Venice · Doge's Palace & St. Mark's Basilica
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Venice reveals a different side this morning — early, peaceful, and utterly yours.
Your day begins with an early morning visit to Doge's Palace, arriving before the crowds to marvel at Tintoretto's wall-sized Paradise, trace the footsteps of prisoners across the Bridge of Sighs (yes, those cells where Casanova was once held), and wander through centuries of Venetian political history.
From there, stroll into the Castello district — the largest of Venice's six sestieri — where 800-year-old homes line narrow alleys, laundry flaps over tiny canals, and kids kick football on cobbled streets. This is Venice as the Venetians live it.
The evening caps with an extraordinary private, after-hours visit to St. Mark's Basilica. The doors are opened exclusively for your group. Without the daytime crowds, the golden glass-tile mosaics, the Byzantine altarpiece, and the soaring domes feel almost otherworldly.
Please note: The after-hours basilica visit may occasionally be rescheduled if a religious ceremony is taking place. An alternative will always be arranged.
Featured Excursion Included:
- A Walk in Venice with Doge's Palace Visit — An extensive walking tour through St. Mark's Square, the Doge's Palace, the Bridge of Sighs, and the living neighborhood of Castello
- Nights Out: Private After-Hours Visit to St. Mark's Basilica — An exclusive evening inside the Church of Gold