Do this because
Explore the old prisons of the Venetian Republic
Listen to myths, legends and stories about the prisoners
Discover legends and secrets of Casanova and its jailbreak
What to expect
Discover the secret itinerary in the mysterious Prisons of Piazza San Marco, connected to the Doge’s Palace by the Bridge of Sighs.
The Palace is "populated" by life-size figures of the Lords of the Night, prisoners, Judges, Lawyers and all the characters who worked in the Prisons, painstakingly drawn from ancient manuscripts.
The guide will bring you through exclusive places: you will have the opportunity to enter the torture room and see authentic torment items used by the torturers in the past to make the criminals confess. There, you will discover the stories about the Lords of the Nights: the terrible Venetian police who oversaw the crimes and brought criminals and betrayers in front of the courtroom.
You will go down to the cold cells to see the lifestyle of the prisoners: what they ate, drank and where they slept. Here you can also admire the original graffiti left by the prisoners and listen about the thrilling Casanova’s escape: he managed to evade from the maximum-security jail known as “Piombi”!
You will discover the alternative that prisoners had between staying in a cell or serving their sentence on board a Venetian galley. Each year of boarding as a Galeotti was worth the same as spending 2 years in a cell.
Listen to the histories and legends that still reside inside these cells and halls. Along the itinerary, you’ll enjoy the explanation of the powerful “Council of The Ten”, composed by the highest Venice Politicians that ran the justice in all Venetian domains.
Nowadays the Palace, which overlooks the stunning Riva Degli Schiavoni, is home to an important Venetian cultural Institution.
COVID-19 information
The following health and safety measures are in place, so you can relax and enjoy your experience.Visitor numbers are limited to reduce crowds
The experience complies with government regulations
What’s included
Skip-the-line entrance
Guided tour of the Prison's Palace
What’s not included
Doge's Palace
Location
Palazzo delle Prigioni - Visits & activities, Calle Seconda de la Fava, Venice VE, Italy
Meeting point:
In Piazza San Marco, with the Doge’s Palace in front of you and the S.Mark’s Basin at your back, go on the right, cross the Bridge (from where you see the Bridge of Sighs) and then look on the left, you will see the entrance of the Palazzo delle Prigioni. ATTENTION: the access to the Prisons is on the first floor. Please, arrive 10 minutes before the departure time.
Provider
Venice City Tour
Cancellation policy
Receive a 100% refund if you cancel up to 24 hours before the activity begins.
Important to know
- The tour can be canceled in case of exceptional high tide. In this case, the tour can be rescheduled the day after otherwise the client will be refunded
- The tour may be carried out in multiple languages
- Please note that the access to the Prisons is on the first floor
