Visiting the Secret Rooms of the Doge’s Palace

Visitors to the Doge’s Palace, one of Venice’s top attractions, can also explore the Itinerari Segreti. The Secret Itineraries Tour takes you to exclusive parts of the palace, including secret passageways, prisons, a torture chamber, an interrogation room, and the infamous Bridge of Sighs.

It is important to note that the Secret Itineraries Tour is available only by reservation and is not included in the general admission ticket. If you intend to include this experience in your trip to Venice—something highly recommended—make sure to secure your spot well in advance of your visit.

How to Join the Secret Itineraries Tour

The Secret Itineraries Tour is a guided experience and requires a reservation. English language guided tours are available multiple times daily. You can access the Secret Itineraries English language guided tour through the Doge’s Palace website. The guided tour ticket also grants general admission to the Doge’s Palace, allowing you to explore further at your leisure after the tour.

Highlights of the Secret Itineraries Tour

• The Ducal Notary, the Deputato allo Segreta, the Office of the Great Chancellor, and the Chamber of the Secret Chancellery: These administrative rooms contained the vital documents of the Venetian Republic. The first two offices were interconnected and occupied by the Doge’s notary and the archive for the Council of Ten, the Secret Service of the Republic of Venice.
• The Torture Chamber and the Piombi: Experience the haunting Torture Chamber, outfitted with devices once used on Venetian prisoners. The Piombi, or lead-lined prison cells, housed political prisoners, including the famous Giacomo Casanova, who escaped from this location in 1756.
• The Attic: This older area of the Doge’s Palace features a Doge’s coat of arms and a collection of 16th-century weapons.
• The Inquisitors’ Chamber: Accessible via stairs from the Attic, this chamber served as a meeting place for the highest-ranking magistrates discussing state secrets, adorned with stunning Tintoretto paintings.
• The Bridge of Sighs: The tour generally concludes at the Bridge of Sighs, where visitors can walk through narrow corridors as prisoners once did, observing Venice through small window grills.

For insightful recommendations on how to enjoy the essence of Venice during your stay, consider external resources on the fascinating city of canals.