Guided tour of Doge's Palace and St Mark's Basilica with gondola ride

Meet your guide in front of the Clock Tower in Piazza San Marco and start your combination tour discovering the buildings in the square.Access the Doge's Palace, a combination of Byzantine, Gothic and Renaissance architecture, the center of the Venetian Empire and the seat of the Venetian Government. Your guide will tell you everything about it as you pass through its lavish chambers, which display masterpieces by Tintoretto, Titian and Veronese. Hear about the different roles played by the Doge and his counselors, and discover Venetian legends as you walk through the eerie, narrow passageways toward the prison cells. Learn about the prisoners and Casanova, perhaps Venice's most famous and intriguing escapee. Later, visit Saint Mark's Basilica, which symbolizes the lagoon and enshrines the city’s history and Saints' relics.At 1:00 pm you will end the first part of the tour and have approximately 2 hours of free time to stroll around Piazza San Marco, have lunch, or visit the Correr Museum on your own. In the afternoon, you'll enjoy an exploration of the Venetian romantic canals on a gondola. Unwind and relax while you appreciate the skill involved in steering the gondola through the intricate waterways of the city.