Full description
Private tour of the Basilica di San Marco and Palazzo Ducale with timed entry, the Ponte dei Sospiri, the old prisons and a private gondola ride
This private tour explores the historic heart of Venice with a guide dedicated to your group. The meeting point is Piazza San Marco, where the guide introduces the city's history, politics and faith before entering the Basilica di San Marco with a timed entry ticket.
Inside the basilica, known as the Church of Gold, you will see its golden mosaics, marble floors and domes, while the guide explains how Venice blended Byzantine influence with its own ambition.
The visit continues at Palazzo Ducale, seat of the old Venetian Republic, with its grand halls and corridors, where the guide explains how the city was governed and how justice was served. The route crosses the Ponte dei Sospiri, the same passage prisoners took from the courtrooms to their cells, and continues through the old prisons.
To finish, the group boards a private gondola to glide through quieter canals, on a route the gondolier chooses based on the day's conditions. This part is not guided. The tour ends near Piazza San Marco.
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Additional Information
● Please arrive at the meeting point 20 minutes before the start time
● The tour is conducted in the language selected at the time of booking; please make sure the selected language is correct before confirming
● Tickets to the Basilica di San Marco are issued in the name of each participant. The name provided at the time of booking must match the valid ID presented on the day of the visit; otherwise, entry may be denied
● Shoulders and knees must be covered to enter the Basilica di San Marco; otherwise, entry may be denied. Sandals, hats, shorts, skirts and tops that expose the shoulders should be avoided
● Due to the basilica's rules, the visit inside lasts around 20 minutes
● The gondola ride is operated by a professional gondolier; this part is not guided and is meant for sightseeing and relaxing
● Large backpacks and bags are not allowed inside the monuments, so it is recommended to leave them at the accommodation
● As this is a private tour, the itinerary can be adapted to the needs of guests with reduced mobility; this must be indicated at the time of booking
● The activity may be affected by external causes beyond the provider's control
● The provider is not responsible for any physical injury or loss of or damage to personal belongings during the experience
Inclusions
✔ Private guide in the selected language (Spanish, English or Italian)
✔ Timed entry and guided tour of the Basilica di San Marco
✔ Timed entry and guided tour of Palazzo Ducale
✔ 30-minute private gondola ride
✔ Flexible itinerary based on your group's interests
Exclusions
✖ Hotel pickup or drop-off
✖ Transportation to the meeting point
✖ Tickets, food and drinks unless expressly specified in the tour inclusions
✖ Other services not specified
Cancellation policy
Free cancellation up to 7 days before the start of the activity.
Cancellations made less than 7 days in advance and no-shows are non-refundable.
Meeting point
Piazza San Marco, 30124 Venice, Italy
The guide will be waiting by the two tall columns at the edge of the square, close to the canal (not by the flagpoles in the center of the square).