Venice,
Palazzo Ducale.

If you fancy making an even more revealing journey into Venice's past then you might also want to book our guided tour of St Mark's Basilica - it follows on directly after this tour and you would be staying with the same tour guide for the duration, another 45 minutes or so.

• The courtyard and Giants' staircase
• The Golden Staircase
• The Institutional Chambers
• The Bridge of Sighs
• The 'New' Prisons
• The Dungeons
• Casanova's Cell
• The Torture Chamber
• The attic of the Hall of the Great Council

The tour runs on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays at 1.15 PM in May, June, July and September, meeting at the Porta della Carta at the Doge's Palace. If you're looking for a fuller insight into the incredible history of Venice then you might also want to book our exclusive guided tour of St Mark's Basilica, uncovering the 1000 year history of this amazingly ornate building, the religious heart of Venice; the tour takes place after this tour of the Doge's Palace but the two follow into each other, conducted as they are by the same tour guide - click here to view.

You will discover the Doge's Palace in every aspect, not only the lavish institutional rooms where the different Councils publicly administered the Republic, but also the secret parts where the darker side of Venetian justice was dealt: through secret doors and hidden passages you'll see the Chamber of Torture, hear how Casanova escaped from his cell against all odds, and learn how one of the largest rooms of Europe was built.
Your expert guide will tell you interesting stories and reveal funny anecdotes, while providing an informative introduction to the most important works of the Venetian Renaissance masters: Titian, Veronese and Tintoretto.

Please be aware that the route taken by this tour is often a restricted one, by its very nature. There are numerous steps and small inclines, often quite steep, and many of the passages are small and tight. For these reasons the tour is not for children under the ages of six, for pregnant women or for the disabled. Children under six will not be permitted to take part in this tour.