The Palazzo Ducale, or "Doge’s Palace," represented for centuries the seat of Venetian political power. With this 1-hour skip-the-line tour you will get fast-track entry to the splendid rooms, ornately outfitted in hundreds of masterpieces of art, where the Duke and his council controlled the fate of a 1,000-year old republic. Listen and learn as the palace comes to life in the company of an expert guide, who will show you the halls of power, plunging you into a very particular historical context – the European Middle Ages, and the immediately following centuries. Be surprised by the rich details of the gold staircase and by the remarkable realism of the scenes struck by many artists who decorated the building. Relive the anguish of the prisoners crossing the famous Bridge of Sighs, and enter the Venetian prisons, famous for hosting Giacomo Casanova among many others.