The Doge's Palace: A Guide to Venice's Iconic Landmark

The Doges Palace

The Palazzo Ducale or Doges Palace was the residence of the Doge – the elected ruler of Venice and the seat of government for over a thousand years. The palace is the second most visited attraction in Venice next to St Mark’s Basilica and is an absolute must-see to appreciate the history of the city. The palace dominates St Mark’s Square and the canal with its rose pink façade and lacy architecture known as Venetian Gothic.

The building is a feat of extraordinary engineering, given its size and the fact it is built on stilts. The leader of the Republic lived here, the Great Council of the Venetian Republic met here, laws were made, justice dispensed and even the state prison was part of the palace. To make a modern comparison, this one building represents the houses of parliament, Downing Street, Buckingham Palace and the Tower of London all rolled into one.

The Doge

The Doge was the supreme head of state elected by members of the Great Council of Venice and the city-state’s parliament. The title of Doge comes from the Latin Dux – leader and he ruled for life and lived like a king in a palace. But unlike a monarchy, his descendants couldn’t inherit and his movements were strictly monitored, even notes to his family. The Republic was an oligarchy of merchants and aristocrats who made various councils: Maggior and Minor Consiglio, Council of Ten and the Senate had over 2,500 representatives altogether. A dizzying system of elections ensured that corruption and singular power was almost impossible.

History

The Doge’s Palace or Palazzo Ducale started as a wooden stockade with watchtowers and a moat, later a fort was built but these were eventually destroyed by fire. By the beginning of the 14th century the Republic of Venice needed more rooms and decided to build a grand palace which would represent the city’s wealth, and power.

The original designs for the Doge’s palace were created by Filippo Calendario, who started the side that faced the lagoon with the Doges apartments in around 1340 but was later executed for treason. Over a hundred years later Doge Francesco Foscari extended in 1424 to the wing overlooking the Piazza, which served as law-courts, the internal courtyard side of the wing and the Porta della Carta. Owing to its piecemeal construction, the East wing is a gothic structure with Byzantine influences, but the later part of the building has ornate columns, niches and turrets with Renaissance influences. The 16th century saw the palace damaged by several fires which means some of the early decorations by Giovanni Bellini, Carpaccio and Titian do not survive.

At the beginning of the 17th Century new prisons were built by Antonio Contin around linked to the Doge’s Palace by the Bridge of Sighs. This left the ground floor of the palace free, and the courtyard was restructured. When the Republic fell in 1797, Venice was first subjected to French rule, Austrian, and in 1866, it became part of a united Italy. By the end of the 19th century, the structure was showing signs of decay and the Italian government set aside significant funds for an extensive restoration.

Interior of the Doges Palace in Venice, Italy.

Highlights

Today, the public entrance to the Doge’s Palace is via the Porta del Frumento, on the waterfront side of the building, but once it was through the Porta della Carta. This beautiful carved entrance once connected with St Mark’s Basilica which was the Doges’ private chapel. Surrounding the door are ornamental and allegorical figures showing Doge Francesco Foscari (who built the door) bowing to the lion of St Mark, showing the power of the state over the individual.

The Foscari Arch leads into a large central courtyard where the senate once convened known as the Cortile dei Senatori. The courtyard is a mix of styles with venetian gothic on one side and renaissance elements on the other.

Scala dei Giganti

The ‘stairs of the giants’ lead to the state apartment on the upper floor. They are named after the two enormous statues of Mars and Neptune by Jacopo Sansevino which symbolise Venice’s supremacy on the land and the sea. The Doge was crowned on these stairs and addressed the senate from here.

Sala del Maggior Consiglio

The Hall of the Great Council is one of the most impressive buildings of the palace for its size and decoration. This immense chamber which could hold up to 1,800 council members is the largest in Europe. A fire in 1547 destroyed the work of Bellini, Carpaccio and Titian that once adorned the walls, but it was replaced by the work of Veronese, Palma the younger and Tintoretto. The gilded ceiling is a masterpiece in itself with panels by Veronese and Tintoretto. Directly underneath running around the room are the portraits of the 120 doges, one is blacked out. At the far end of the room, where the Doge and the highest officials sat, Mary and the saints overlook state proceedings in an immense work by Tintoretto called the Paradise. The size of a tennis court, it is the largest oil painting in the world, completed by the half blind artist and his workshop.

Scala d’Oro

The ‘Stairs of Gold’ lead up to reception rooms and the Doges residence. They are named after the rich gold-painted stucco decoration that only members of the council and guests of honour would have seen.

Doges Apartments

These rooms are perhaps smaller and lack the sumptuous furnishing you might expect. Despite being the leader of the Republic, the Doge had to furnish the apartments himself, although Napoleon took what was left by the last Doge. However the artwork and lunettes are by Bellini, Titian, Tintoretto and some curious wooden panels by Hieronomus Bosch.

Sala del Collegio and Sala del Senato

These state rooms were where the cabinet and the senate met and were also used for important state visitors. Behind the throne is a work by Veronese showing the Doge giving thanks after victory over the Turks at the Battle of Lepanto, the ceiling was also decorated by Veronese.

Hall of great council in the Doge Palace in Venice, Italy

Special Itineraries

There are a number of other state rooms and secret locations that are not included in the general admission ticket to the palace or part of a standard guided tour. These itineraries can be booked as part of an extended tour offered by tour agencies or directly through the Doge’s Palace.

The Secret Itineraries Tour covers the legal and administrative parts of the palace from extra state rooms the Chamber of the Council of Ten and Chamber of the three magistrates through smaller offices of notaries, magistrates and secret archives. It also includes the most secretive and grim part of the palace: The Stanza della Tortura, where judges watched as confessions were forced from prisoners and the Piombi, the most dreaded of all the prison cells under the lead roof, where Casanova was imprisoned.

A secret room interior view of the Doge Palace in Venice, Italy

Discover More

The Doge’s Hidden Treasures explores the art and architecture of the palace with access to private areas including several loggia with lavish sculptures and marble decorations. Visitors can admire St Mark’s Square from the Loggiato, where the Doge appeared during public events. The highlight is the evocative rooms of the Chiesetta and the Anti Chiesetta with trompe l’oeil wall frescoes, and a sculpture of Virgin with Child and Angels by Jacopo Sansovino.

Visiting the Doge’s Palace

Opening hours: The palace is open every day from 10-6pm

Tickets: €25 for adults, €13 Children (6 to 14) students (15 to 25) visitors over 65

The entrance ticket for the palace also includes entrance to three other museums: Correr Museum, Archaeological Museum and Biblioteca Nazionale Marciana

More information check the official booking site: https://palazzoducale.visitmuve.it/en/pianifica-la-tua-visita/tickets

Hidden treasure insiede the Doge Palace in Venice, Italy