SECRET ITINERARY OF THE PRISONS OF PIAZZA SAN MARCO

Discover the ancient prisons of Piazza San Marco connected to the Doge's Palace by the Bridge of Sighs . One of the first prisons in Europe.

You will be accompanied along the secret itinerary where you will visit places never visited until today : enter the torture room and you will see authentic tools used in the past to make criminals confess!

You will discover that justice was handled by the Lords of the Night: the terrible Venetian police who watched the crimes and brought offenders in front of the courtroom!

You will go down into the cold cells and understand the lifestyle of the inmates: what they ate, drank and where they slept.
Admire the original graffiti left by the prisoners and then, listen to Casanova's thrilling escape: the only one who managed to escape from the maximum security prison known as "Piombi" !

Hear the stories and legends that still reside inside these cells today. Along the itinerary you will enjoy the explanation of the powerful "Council of Ten", made up of the highest exponents of Venetian politics who controlled justice in all Venetian domains.

Since the birth of the Republic , Venice has always been attentive to the administration of justice, which its own judicial system, made up of courts, lawyers and magistrates, took care of with pride. One of the main points was the operational police used to resolve fights and punish the perpetrators.

Today the Palazzo, which overlooks the splendid Riva Degli Schiavoni, is the seat of an important Venetian cultural institution.

BRIEF HISTORY OF THE PRISON PALACE IN PIAZZA SAN MARCO

The building, which is located in a very central position, was designed by the architect Antonio Da Ponte in 1589 , and was completed around 1614.

The Palace housed one of the oldest magistracies of the Republic of Venice "I Lords of the Night at Criminal" : this important judicial body was made up of six members who represented the districts of the city and who carried out police and surveillance tasks, as well as education processes.

Today the prison building is the seat of the Artistic Circle of artists which welcomes guests by offering different cultural experiences and concerts .

• Visit to the secret itinerary of the Prisons of Piazza San Marco
• Skip-the-line entry

• Ducal Palace

• Languages: English, French and Italian. The tour can be multilingual
  
  
• Departure: 10:00 - 11:00 - 12:00 - 14:00
  
  
• Duration: 1 hour
  
  

• As a precaution Covid-19 the use of the mask is MANDATORY. So please bring it.
• TO ACCESS ANY INTERIOR (MUSEUM, CHURCH, PALACE, RESTAURANT, LABORATORY, ETC.) ALL PARTICIPANTS OVER THE AGE OF 12 YEARS MUST SUBMIT ONE OF THE FOLLOWING DOCUMENTS: - FULL VACCINATION TRIAL - FIRST VACCINATION TRIAL AFTER 15 DAYS ADMITTED EVIDENCE OF A COVID-19 INFECTION IN THE LAST 6 MONTHS - NEGATIVE TEST CARRIED OUT NO MORE THAN 48 HOURS BEFORE ACTIVITY START
• Unfortunately, this tour is not fully accessible for wheelchair users or people with walking disabilities.
• The use of comfortable shoes is recommended.
• Maximum 15 people per visit
• The tour is not private, but can be shared with other participants

• Meeting point: Palazzo Delle Prigioni, next to the Doge's Palace in Piazza San Marco. Please be at the meeting point 15 minutes before the starting time.

HOW TO REACH THE MEETING POINT

• In Piazza San Marco, with the Doge's Palace in front of you and the San Marco Basin behind you, go right, cross the Bridge (from where you see the Bridge of Sighs) and then look left, you will see the entrance to the Palace of the Prisons.
• Reservations can be canceled without charge up to 24 hours before the service, online customer service every day from 9 to 18.
• The tour can be canceled in case of exceptional high tide (in this case the tour can be rescheduled the next day otherwise it will be refunded).