St. Mark's Basilica Entry & Doge's Palace Skip-the-Line Tickets with Audioguide

Venice is a city of rich history and breathtaking architecture, and two of its most iconic landmarks, St. Mark’s Basilica and the Doge’s Palace, offer a glimpse into its glorious past.

St. Mark’s Basilica

Built in the 9th century, St. Mark’s Basilica is a masterpiece of Byzantine architecture and a symbol of Venice’s spiritual heritage. Originally constructed to house the stolen relics of St. Mark the Evangelist, it became the Doge’s private chapel before becoming Venice’s cathedral in 1807.

The basilica’s golden mosaics, covering over 8,000 square meters, depict biblical stories and radiate celestial beauty in limited light. It features five magnificent domes and over 500 columns brought from distant lands, reflecting Venice’s maritime dominance. Its intricate marble floors and the legendary bronze horses brought from Constantinople during the Fourth Crusade are quite captivating.

Doge’s Palace

Doge’s Palace is a stunning Gothic structure that once served as the residence of the Doge and housed government offices and courts. Its ornate facade features delicate arches and carvings, while the interior boasts grand halls adorned with masterpieces by Titian and Veronese.

The palace also contains the Bridge of Sighs, which connected it to the prison. Walking through its chambers provides insight into Venice's governance and artistic achievements.

St. Mark's Basilica Entry & Doge's Palace Skip-the-Line Tickets with Audioguide

Discover the best of Venice on this sightseeing tour that includes skip-the-line access to two of its most iconic landmarks—St. Mark’s Basilica and the Doge’s Palace—and an audioguide app in multiple languages. The tour offers a comprehensive exploration of Venetian history, architecture, and art, with stops at the Correr Museum and Marciana National Library. Over 4 hours, you will experience the rich cultural heritage of Venice through guided visits to St. Mark's Basilica, built between 1063 and 1092; the Doge’s Palace, completed in 1523 with over 35,000 square meters of space; the Correr Museum, established in 1830; and the Marciana National Library, founded in 1719. The tour includes a visit to the Bridge of Sighs, built in 1600, and the Doge’s apartments with over 2000 artifacts on display. Guests can admire the basilica’s Byzantine architecture, the relics of Saint Mark, and exquisite mosaics showcasing 800 years of artistic styles. At the Doge's Palace, visitors will see the grand halls adorned with intricate decorations, walk through the picture gallery featuring over 100 paintings by Renaissance masters, and explore the armory filled with historical weapons from the 16th century. The tour provides a unique insight into Venice’s political and cultural history, making it an essential experience for anyone interested in European heritage.

Explore St. Mark's Basilica

Your tour stops at St. Mark’s Basilica where you can admire its Byzantine architecture, built between 1063 and 1092. The basilica spans over 4,500 square meters with a height of 68 meters, featuring intricate mosaics covering the interior walls, including the Pala d'Oro altarpiece from the 12th century. Guests can see relics of Saint Mark, such as his body parts and the golden reliquary chest dating back to the 9th century. Visitors typically spend around an hour exploring the basilica’s seven domes, the bronze horses on the facade dating back to the 4th century, and the stunning mosaics depicting scenes from the Bible and Venetian history. Unlike other churches in Venice, St. Mark's Basilica is unique due to its status as a papal cathedral, making it one of the most important religious sites in Italy.

Discover Doge’s Palace

Your tour continues at the Doge’s Palace where you can explore this grand structure built between 1309 and 1424. The palace covers over 35,000 square meters with a height of 76 meters, featuring Gothic architecture and intricate sculptures such as the Lion of Saint Mark atop the bridge entrance. Visitors will see the Doge’s apartments filled with Renaissance paintings by Titian and Veronese, the picture gallery showcasing works from the 14th to 18th centuries, and the armory displaying over 2000 historical weapons dating back to the 16th century. Guests typically spend around two hours exploring the palace’s grand halls adorned with intricate decorations, such as the Sala del Maggior Consiglio featuring Tintoretto's masterpiece "Paradise." Unlike other palaces in Venice, Doge’s Palace is unique due to its role as the center of Venetian government for over a thousand years.

Tour Highlights

• Explore St. Mark’s Basilica with skip-the-line access
• Audio guide app available in 10 languages including English, Italian, Spanish, and French
• Visit Doge's Palace to see the grand halls and picture gallery featuring over 100 paintings by Renaissance masters
• Cross the Bridge of Sighs built in 1600 connecting the palace’s prison cells with the interrogation rooms
• Tour Correr Museum established in 1830 showcasing art, historical objects, and vehicles from Venetian history
• Visit Marciana National Library founded in 1719 featuring over 2 million books and manuscripts including rare editions of Dante's works
• Discover Saint Mark’s relics dating back to the 4th century housed within St. Mark’s Basilica
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Perfect for history enthusiasts, architecture buffs, and culture lovers, this guided tour provides unparalleled access to Venice's most iconic landmarks through skip-the-line tickets and an audioguide app. The 4-hour format allows you to explore St. Mark’s Basilica, marvel at the Doge’s Palace, cross the Bridge of Sighs, and visit the Correr Museum, giving you a comprehensive understanding of Venice’s rich cultural heritage while enjoying detailed insights into each site.