Doge's Palace in Venice

One of the main architectural gems of Venice is the Palazzo Ducale, aka Doge's Palace. In its long history, this graceful Gothic-style structure has survived several major fires, been rebuilt, reconstructed and added to with new elements. It served not only as the residence of the ruler of the Venetian Republic. In different years the building housed the Senate, the Great Council, the Supreme Court, the Ministry, the Chancellery, the Censor Service and even the secret police. Today, thousands of tourists from all over the world come to admire the symbol of the city of canals.

History of the construction of the palace

The Doge's Palace is located in St Mark's Square, not far from the cathedral of the same name. The inverted boat-like building was built on the site of an old structure dating back to 810. Although the structure was used in different centuries not only as the residence of the head of the Venetian Republic or, as it was also called, the Republic of St Mark, it was originally built for the Doge.

This position was elective, it was held by influential and wealthy citizens. And they often held the title for the rest of their lives. Doge in the Middle Ages was subordinate to Byzantium, this title endowed a person with managerial functions, broad powers. However, the ruler of the republic remained the representative of the emperor.

The first palace of the ruler in Venice was not like a monument of Italian architecture in its present form. The residence was a monumental fortress with observation towers, surrounded on all sides by water. In 976, during a rebellion against the next Doge, the building was burnt down. Soon a new building was erected in its place, but it did not last long - and the second Palazzo Ducale burned down in a fire in 1106.

In the twelfth century Venice greatly expanded its influence and became a mighty power with a large navy and army. Therefore, it could easily defend the main seat of the Republic. That is why the new palace was turned into a luxurious building that could emphasise the greatness of Venice and become its worthy decoration. The idea of building a fortress was abandoned.

The new residence of the Doge of Venice

The current version of Palazzo Ducale was built for many years - from 1309 to 1424. Historians still argue about who exactly designed it. Most experts agree that the main builder of the palace was Filippo Calendario. However, in reality, this architect and sculptor created only the facade of the building and part of the arches overlooking the square.

Calendario was able to work on the architectural masterpiece for several years - from 1340 to 1355. He was later accused of attempting a coup d'état and executed. The Venetian was hanged right on the balcony of the palace, which brought him world fame. Other famous stonemasons had a hand in the construction of the residence - Pietro Bazeio, Master Enrico.

The facade facing St Mark's Square was completed by 1424, and the one facing the lagoon - a little earlier, around 1404. They were worked on by Lombard and Florentine craftsmen, as well as Venetians from the Bon clan, who specialised in marble work. The creators of the palace complex endeavoured to build a building that would not only amaze foreign ambassadors, but also awe them. And over the luxurious interiors of the halls in different years worked famous artists - Titian, Tintoretto, Bellini and not only.

In 1577 there was another major fire, which destroyed the southern wing of the building. Giorgione's works perished in the fire. It was decided not to rebuild it, but to restore the previous appearance. This work was entrusted to the architect Antonio da Ponte, the author of the Rialto Bridge, the very first bridge over the Grand Canal in Venice.

Notably, St Mark's Cathedral is one part of the palace complex - more specifically, its fourth wing. The basilica with numerous mosaics inside was built back in 829 to house the relics of one of the four evangelists, St Mark the Apostle. The Greek cross-shaped cathedral has been rebuilt and enlarged several times, its modern architectural appearance is more inclined towards the Gothic style.

Architectural features of Palazzo Ducale

Photo: cedlambert. Source: Pixabay

The palace features an unusual square-shaped layout, with two observation decks - facing the pier and the square. One of the features of the Venetian work of art is the snow-white arched gallery of the ground floor. Thanks to this element, the building seems to float in the air and, despite the scale, seems weightless. Together with the openwork balconies of the first floor, the gallery shelters visitors from the sun. The building has a total of three levels, the top of which is a smooth wall with marble panelling, in which both large and small windows are cut through.

It is interesting that at the beginning of construction of the palace, resembling the silhouette of an inverted ship, was built in the Gothic style. However, finished work on it already in the Renaissance, which explains the mixture of different stylistic and structural elements in the appearance of the residence. It is adorned with many architectural landmarks, such as the "Staircase of Giants" made of Carrara marble or the lancet arch "Paper Gate" that leads to the inner courtyard, the balcony on the southern facade, which served as a tribune for the ruler.

The upper part of the structure is smooth and massive, with only a few arched windows standing out in this large area covered in patterns of pink marble. This impressive contrast with the lower openwork part of the building has been repeatedly criticised by experts. For example, the late Renaissance Italian architect Andrea Palladio believed that the structure of the Palazzo Ducale contradicted the laws of nature. The upper and lower parts in it should have been swapped so that the heavy part was near the ground and the airy, light part was at the top.

The special charm of the complex is given by the crowning cornice with spires and teeth. But despite the abundance of decorative elements, the palace looks harmonious. To fully appreciate its splendour, it is worth visiting the facade and other parts of the palace not only up close, but also from a short distance. By the way, this is the easiest way to notice one symbolic detail in the palazzo's appearance - its 9th and 10th columns are coloured red. This is a vivid reminder of the gloomy past of the residence - it was in this place the Doge read out death sentences.

For what purposes the building was used

Despite the fact that the most famous building in Venice was built for the ruler, his quarters, including living quarters, were located only in the left wing of the building. The rest of the palace complex was given to various institutions. The most important of the premises was considered to be the hall of the Great Council, arranged on the first floor. It was within its walls were held meetings and meetings of the nobles who ruled the Republic of St Mark. The hall was badly damaged in a fire in 1577 and was later restored.

In addition, the Doge's residence contained several other halls that are well preserved. The main ones are:

• Colleges.

• Senate.

• Council of Ten.

• The Anticollegium.

• Inquisitions.

• Compass.

• Maps.

• Armoury.

• Scarlatti.

In the last of the halls, dignitaries in scarlet togas gathered to await the ruler for any official ceremonies. It was decorated by the sculptor and architect Pietro Lombardo, or Lombardi. The marble fireplace of the room bears the coat of arms of one of the Doge, Agostino Barbarigo, 74. But the main decorative element of the study is the carved wooden ceiling with gilding.

Palazzo Ducale was also famous for the prison located in its separate rooms. It was considered the most secure in Venice. The cells often held members of the Doge's family who were found guilty of abuses of power or financial embezzlement. Even a high title did not save them from a tragic fate. The most famous prisoner of the palace prison was Giacomo Casanova, who was arrested in 1755 by the Inquisition, accused of being fascinated by occult sciences. However, the adventurer and conqueror of women's hearts managed to escape from the prison.

It is noteworthy that the palace was connected to the new prison Bridge of Sighs - another architectural landmark of Venice. This Baroque arched structure is decorated with an exquisite stone pattern. It was through its grating that prisoners saw their favourite city for the last time as they were led across the bridge to their execution or prison.

The Doge's Palace remained the centre of the political life of the republic and the city until the 18th century. Venice then fell into the hands of the Austrians and the French, and was later annexed to Italy. In those days, the former residence housed various chanceries, then the National Library and other cultural institutions. It was only in 1923 that the building was handed over by the state to the city council, which turned the palace complex into a museum.

What to see in the palace

It is worth seeing the original structure, which has witnessed many historical events, at least from the outside. But the Doge's Palace is beautiful from the outside as well as from the inside. Some of its details stand out as separate sights. During the tour you should pay special attention to the main entrance, the Staircase of Giants and the Golden Staircase, the Great Council Hall, the Collegium Hall and not only. You shouldn't miss to see the inner courtyard - there are bronze water wells, from where tradeswomen used to take water, as well as several ancient Greek sculptures.

Porta della Carta or "Paper Gate"

Photo: Ludmila Pilecka. Source: Wikipedia

Porta della Carta is one of the main entrances of the complex, leading into the front courtyard. It is through this gate, called the paper gate, that one can exit to St Mark's Cathedral. The graceful entrance was created by the brothers Bartolomeo and Giovanni Bon. This masterpiece of Venetian Gothic is made of marble of different shades and is complemented by through and relief Gothic carvings. Today, the gate is presented in a restored form.

The architectural monument is decorated with decorative figures, the main of which is the sculpture of the kneeling Doge Francesco Foscari and the winged lion of St Mark, the symbol of the Republic. They are placed on the portal above the entrance doorway. This sculpture is a copy of the original, destroyed in 1797, which was seriously damaged when Napoleon's army invaded the city.

Incidentally, the "Paper Gate" was executed by Foscari's order. Above his figure is a high relief of St Mark, and crowning the patterned lancet arch is a statue of Justice with sword and scales. It symbolises justice and fairness.

There are several versions of why the Porta della Carta was named this way. One of them says that at the gate to the palace complex sat scribes who drafted business letters and accepted petitions to the Senate. But there are also versions that the entrance group got this name because of the nearby archive. Or - because on the gate hung the adopted laws.

Staircase of Giants

Photo: Sergiy Galyonkin. Source: Flickr

This structure leads to the first floor and adjoins the western facade of the palace. The grand staircase was designed in marble by the architect Antonio Rizzo and took several years to complete, from 1483 to 1498. It fulfilled not only a purely practical function, but also served for representative purposes.

On the upper landing of the Staircase of Giants in the past, ceremonies of swearing in of Venetian rulers were held - the chief member of the Council gave them a brocade cap, a symbol of power. And on the flights of stairs - began and ended state receptions, meetings, announced the decrees of the Senate. Marble baskets with images of ripe fruit are fixed on two supports of the railing of the structure - this is a symbolic wish of success in the activity of the elected Doge. By the way, one of the rebellious rulers was beheaded on this staircase too.

The staircase is made of several types of marble and the most famous stonemasons were invited to work on it. A special decoration of the construction are relief images of goddesses of Victory in light chitons. The upper platform was decorated with giant statues of Neptune and Mars - they emphasised the power of Venice at sea and on land. However, these sculptures did not appear in the Palazzo Ducale until 1568 and were created by the Renaissance sculptor Jacopo Sansovino. It is thanks to the statues of the patron gods of the city that the building got such a name, and not because of the impressive size, as some tourists believe.

Hall of the Great Council

Photo: Sergiy Galyonkin. Source: Flickr

This is the largest room on the planet, the ceiling of which is not supported by a single support - and this is with 15-metre high walls. The scale of the hall that housed the parliament of the republic is impressive - just under 55 metres by 25 metres. Its area is 1,350 square metres. The hall was made so large that it could accommodate about 1,800 people - representatives of the nobility who had the right to vote - at the same time. The room occupies almost the entire south wing on the first floor of the residence.

The hall was painted by skilful painters - Titian, Carpaccio, Pisanello, Giovanni Bellini. Many of the works of these artists perished in the fire of 1577, so later the Great Council Hall was decorated with paintings by other masters, among them Jacopo Tintoretto, Veronese, Francesco Bassano. One of the walls is occupied by an oil painting by Tintoretto called Paradise. Its size is 22 by 7 metres and the master and his pupils worked on this painting for almost 13 years.

Several painters worked on the decoration of the ceiling. Thus, Paolo Veronese owns the work "Triumph of Venice", which depicts a beautiful woman, personifying Venice. She is surrounded by gods and angels, one of whom lays a crown on the head of the heroine. Also on the ceiling are paintings by Jacopo Palma the Younger. And on the walls of the rooms you can see portraits of the Doge. One of them is painted over with dark paint - it is a portrait of Marino Faliero, who was beheaded for treason on the Staircase of Giants.

Golden Staircase

This structure, impressive in its luxurious decoration, is located in the central part of the palace complex. It is the Golden Staircase that leads to the main halls of the residence. It was completed only in 1559, at its lower landing is a statue of Hercules destroying the Lernaean Hydra with a club.

Ordinary people could not get on the steps of the Golden Staircase - only a select few could climb it, they were members of the government and invited persons. There was even a book in which the names of those nobles who were allowed to enter the interior of the Palazzo Ducale were written down. It was called the Golden Book. The book with the list was kept in a special room under the building itself. Records in it were kept since 1315 and included about 200 names.

Covered with precious stucco, complemented by bas-reliefs and sculptures in marble, the structure was created by order of the Doge Andrea Gritti. It was designed by the sculptor Jacopo Sansovino, but he was unable to complete the construction and decoration. The work was completed by the architect Antonio del Abbondi, nicknamed Scarpagnino.

Hall of the Collegium

In this ceremonial hall the ruler received ambassadors and other important guests, as well as meetings of the Doge and ministers. Many tourists call the Collegium the most harmonious and beautiful. Its splendour is emphasised by numerous paintings. Most of them belong to the brushwork of Tintoretto and Veronese.

Thus, above the throne of the Doge is a painting by Veronese, dated 1578. It depicts the Doge Sebastiano Venier, who thanks God for his victory in the battle against the Turks at Lepanto. The ceiling is also decorated with frescoes by this painter, while the walls of the Collegium Hall are mostly Tintoretto canvases.

Interestingly, in addition to the Collegium, the Palazzo Ducale also houses the Anticollegium. This small room served as a kind of reception area for foreign ambassadors and guests who could spend time here while waiting for an audience. Its main attraction is the painting "The Abduction of Europe" by Paolo Veronese. The highlight of the interior can also be called the fireplace, decorated with miniature statues of marble, ornamentation and sculptural compositions.

Halls of the Senate and the Council of Ten

A large collection of paintings is also represented in the Senate Hall, where crucial decisions on warfare were discussed and important decrees were passed. This magnificent room is decorated with works by Tintoretto and Jacopo Palma the Younger. Some of them tell the story of significant events in the history of Venice, while others are religiously themed, such as "The Dead Christ surrounded by two Doges". The Senate Hall was also called the "Hall of Requests".

The Hall of the Council of Ten is also noteworthy. Here hearings were held on cases involving political offences against the republic. The Council of Ten itself was essentially the secret police of the state. It included not only the Doge, but also 6 of his councillors and 10 members re-elected each year. Many paintings from this room were taken to the Louvre and replaced with copies. For example, the painting "Zeus striking vice with lightning" by Veronese.

Symbolically, above the Council of Ten were the Piombi, prison cells with lead ceilings. It was in these that Giacomo Casanova and Giordano Bruno were held. Because of the lead ceiling, it was infernally hot in the summer and so cold in the winter that prisoners became violently ill and often died in agony.

Other ceremonial and non-ceremonial halls

Photo: Superchilum. Source: wikipedia

In the Compass Hall, the convicts awaited the announcement of the verdict. It preserves a wooden cabinet with a sculpture of the goddess of Justice on top. Its door served as a disguised door to the office where the Inquisition met. On the way to this and other rooms, bas-reliefs with images of lion heads and human faces can be seen on the walls. It is not by chance that they have holes in the place of the mouth - each passer-by could put a message into them with a denunciation of treason or other offence. A letter box has also been preserved in the Compass Hall.

One of the most unusual rooms in the building can be called the Hall of Maps. It contains geographical maps dating back to the 16-18th centuries. The best masters of Italy were involved in their writing. The most rare exhibit of the collection is the map of Marco Polo, on which the routes taken by the Venetian merchant and traveller are marked. Two rare globes are also kept here.

In the Armoury Halls tourists can examine ancient weapons - armour, halberds, swords, crossbows and other exhibits. There are also life-size figures of horses, several skilfully made shields and even torture machines. Formally, this collection belonged to the Council of Ten - the nobles could use all this arsenal to defend themselves in a time of rebellion. But the need for it never arose. One of the main treasures of the Armouries is the mounted armour donated by King Henry IV of France.

In addition to Piombi, the "Lead Prison", the residence also contained another prison, the Pozzi. It was located in a dungeon with a small staircase leading to it. The Pozzi were cells in the form of stone wells. Above their doors wrote not only the number of the room, but also the number of prisoners.

Museum opening hours and address

As already mentioned, the Doge's Palace is now a museum. You can visit it all year round, but the time of visiting the complex depends on the season. To admire the architecture of the building in the Gothic style and its numerous exhibits, it is worth considering that the main influx of visitors in the residence is observed from 10.00 to 14.00. Museum opening hours:

• From 1 November to 31 March - from 8.30 to 17.30, the last visitors are allowed in at 16.30.

• From 1 April to 31 October - from 8.30 to 19.00, last visitors are allowed into the building at 18.00.

Palazzo Ducale is closed to tourists for a few days a year, during public holidays - 25 December and 1 January. It is possible to visit the residence of the Venetian rulers with a guide. Excursions are conducted both throughout the palace and its individual expositions, there are routes to secret rooms, to the dungeon or prison, located under the roof of the building.

It is not difficult to find the main attraction of the city of canals, the building is located at Piazza San Marco, 1. The entrance to the palace is from the side of the lagoon, the starting point for tour groups and individual tourists is the "Wheat Gate" - Porta del Frumento. You can get here from any neighbourhood of Venice by taking the river tram, the Vaporetto. You can also get to St Mark's Square from the Marco Polo airport by boat.

Ticket prices for the Doge's Palace

The cost of tickets depends on many factors. If you pay online on the official website of the museum no later than 30 days before the date of visit, the ticket price will be 25 euros. And if you buy it at the ticket office - 30. With this ticket you can pass not only to the Doge's Palace, but also some other museums in Venice, such as the National Archaeological Museum.

Some categories of tourists can benefit from incentives, discounts are available for:

• Children 6-14 years old.

• Students 15-25 years old.

• Retirees over 65.

• ISIC card holders.

• Employees of the Ministry of Culture.

For them, tickets cost 15 euros when purchased at the box office and 13 euros when ordered online. In addition, you can rent an audio guide, which costs 5 euros per person. Free entrance to the museum is also provided for children under 5 years old, disabled people, students of universities of Venice and some other categories. It is necessary to take with you a document that will confirm the right to a privilege.

A visit to the prison in the upper part of the residence is not included in the standard tour, it must be paid for separately, as well as inspection of the secret rooms. You should clarify this information at the ticket office. Group tours of the Doge's Palace are conducted in different languages, including Russian.