Step into the shadows of Venice’s dark past with the Night Prison Palace tour. This is an exclusive journey through the mysterious prisons of Piazza San Marco, connected to the Doge’s Palace by the infamous Bridge of Sighs. On this unique tour, you’ll discover a secret world where justice and punishment shaped the history of the Venetian Republic.
The Doge’s Palace is “populated” with life-size figures representing the Lords of the Night, prisoners, judges, and lawyers, all drawn from ancient manuscripts. As you walk through these haunted halls, your expert guide will reveal stories of the Venetian justice system and introduce you to the sinister characters who ruled the prisons.
On this Night Prison Palace tour, you will have the rare opportunity to enter exclusive spaces such as the torture room, where you’ll see authentic devices once used by torturers to extract confessions. Here, you’ll learn the chilling tales of the Lords of the Night, the feared Venetian police who enforced the law and brought criminals to trial.
Descend into the cold, damp cells to experience the harsh conditions that prisoners endured. Discover what they ate, where they slept, and view the original graffiti left on the walls. One of the most thrilling parts of the tour is learning about the legendary escape of Casanova from the maximum-security jail known as “Piombi.” Your guide will recount how the famous adventurer managed to flee one of Venice’s most secure prisons.
You’ll also explore the choices prisoners faced: remaining in a cell or serving time as a rower on a Venetian galley, with each year on board counting as two in the cell. Along the way, you’ll learn about the powerful Council of The Ten, the Venetian leaders responsible for overseeing justice throughout the Republic.
End your tour with a view of the stunning Riva degli Schiavoni, where the Palace stands today as a cultural institution, a reminder of Venice’s extraordinary history.
The tour includes:
- Skip-the-line entrance
- Guided tour of the Prison’s Palace
Duration
45 minutes
Meeting point
Prison Palace is close to San Marco Square, beside Doge’s Palace. Please note, do not go to the entrance of Doge’s Palace. To reach the Prisons Palace, cross the bridge on the right side of the entrance of the Doge’s Palace. Please enter Prison’s Place and head upstairs to the first floor.