St Mark's Basilica, Terrace and Skip-the-Line Doge's Palace

St. Mark's Basilica, Terrace and Skip-the-Line Doge's Palace
Price: $99.00
Ages 3 and under are free.
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Sorry, this excursion is not available for purchase.
Summary
Shore Excursion Size ? Small
Shore Excursion Type Cultural, Scenic, Walking
Shore Excursion Duration 3 Hours
Activity Level ? Moderate
Shore Excursion Leaves From ? St. Mark's Square, Venice.
Food/Beverage Provided Not Included
Recommended Dress We recommend wearing comfortable clothing and sensible, flat-soled walking shoes. Sunglasses and sunscreen are suggested. As you will be visiting a religious or memorial site, shoulders and knees must be covered.
Restrictions This tour takes place in historical areas and, therefore, is not wheelchair or stroller accessible. It is also not recommended for guests with mobility impairments. Guests must be able to walk on paved, as well as cobblestone surfaces. There are steps and steep curbs in some areas. For security reasons backpacks are not allowed inside the Basilica, and all visitors have to get through metal detector checks. This may lead to a short line to enter the palace even with skip-the line access.

St Mark's Basilica, Terrace and Skip-the-Line Doge's Palace

Your journey will start at St. Mark's Square, taking a moment to appreciate the space before skipping the line to enter the 5-domed St. Mark's Basilica. Walk past priceless artworks, historical artifacts, and intricate marble inlays, then admire the iconic golden mosaics that share the stories of Venice and St. Mark.

Make your way to the presbytery with the crypt holding the Saint's relics and admire the famed Pala d' Oro, an enameled high altar retable ornately decorated with hundreds of pearls, sapphires, emeralds, and garnets. While here, your expert Venetian guide will explain how the city begged, borrowed - and yes, stole - almost all of the church's treasures as Venice grew from a tiny island to one of the biggest powers in the Medieval world. Before leaving you will get special access to the first floor terrace where you can see the famous horses stolen from Constantinople during the Fourth Crusade.

Next, it's off to Doge's Palace, the political heart of the empire for hundreds of years. You will once again head to the front of the line to enter and see the beautiful custom artwork as well as the Doge's own opulent apartments. You will also see the massive armory, the Hall of the Great Council where matters of state were decided, and the enclosed Bridge of Sighs that connected the palace to the prisons. This popular tour sells out fast! Book now and visit these iconic sites with a local guide whose knowledge will help bring these stones of Venice to life.