Doges Palace Secret Itineraries Tour
 

Does the Secret Itineraries tour include a tour of the parts of the palace that are accessible to regular ticket-buyers? In other words, if we book the Secret Itineraries tour, will we receive a comprehensive tour of the palace, including the Bridge of Sighs and the prison? Or does it only cover the extra "secret" rooms, and we're still left to figure out the rest on our own? If this is the case, do most people book two separate tours? Is there even an option for an English guided tour minus the secret rooms? The official site (if I'm correct in thinking it's http://www.museiciviciveneziani.it/) is confusing; should I be using TickItaly or some other site?

Thanks for helping a confused newbie,
Erica

Took the tour in 2009. It was comprehensive as I recall and covered a lot of places like the prison, torture room and Casanova's cell that are not part of the regular tourist itinerary. Well worth it and obviated the need to book a separate tour to see other parts of the Palace.

My recollection is that we were on our own for the public areas.

We took the tour in 2009 as well and had the same experience as both RJD and Michael. We thought it well worthwhile and enjoyable. Our tour was in English.

Hmm, two conflicting replies. If we are on our own for the remainder of the palace, is it easy to understand what we're seeing without a guide? Are signs in English? I've read that the audio guide is dry and boring, and Rick Steves doesn't offer one.

Simply put, the public areas are left for you to see on your own. The SI tour takes you to parts closed to the public including all of the ones that you asked about and RJD noted. For the public areas we found the audio guide neither dry nor boring - quite the opposite.

The secret itineraries tour covers only those parts that are otherwise inaccessible. When I went it I believe it did not go on the bridge of sighs or into the prison on the other side of the bridge. It did go to the cells where prisoners were tortured and Casanova was kept, but those are in the main building and not in the prison proper, if I recall correctly. We were on our own for the main rooms and did not have a guide. There were signs in English. I did feel I wanted more information about the main rooms and probably should have bought a guidebook or rented an audioguide.

Based on Nikki's recollection, it could be that not all SI are the same. Perhaps they vary with the time of year or particular guide. Our tour, which was in January and thus not in the heavy tourist season did go to the places that Nikki's did not.

As others have said, the Secret itineraries tour does not cover all the public rooms. There are lengthy didactic panels in all the public rooms of the palace. The one time I visited and used the audioguide, I discovered that the audioguide narration is the same as the didactic panels. If you don't mind reading panels, then skip the audioguide.

Great info, ellenem! Curious that no one else has ever mentioned that fact in all my research.

A website that you might find useful is www.italyguides.it

It has free downloads (in English or Italian) of a variety of city and site audio guides for your IPod or MP3, IPhone travel apps, IPad guides, etc.

Wow, thank you so much for that link! I can't believe I haven't come across that site yet. I'll be downloading virtually all of those for my upcoming trip. Thanks again!

Prego

I am still, not 100% sure I understand. If you purchase the SI tour and are willing to do the other parts on your own, do you have to pay admission for the other parts?

Keith

No.

Thank you!

Can you purchase the SI tour once you arrive or do you need to purchase that ahead of time?

We purchased the tour on the day we took it; but things may have changed in the last few years.

Like anything else that can accomodate a set number of people each day, it can fill up. If you are going off season, e.g., January you should be OK. In high season I would reserve if you don't get there really early and hope for the best.