Step behind the velvet rope into rooms closed to ordinary visitors — the Inquisitors' Chamber, the torture chamber, the Bridge of Sighs from the inside. Venice's power, secrets, and splendour unfold in one extraordinary private tour.
What to expect
Your guide leads a small group through the ornate Council of Ten chambers before descending into the infamous Piombi prison beneath the lead roof, where Casanova famously escaped. You cross the Bridge of Sighs from inside — the only visitors who do — looking down onto the canal tourists photograph from below. The tour concludes in the Grand Council Hall, where Tintoretto's Paradise, the world's largest oil painting, fills an entire wall.
Good to know
Secret Itineraries tours are capped at ~20 guests and sell out weeks ahead — pre-book online immediately after boarding. The palace is a 15-minute water taxi or vaporetto ride from the cruise terminal (Piazzale Roma or Marittima). All-aboard times vary; confirm with your ship and plan to depart the palace by 90 minutes before all-aboard.
Sail there
Luxury cruises that call at Venice — book through us, the fare is identical and your concierge stays on your side.
More to do in Venice
- Teatro La Fenice: Opera Evening or Guided Grand Tour
- Private Murano & Burano Island Odyssey by Private Water Taxi
- St. Mark's Basilica: Skip-the-Line + Golden Mosaics Expert Tour
- Prosecco Hills: Private Wine Journey Through UNESCO Vineyards
- Venice Unveiled: Private Hidden-Gems Walking Tour with a Local Expert