Special Early Entrance Doge’s Palace – St. Mark’s Basilica and its Terrace

Take part in this tour, to discover the uniqueness and the unparallel beauty of this floating city of Northern Italy. Go back in history and marvel at the creativity and the sophistication of the Venetians and get lost in the interesting and the quite peculiar stories narrated by your local Professional guide that is sure to leave you with goosebumps.

This small group tour will, let you experience two of the most iconic monuments/ architectural pieces of Venice. You will get the privilege of a priority entry to the Doges Palace before the normal public entrance. This palace once held the main political power seat of Venice for centuries. Get the chance to appreciate the magnificent works of art adorning the walls of this Venetian Gothic Architectural masterpiece. Across the Bridge of Sighs, and true to its name sense the anguish of the prisoners that would have walked across the same bridge once upon a time. Gain skip-the-line access to the St Mark’s Basilica, where you will get the chance to go inside and admire and bask in the marvelousness of this golden Basilica, one of the best-known examples of Italo-Byzantine architecture in the world and its rooftop and enjoy the breathtaking panoramic view from the top.

The Doge’s Palace

Your highly qualified local professional guide will firstly accompany you to the Doge’s Palace or “Palazzo Ducale”. This Venetian Gothic architectural masterpiece is said to have been built in 1340 and extended and modified throughout the following centuries. Being one of the main landmarks of Venice, this was the residence of the Doge of Venice, the supreme authority of the former Republic.

The Doges palace acted as the heart of all affairs of the “Serenissima Republic” which constituted with a central body and imposing towers at the corners, helping form this masterful gothic architectural wonder. In 1797, after the fall of the Republic of Venice, the Palace was conditioned to house the administrative offices.  After the annexation of Venice to the Kingdom of Italy, the palace underwent several restructurings until the 1923 when it was designed to become one of the most important museums of Venice.

A few of the highlights of this palace include the Giants’ Staircase and the canvases by Paolo Veranese. The Doge’s Palace offers an extraordinary experience for anyone interested in this magical floating city and the designs of the interior of the palace decorated in gold along with the elegance of the Verona marbles is sure to impress and leave anyone flabbergasted by its luxurious nature and beauty, where some even say that the color of the Palace changes depending on the time of the day, thanks to the light. After admiring the interior of the palace, you will pass across the famous Bridge of Sighs “Il Ponte dei Sospiri” that connect to the new prisons, your guide will explain the interesting stories that lie behind this unique name.

St Mark’s Basilica + Terrace

After having experienced the grandiosity and the opulence of the Doge’s Palace, you will make your way towards one of the most imposing and important monuments of the city.

St Mark’s Cathedral (Basilica di San Marco) is the cathedral church of the Roman Catholic diocese of Venice. It is one of the best-known examples of Italo-Byzantine architecture. The cathedral declares and displays the wealth of Venice over centuries with its domes and turrets and gold mosaic standing out over the square. This Cathedral was the city’s chief monument, it acted as a temple of civic life as well as of religious faith, bearing witness to the greatness of Venice. For about a thousand years it had served as the Ducal Chapel, coming directly under the Doge who nominated its Primicerius, with episcopal authority. It had always been the church where the Venetian people and the government have held their highest celebrations.

The access to the Basilicas terrace will surely top of this marvelous experience of witnessing the majestic and luxurious cathedral below. The panoramic view of Piazza San Marco, the island of San Giorgio, the Campanile and the Clock Tower will surely be a sight to behold.

This guided tour will give you the chance to immerse yourself in the beautiful, rich Venetian history and indulge in the interesting stories and anecdotes narrated by your guide on the Doge’s Palace and the St. Mark’s Basilica, two architectural marvels that symbolizes and depicts the wealth, sophistication, culture, religion, and the politics of the city of Venice to the entire world. After concluding this Venetian experience, don’t forget to ask your professional local guide for additional places to visit on your own around the city, such as restaurants, scenic locations, the best spots for shopping and souvenir hunting.