For over thousand years the Doge’s Palace has been the the site of the highest Venetian authorities.
The small fortified castle from the 9th century grew gradually with the grow of Republic’s power. At the end of the 13th century the Republic featured the stable political system consisted of
Senate and Great Council which controlled the power of doge. The palace became the doge’s residence, but also the site of Venetian Government with growing number of state officials.
Over thousand of members of the Great Council needed the apropriate space for meetings, and the main construction of the present palace has been built between 14th and 15th centuries.
The building from outside received the Gothic form, however with reversed proportions, the thick, solid walls of the Government rooms are supported by two levels of light columns below.
Located on the wall near the basilica gate Porta della Carta once was the principal entrance to the Palazzo Ducale. The 16th century bronze wellheads in the inner courtyard are among the finest in Venice. Behind the wells the Giant’s staircase, named after two Sansovino’s monumental statues of Mars and Neptune, leads to the first floor.
The chambers and the halls inside are decorated with the pictures and ceiling paintings commissioned by the Great Council for the greatest temporary artists, including Veronese and Tintoretto. Although the paintings motives are based mainly on mythology they are chosen to represent the power of Serenissima Republic. One of the finest is Apotheosis of Venice by Veronese ( 1583).
Probably the most impressive room of the palace is Sala del Maggior Consiglio, where once the meetings of Great Council were held. The hall was also used for State receptions and banquets, which were able to serve over three thousand of people in this room. To see are also the doge’s private apartments, Senators Chamber and chamber of Council of Ten.
Among the different tours and guides the most interesting is Secret Itineraries, that leads through the former State Inquisitor’s Room, Torture Chamber and prisons, that once kept famous persons, including Casanova, who successfully managed to escape from the gloomy cells of Palazzo’s prison.
Palazzo Ducale
Piazza San Marco
Venice, Italy
opening hours:
9.00 – 19.00 ( April – October )
9.00 – 17.00 ( November – March )
[photo courtesy of Plaggi]
