Doge’s Palace “Prisons & Tyranny” Tour in Venice

Alongside beautiful features such as the Golden Staircase and the paintings of Titian, Tintoretto, and Veronese, you’ll explore its darker side as you visit the torture chamber, prison cells, and the haunting Bridge of Sighs.

Doge’s Palace Tour Description

Your 2-hour small-group tour includes:

• Skip-the-line entry to Doge's Palace

• See famous artwork and the Golden Staircase

• Visit the cells, torture chambers, and Bridge of Sighs

• A passionate, English-speaking guide

• Maximum group size of 18

Learn the Doge's Palace's History

Construction of the present-day Doge's Palace began around 1340, and the various wings of this Gothic masterpiece took over 150 years to complete. Your guide is a true Venetian expert, and they'll tell the stories behind its construction, including the major fires that almost threw it off course. You'll also learn about the rise of Venice and how this became the seat of power for the Venetian Republic's ruthless rulers.

Sitting next to St. Mark's Basilica, the palace was built to house the Doge—Venice's chief magistrate and leader of the republic.

Inside the Doge's Palace

The interior of the Doge's Palace is grand to say the least. Inside you’ll find marble fireplaces, friezes and stucco adorning the walls. Some works of art stand out over the rest, including iconic pieces by Titian, Tintoretto, and Veronese, and your guide will explain the stories and interpretations behind the art. You'll also pass through the awe-inspiring Great Council Chamber, which is one of the largest rooms in Europe and the place where the most important decisions were discussed.

One of the palace's most impressive features is the Golden Staircase, considered the most valuable staircase ever built. It connects the first floor of the palace to the third, where the Doge's offices were located. Your guide will show you the grand offices from which Venice was ruled for centuries, including the rooms that housed the powerful Council of Ten—the city's governing body.

Prison Cells and Torture Chambers

The methods used by Venice's rulers to impose their law have gone down in history for their cruelty and brutality. You'll visit the bleak prison cells (piombi) and tiny detention rooms (pozzi) that still contain drawings and messages from the thousands prisoners who passed through this place. Your guide will tell you some of the stories of these people, how they came to be here, and the fates they suffered. Perhaps the most famous prisoner to have been held here, Casanova's presumed cell is located here as well, and you'll learn a little about the man behind the myth.

The most chilling feature you'll visit in Doge's Palace is certainly the Chamber of Torment—the torture chamber where many of the most brutal interrogations took place. Your guide will explain some of the methods used in this nightmarish place.

Bridge of Sighs

Linking the palace to the prison cells, you'll cross the infamous Bridge of Sighs (Ponte dei Sospiri). Prisoners walked across this enclosed bridge before spending years or even the remainder of their lives behind bars. If that wasn’t enough to sigh about, look out from the small windows carved into the bridge that once offered convicts their last glimpse of beautiful Venice. That's plenty to sigh about.