St. Mark’s Square: Casanova’s Prison Walking Tour

3.9 / 5

86 reviews

St. Mark’s Square: Casanova’s Prison Walking Tour

3.9

86 reviews

Save up to 20%

From $22.70 $18.16 per person

Discover the 16 prisons of the Venetian Republic, one of the earliest jails in Europe, created in 1500. Go on a small group tour through cells connected to the Doge’s Palace through the famous Bridge of Sighs and into an imposing courtroom.

About this activity

Free cancellation
Cancel up to 24 hours in advance to receive a full refund
COVID-19 precautions
Special health and safety measures apply. Learn more
Mobile ticketing
Use your phone or print your voucher
Duration 1 hour
Check availability to see starting times.
Skip the ticket line
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Live tour guide
French, English, Italian

Experience

Highlights
  • Go on an amazing tour through the ancient prisons of Piazza San Marco
  • Enter the dark cells and discover what lives of the inmates
  • Discover a secret path between the prisons from the 1500's, that hasn't been open to the public until now
  • Hear the amazing story of Casanova's jailbreak and much more
Full description
Explore an amazing route through places that have never been visited until now. Enter the imposing courtroom and the dark cells of the old prisons of Piazza San Marco. You will learn what it meant to be a prisoner back in those days:  what prisoners ate, drank and where they slept. See actual graffiti left by inmates and listen to the story about Casanova’s exciting jailbreak. Hear the myths and legends that still live inside these cold walls and cells. Enjoy the explanation of the powerful Council of The Ten, which consisted of the highest Venice politicians, that oversaw the justice system in all Venetian domains.  Nowadays the prison’s palace that overlooks the stunning Riva Degli Schiavoni is the seat of the Artistic Circle, which offers its guests different cultural experiences and concerts. Yet still, you can feel the presence of the rich history when walking through the halls of the ancient prison.
Includes
  • Live commentary
  • Skip-the-line entrance to the prison palace
  • Access to the Bridge of Sighs
  • Access to the Doge's Palace
COVID-19 precautions

Customers must book this activity online because the ticket office is closed

Safety measures in place
  • All areas that customers touch are frequently cleaned
  • Customers must keep distance in vehicles
  • The number of visitors is limited to reduce crowds
Traveler requirements
  • Customers must bring their own headphones
  • Customers are required to bring and wear masks

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Participants

Date

Prepare for the activity

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. Do not go to the entrance of Doge's Palace - Prison Palace is the building close to Doge's Palace, after the bridge.

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Important information

Know before you go

  • This tour is not recommended for people with limited mobility
  •  Please note that this tour is carried out in multiple languages at the same time.
Customer reviews

Overall rating

3.9 / 5

based on 86 reviews

Review summary

  • Guide
    4.3/5
  • Value for money
    3.8/5
Sort by

Not quite as much is offered as promised (no secret passage, 2 cells are visited, in the description one has the impression one is going through a passage from which several cells lead. It was nevertheless informative and gave an insight. The guide was very good and talked through 45.

12 October 2020

B
Reviewed by Birgit – Austria

Helpful?

Visit! Which completes that of the Palace of the Doges about the Venetian judicial system. The rallying point is not sufficiently indicated, especially when you do not have a GPS. The problem: even though I had booked for a tour in French, we were treated to a guided tour in English. Overall the level of English necessary to follow is not very students.

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13 August 2020

A
Reviewed by Anonymous – France

Helpful?

good value for money, very prepared guide with variations on the theme that also range on other topics related to the years of activity of the prisons. Children aged 7,9,11 interested but not enthusiastic recommended for adults if you do not want to invest a capital and without a minute in a row.

20 July 2020

G
Reviewed by Gilberto

Helpful?

Organized by
VENICE TOURS S.R.L.

Product ID: 297990