Doge’s Palace where you will visit the halls where the Duke (Doge) and his council controlled the fate of the Serene Republic. You will be surrounded by hundreds of artistic masterpieces and discover the political history of Venice and its people. You will be able to admire famous paintings by some of the most important artists of the Italian Renaissance, including the world's largest oil painting by Tintoretto. Passing through the famous Bridge of Sighs, you will reach the new prisons.
Finally you will visit the interior of St. Mark’s Basilica, once the private chapel of the Doge of Venice, and the only one of its kind in Italy. 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. 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. This is the only tour with special authorization to be seated in the central nave inside the Basilica. Your 4-hour combined tour will then conclude outside the Basilica in Saint Mark's Square.
At the end of the tour have the opportunity to visit the Correr Museum with the same ticket.
Includes
- Guided walking city tour of the areas of Saint Mark's Square and Castello
- Guided tour of the Doge's Palace and Saint Mark's Basilica
- Admission fees and skip the line entrance to the Doge’s Palace and Saint Mark’s Basilica
- Personal audio system and headset for tour commentary
- Live tour commentary provided in English, French, German, Spanish, or Italian
- Opportunity to visit the Correr Museum with the same ticket (on your own)
What’s Not Included
- Hotel pick-up and drop off
- Food and drink
- Gratuities (optional)
- Hidden itineraries in the Doge's Palace
Not suitable for
- Wheelchair users
Prepare for the activity
Important information
Not allowed
- Pets
- Shorts
- Oversize luggage
- Baby strollers
- Smoking
- Luggage or large bags
- Sleeveless shirts
Know before you go
• Check-in is 15 minutes prior to your booked tour start time
• This activity is not wheelchair accessible
• Shoulders and knees must be covered inside the Basilica
• Backpacks are not allowed inside the Basilica and the Doge's Palace
• This tour operates in all weather conditions
• From the 1st of November to the 31st of March, there is no skip-the-line entrance to the Basilica
• Tour may be affected in the event of high tides
• Children are free until 5 years, from 6 you must pay the full ticket (document required)
• This activity is not wheelchair accessible
• Shoulders and knees must be covered inside the Basilica
• Backpacks are not allowed inside the Basilica and the Doge's Palace
• This tour operates in all weather conditions
• From the 1st of November to the 31st of March, there is no skip-the-line entrance to the Basilica
• Tour may be affected in the event of high tides
• Children are free until 5 years, from 6 you must pay the full ticket (document required)
From US$ 101.97 per person
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Product ID: 194984
Venice: 4-Hour City Tour with Doge's Palace & Basilica Visit
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