Classics revisited
St Mark's Basilica & Doge's Palace
Golden mosaics, the Pala d'Oro, the halls of the Republic and the Bridge of Sighs, read with an art historian's eye.
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Visitor guide · San Marco
Doge's Palace: what to see and how long to allow
A visitor's guide to the Doge's Palace in Venice, Italy: the Gothic facades, the Scala dei Giganti and the Scala d'Oro, Tintoretto's Paradise, the Bridge of Sighs and the prisons, with tips from a licensed guide.
- Licensed guide no. 05000058
- Guiding since 2008
- Private tours only
- EN · IT · FR
In short
How long does it take to visit the Doge's Palace?
Most visitors need a couple of hours to see the Doge's Palace (Palazzo Ducale), the seat of the doge and the government of the Venetian Republic, from its council halls to the Bridge of Sighs and the prisons. The palace is a civic museum run by the Fondazione Musei Civici di Venezia; the Secret Itineraries are a separate guided visit booked through the museum. With licensed guide Daniela Zarpellon you can see it, with St Mark's Basilica, on a private tour of about 3 hours. Tickets are booked separately; the quote is free, with a reply within 24 hours.
Why is it called the Doge's Palace?
For centuries this was the home of the doge, the elected head of the Venetian Republic, and at the same time the seat of its councils, its law courts and its prisons. Power, justice and punishment lived under one roof, a few steps from the Basilica that served as the doge's chapel.
The Gothic palace you see today was begun around 1340 with the wing facing the lagoon, and extended along the Piazzetta from 1424 under Doge Francesco Foscari. Its design turns the usual logic upside down: two light, open arcades below, a heavy wall of pink and white stone above. The ceremonial gate between the palace and the Basilica, the Porta della Carta, was built by Giovanni and Bartolomeo Bon in 1438–1442.
Fires in 1574 and 1577 destroyed several rooms, including the hall of the Great Council and many of its paintings, so most of the decoration you see now dates from the late sixteenth century. The palace became a museum in 1923 and has been managed by the Fondazione Musei Civici di Venezia (MUVE) since 2008.
Inside the palace
What not to miss in the Doge's Palace
The standard route climbs from the courtyard to the institutional rooms, then crosses to the prisons.
The courtyard and the Scala dei Giganti
Antonio Rizzo designed the Giants' Staircase at the end of the fifteenth century as the stage where new doges were crowned. It takes its name from the colossal statues of Mars and Neptune by Jacopo Sansovino, symbols of Venetian power on land and sea.
The Scala d'Oro
The Golden Staircase, designed by Sansovino and built in 1558–1559, leads to the upper floors under vaults of gilded stucco by Alessandro Vittoria. It was reserved for magistrates and important guests.
The Sala del Collegio and the Sala del Senato
In the Sala del Collegio the doge and his council received ambassadors under a ceiling painted by Paolo Veronese in 1575–1578. Next door, the Senate chamber (Sala dei Pregadi) holds works by Tintoretto and Palma il Giovane.
The Sala del Consiglio dei Dieci
The Council of Ten, created after a conspiracy in 1310, guarded the security of the State. Its ceiling was painted by Gian Battista Ponchino with the young Veronese and Gian Battista Zelotti.
The Sala del Maggior Consiglio and Tintoretto's Paradise
The hall of the Great Council, about 53 meters long and 25 wide, is one of the largest rooms in Europe. The end wall is filled by Tintoretto's Paradise, painted with his workshop in 1588–1592; Veronese's Apotheosis of Venice (1585) crowns the ceiling. Along the frieze run portraits of the first 76 doges, largely by Domenico Tintoretto, with one painted black cloth for Marino Faliero, beheaded for conspiracy in 1355.
The Bridge of Sighs and the prisons
The Ponte dei Sospiri, designed by Antonio Contin in the early seventeenth century, crosses the Rio di Palazzo to the Prigioni Nuove. Its English name was spread by Lord Byron in the nineteenth century. From inside, its stone windows frame the last view of the lagoon that prisoners are imagined to have sighed over.
What are the Secret Itineraries of the Doge's Palace?
The Secret Itineraries (Itinerari Segreti) are a separate guided visit organized by the museum, which takes small groups through rooms where the Republic's administrative and judicial offices worked, away from the main route. According to the museum, the visit lasts about 1 hour 15 minutes, runs in Italian, English and French, must be booked in advance and is not open to children under six. It is not recommended for people with reduced mobility, claustrophobia or vertigo.
Under the lead roof were the cells known as the Piombi, made famous by Giacomo Casanova's account of his escape in the eighteenth century. The museum's own visit is the way to see the hidden parts of the palace; ask us and we will help you fit it into your day.
Practical tips
Tickets and timing for the Doge's Palace
Before you go
- The St Mark's Square Museums ticket includes the Doge's Palace, the Museo Correr, the National Archaeological Museum and the monumental rooms of the Biblioteca Marciana.
- Book online on the official museum site, especially in spring, summer and on holidays.
- Combine it with St Mark's Basilica next door, which has its own tickets and dress code.
Good to know
- Opening times vary: we always check them when we prepare your tour.
- The route includes many stairs, and the prison passages are narrow and dim.
- Entrance tickets are not included in the guide fee; Daniela tells you which ones to book and when; you book them directly.
Gallery
A visual diary of Venice
Visiting the Doge's Palace with a private guide
The palace is a sequence of grand rooms covered in allegories; without a key they blur together. Daniela explains how the Great Council elected a doge, what the Council of Ten really did, and how to read the paintings as political messages.
She includes the palace in her St Mark's Basilica and Doge's Palace private tour, about 3 hours for your party only, in English, Italian or French, with a meeting point in the San Marco area agreed when you book. Want to see the palace from the water too? Add a Grand Canal private boat tour, with the boat run by a licensed operator and quoted separately.
FAQ
Doge's Palace: your questions
Is the Doge's Palace worth visiting?
Yes, if you want to understand how Venice worked. It holds major paintings by Tintoretto and Veronese and lets you walk from the halls of government across the Bridge of Sighs into the prisons. A guide helps you connect the rooms into one story.
Can children join the Secret Itineraries?
According to the museum, children under six are not admitted to the Secret Itineraries. Older children usually enjoy the prisons and the Bridge of Sighs on the main route; our family tours keep the pace gentle.
Is the Museo Correr included in the Doge's Palace ticket?
The St Mark's Square Museums ticket includes the Doge's Palace, the Museo Correr, the National Archaeological Museum and the monumental rooms of the Biblioteca Marciana. Ticket types can change, so check the official museum site when you book.
Guided tour or audio guide?
An audio guide gives you facts room by room; a private guide answers your questions, adapts the route and connects the palace to the Basilica and the city outside. A private tour suits you if you want context and a pace set by your party.
How much does a private tour of the Doge's Palace cost?
Every private tour is quoted individually because it is tailor-made. The quote depends on the length, the number of guests, the language, the season and any boat or third-party services; entrance tickets are paid separately. The quote is free and no-obligation, with a reply within 24 hours.
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Tell us your dates and interests and we will plan the visit around them. Tailor-made, quote on request. Free, no-obligation quote – reply within 24 hours.
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