Discover a secret itinerary in the mysterious Prisons of St. Mark’s Square, connected to the Doge’s Palace by the Bridge of Sighs.
Explore the itinerary through exclusive locations: you will have the opportunity to enter the torture room and see authentic objects of torment used in the past by torturers to make criminals confess. There you will discover the stories of the Lords of the Night: the terrible Venetian police who investigated crimes and brought criminals and traitors before the courtroom.
You’ll go down into the cells to find out how the prisoners lived: what they ate, drank, and where they slept. Here you can also admire the original graffiti left by prisoners and hear about Casanova’s exciting escape: he managed to break out of the maximum security prison known as “The Leads”!
Along the way, you will hear the story of the powerful “Council of Ten,” composed of the top Venetian politicians who administered justice throughout the Venetian domains.
Today the Palace, which overlooks the beautiful Riva Degli Schiavoni, is home to an important Venetian cultural institution.
Duration
1 hour
To remember
The tour may be cancelled in case of high tide. In this case, the tour can be rescheduled for the next day otherwise the client will be refunded
The tour can be given in multiple languages
Meeting point
At St. Mark’s Square, with the Doge’s Palace in front of you and St. Mark’s Basin behind you, go right, cross the Bridge (from where you see the Bridge of Sighs) and then look left, you will see the entrance to the Prison Palace.
WARNING: access to the Prisons is on the second floor. Please arrive 10 minutes before the departure time.