Castles · Tour
Bell Tower or Basilica Inside: the Choice This Tour Makes You Make
A guided visit to the Doge's Palace and St Mark's Basilica, and then two things that are not on the standard circuit.
In the palace: the Golden Staircase, the paintings, and the walk across the Bridge of Sighs into the prisons where Casanova was held.
In the basilica, called the Golden Basilica for good reason, the mosaics.
Then the History Gallery of Venice, where a VR headset puts St Mark's Square as it was, when the basilica was the Doge's private chapel and the palace was a fortress.
One decision to make at booking. The St Mark's Bell Tower option takes you up by lift for the view over the domes, the square and the lagoon. Choosing it means the basilica is seen from the outside only. The two are alternatives, not extras, and the page is clear about it.
The ticket also covers three museums on the square, entry only and without a guide: the Correr, the Marciana Library and the National Archaeological Museum. The Marciana is closed on Sundays.
An audio guide and a digital map come with the visit.
What's included
- Bell Tower Priority Ticket (if the option is selected)
- Skip the line ticket to Marciana Library (Closed on Sundays) and Archeological Museum
- Bridge of Sighs Entrance
- Skip the Line Tickets to Doge's Palace and St. Mark's Cathedral
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- Guided tour by a qualified guide to Doge's Palace & St. Mark's Cathedral (if option is selected)
- History Gallery - Venice in the past VR Experience
- Skip the line Ticket to Royal Palace - Correr Museum (Empress Sissi Rooms & Napoleon Dancing Hall)
Itinerary
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Calle de le Rasse, 4536, Venezia
From St Mark's Square, face the Basilica and turn right towards the Doge's Palace. Carry on past the Bridge of Sighs to the Riva degli Schiavoni, the waterfront. Walk for 2 minutes, then turn left into Calle de le Rasse. The Venice Tours office is at number 4536.
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Piazza San Marco
The two symbols of Venice stand together in the middle of St Mark's Square.
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Palazzo Ducale
The Doge's Palace, and the rooms in it that Venetian painters were commissioned to fill. These are the halls of power, where the Doge and the senior politicians decided the fate of the Republic. Tintoretto's Paradise hangs here, one of the largest paintings in the world. Then the guide takes the group down to the old prisons, across the Bridge of Sighs.
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Ponte dei Sospiri
The bridge runs from the Doge's Palace across to the New Prisons, and the group crosses it. Its name comes from a legend: the sighs of prisoners taking their last look at Venice before the cells closed behind them.
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Basilica di San Marco
Then the Basilica of Saint Mark, called the Golden Basilica for the sheer quantity of gold mosaic in it. The guide covers the history and the meaning of what is on the walls. (Seen from outside only if the Bell Tower option is selected.)
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Campanile di San Marco
The St Mark's Bell Tower option, for the view over the domes of the basilica, the square and the lagoon. A lift takes you to the top. At 98 metres, the campanile is the tallest structure in Venice. (Selecting the Bell Tower option means St Mark's Basilica is seen from the outside only.)
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Museo Correr
Ticket included, with no guide. The Correr Museum is on St Mark's Square, inside the Royal Palace: the rooms of the Venetian Republic, its paintings and objects, the Empress Sissi rooms and Napoleon's dancing hall.
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Biblioteca Nazionale Marciana
Ticket included, with no guide. The Marciana Library is on St Mark's Square, a Renaissance building that holds ancient manuscripts, rare books and works of art. It is closed on Sundays.
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Museo Archeologico Nazionale di Venezia
Ticket included, with no guide. The National Archaeological Museum is on St Mark's Square, with a collection of ancient Greek and Roman sculpture and artefacts.
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Calle de le Rasse, 4536, Venezia
Not included
- Hotel pickup & Drop Off
- Food & Drinks
- Guided Tour to Archeological Museum, Marciana Library, Royal Palace - Correr Museum
Good to know
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- The official St. Mark's Basilica ticket price is €12.00 per person (standard) or €24.00 with terrace access; the remaining part of the price covers assistance at the meeting point, accompanied entry with a certified guide or host, access to the Venice Gallery with a dedicated VR experience, the use of an audio guide or radio system with earphones and sales costs.
- A valid ID document is mandatory for security checks at the entrance to the Basilica.
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- Comfortable shoes suggested.
- On Sundays, feast days and in case of unplanned religious celebrations the Basilica tour foresees the visit with direct access to the Terrace and to St. Mark's Museum situated on the first floor.
- Due to the security reason, luggage and bags are not allowed inside the Basilica
- Please note that the Marciana Library is closed on Sundays
- On certain dates, most travelers staying outside of Venice who are planning to visit for the day will be required to pay a €5 access fee. For further details (including exemptions) and to learn what days this fee is applicable, please visit: https://cda.ve.it
- Tour does not operate in case of exceptional high tide or in case of unplanned religious functions (in these cases it can be postponed to the day after otherwise it will be refunded)
- For the visit of the Basilica suitable clothing is required (no shorts)
- Please provide the full names of all travelers when booking. Failure to present a voucher with all travelers’ full names at the ticket office prior to entry may result in denied entry to the attraction.
- Up to 15 travelers per booking.
- Mobile or paper ticket accepted
- Guiding available in: en, fr.
Meeting point
- From St. Mark’s Square, face the Basilica and turn right towards the Doge’s Palace. Continue past the Bridge of Sighs to Riva degli Schiavoni (the waterfront promenade). Walk for 2 minutes, then turn left into Calle de le Rasse. The Venice Tours Office is at number 4536.
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