Description
On this Doge's Palace self-guided tour you carry the story in your headphones and set your own pace. Entry skips the line, and the audio guide then talks you through the building that was the centre of political power in the Venetian Republic, with no live guide and no crowd to follow.
The commentary starts in the halls and decorated chambers, then brings you into the Great Council Chamber, where huge paintings and golden ceilings set the scene for tales of Doges, rivalries and the choices that steered the city.
From there the visit turns darker:
- the Bridge of Sighs, followed in the footsteps of the prisoners who crossed it
- the atmospheric cells of the prisons, with tales about their inmates
- the escape of Giacomo Casanova, told where it happened
Because nothing is scheduled, you can stay longer in the rooms that catch your eye and move on from those that do not. It is a good choice for visitors who like to listen and look in their own time, though people with claustrophobia may find the cells uncomfortable. A live guide, transport and food and drink are not included.