Shore Excursions Group
Skip-The-Line Doge's Palace And St Mark's Basilica With Guide
Skip-the-Line Doge’s Palace and St Mark’s Basilica with Guide
Immerse yourself in the history of Venice on this comprehensive tour of this once-great maritime empire. Explore two of the floating city’s most important architectural structures – St. Mark’s Basilica and the Doge’s Palace, with skip-the-line tickets for both historical locations.
Meet your guide in St. Mark’s Square and receive an in-depth look at how Venice built a mercantile empire that once spanned the entire Mediterranean. Marvel at mosaics and other treasures as your guide explains how the city begged, borrowed, and stole to grow from a small island to one of the great powers of the Middle Ages.
The Basilica embodies a mixture of Byzantine, Roman, and Venetian styles giving birth to a breathtaking architectural masterpiece and its interiors are as stunning as the facades. The Golden Mosaics covering the high walls are breathtaking, together with gold, silver, glass, and precious materials that make up the St. Mark’s treasure. One of the highlights of your visit will be the Pala d’ Oro (“”Golden Pala””), an altarpiece made from hundreds of pieces of enamel stuck onto a golden leaf.
Continue along to your next stop, the Doge’s Palace, and explore the political heart of the Venetian Empire for hundreds of years. For centuries, the fate of Venice was decided by the Doge and his Council. It was in the Doge’s Palace where the Doge and his Council met and ruled the Republic. In this tour, you will have the opportunity to walk through the magnificent halls where priceless treasures, art masterpieces, and frescos can still be admired today.
Did you know that during the era of the ‘Most Serene Republic’ every citizen had the opportunity to denounce other inhabitants’ sinful behavior by anonymously slipping letters through a “”Bocca della Verita”” (Mouth of Truth)? You will encounter this creative “”letterbox”” on the tour. This walk across time will proceed with a visit to the prison, where you will learn how grim life was for anyone unlucky enough to be taken prisoner. Among the famous guests of the Doge’s Palace prisons is Giacomo Casanova, the notorious seducer and adventurer who managed to escape from the prison in 1756.
If you are eager to learn about Venice’s fascinating history, this tour will not let you down!
| Day 1 |
Venice, Florida, a charming coastal city on the Gulf of Mexico, is a perfect blend of natural beauty and relaxed ambiance. Known for its picturesque Venice Beach, this destination offers pristine sands and clear waters ideal for sunbathing, swimming, and shelling. The beach is renowned for its fossilized shark teeth, making it a favorite spot for amateur paleontologists. The city's historic downtown area, with its Mediterranean Revival architecture, exudes a timeless charm. Stroll along Venice Avenue, where you’ll find quaint boutiques, art galleries, and delightful eateries. The area reflects Venice’s unique blend of old-world elegance and modern convenience, perfect for a leisurely afternoon of shopping and dining. For nature enthusiasts, the Legacy Trail offers a scenic route through Sarasota County, ideal for biking and hiking. This 10.6-mile trail provides beautiful views of the surrounding wetlands and forests. Nearby, the Myakka River State Park offers opportunities for wildlife viewing, including alligators and a variety of bird species. Fun Fact: Venice is home to the world’s largest collection of fossilized shark teeth, with some specimens dating back millions of years. It’s a paradise for treasure hunters and beachcombers alike! |
| Travel Dates | Price | ||
|---|---|---|---|
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05/03/22 - 05/15/27 |
Starting At $140 |
Get A Quote |
This tour takes place in historical areas and, therefore, is not wheelchair accessible. Guests must be able to walk on paved as well as cobblestone surfaces. There are steps and steep curbs in some areas. This tour is not suitable for guests with walking difficulties or those who use partly-motorized vehicles or walkers. For security reasons, backpacks are not allowed inside the Basilica and all visitors must pass through a metal detector, which might lead to a short line even with skip-the line access.
