The Doge’s Palace in Venice

Nestled between St. Mark’s Square and the lagoon, the Doge’s Palace is an essential stop for any visitor to Venice. Follow the guide!

⚠️ The Doge’s Palace is extremely popular, and the queue at the entrance can be frustratingly long, especially during peak season. To avoid wasting time, consider booking your visit in advance: Skip-the-Line Tickets or Guided Tour.

Table of Contents:
A Brief History of the Doge’s Palace
Visiting the Doge’s Palace: What to See and Do
Practical information (access, opening hours, prices)

A Bit Of History

What is a Doge?

Until the 19th century, Italy was far from a unified country. The Italian territory was divided into several kingdoms and republics, such as the Republic of Venice, the Grand Duchy of Tuscany, and the Kingdom of Sicily.

In the Italian republics, power was vested in a “doge,” a high-ranking magistrate responsible for administering the city. This senior official, chosen from among the nobility, was appointed for life (though it was not uncommon for them to resign and spend their final years in a monastery, away from the perils of political life).

In Venice, the Doge wielded numerous powers: deciding on war or peace, commanding the armies, and presiding over the senate. However, he did not rule the Serenissima alone and had to have all his decisions validated by the Council of Ten, which was responsible for the security of the Republic.

From 697 to 1797 (the year Venice was conquered by Napoleon’s armies), 120 doges succeeded one another at the head of the Republic of Venice.

A Brief History of the Doge’s Palace in Venice

The Doge’s Palace, or Palazzo Ducale in Italian, as we know it today, is not the first palace built by the doges in Venice. Before the 10th century, another palace stood on the current site of the Doge’s Palace. Far from being as sumptuous, it resembled more a fortified castle with watchtowers than the elegant palace we know today. This first residence of the doges was ravaged by a fire in 976, leaving no trace behind.

Construction of the current Doge’s Palace began in 1340. Over the following centuries, the palace was expanded, transformed, restored, and embellished multiple times, finally achieving its present appearance at the beginning of the 17th century.

The doges spared no expense in making their palace a symbol of power and refinement. The greatest masters and the best Italian architects were enlisted to shape this treasure, including Pietro Baseggio, Filippo Calendario, Jacobello and Pierpaolo dalle Masegne, Antonio Rizzo, Giovanni Bon, Veronese, and Tintoretto.

Visiting the Doge’s Palace: What to See and Do

The Doge’s Palace is a true architectural marvel, brilliantly blending Gothic and Byzantine styles. Follow Captain Ulysses as he takes you on a tour of this Venetian treasure!

The Exterior of the Doge’s Palace

Your first stop, even before starting the palace tour, should be to admire its remarkable exterior facades.

The architects achieved a real feat: the west facade, facing Piazzetta San Marco, and the south facade, facing the lagoon at the entrance of the Grand Canal, were created using a delicate architectural technique called the inversion of masses. In practice, the lower part of the facades is light and airy, with large openings, while the upper part is heavier.

Captain Ulysses recommends taking a detour to see the Doge’s Palace at different times of the day. Why? The color of the facade changes with the light, taking on a more or less rosy hue depending on the time of day.

The Porta della Carta

The Porta della Carta (“Paper Gate” in Italian), built in 1440, serves as the main entrance to the Doge’s Palace.

There are several theories behind the name of this impressive Gothic gate:

• It was where public edicts and notices were posted for Venetians to read.
• It was where scribes and public writers conducted their work.
• The palace archives were located nearby.

Initially known as the “Golden Gate” due to its original gilding, the Porta della Carta’s delicate and complex decorations

have not always been universally admired in the City of Doges. The controversy arose from the statue of Doge Francesco Foscari kneeling before the Lion of St. Mark. It was generally forbidden for doges to portray themselves in ways that might encourage a personality cult. Thus, Foscari’s statue caused quite a scandal!

The statue of the doge featured today on the Porta della Carta is actually a replica. The original was moved to safety during Napoleon’s conquest of Venice and is now housed in the palace museum.

The Inner Courtyard

While the exterior facades of the Doge’s Palace are surprisingly harmonious for a building that has undergone so many transformations over the centuries, the inner courtyard is much more heterogeneous. Here, visitors can observe a mix of various architectural styles: Gothic, Renaissance, and more.

Around this courtyard were organized the different centers of power: the Doge’s residence, the seat of government, the courthouse, and St. Mark’s Basilica, against which the Doge’s Palace is built.

The Giants’ Staircase

Designed by Antonio Rizzo at the end of the 15th century, the Giants’ Staircase (“Scala dei Giganti” in Italian) is undoubtedly the most striking and emblematic feature of the Doge’s Palace’s inner courtyard.

This imposing staircase is topped by two statues created by the Italian sculptor Jacopo Sansovino in 1565: Mercury (the god of commerce) and Neptune (the god of the sea).

It was here, between these statues symbolizing the power of Venice, that the doges’ investitures took place.

The Golden Staircase

Following the Giants’ Staircase, the Golden Staircase (“Scala d’Oro” in Italian) leads to the institutional chambers.

Completed in 1559, the Golden Staircase is a true marvel of classical style, adorned with stucco decorated in gold leaf and frescoes painted by the Italian artist Giambattista Franco.

Designed to impress visitors entering the Doge’s Palace and showcase the wealth of Venice, this staircase was reserved for the most illustrious guests and high-ranking Venetian officials.

The Hall of the Great Council

Located on the 1^st floor, the Hall of the Great Council is one of the jewels of the Doge’s Palace. Its monumental dimensions (53 meters long, 26 meters wide, and 10 meters high /174 ft x 85 ft x 33 ft) are matched only by the richness of its decorations.

It was in this hall, built in the 14th century, that the “Grand Council,” the political assembly of Venetian nobles, gathered.

A true museum, the Hall of the Great Council displays works by great Italian masters such as Veronese and Tintoretto.

Don’t miss the Triumph of Venice by Veronese and the immense painting of Paradise by Tintoretto.

The portraits of the first 76 doges of Venice line the walls of the hall, but one stands out. Where Doge Marino Faliero’s portrait should be, there is instead a large black cloth. Why? Marino Faliero was condemned and executed for treason after a failed coup. On the cloth, you can read the Latin inscription: “Hic est locus Marini Faletri decapitati pro criminibus” (“Here lies Marino Faliero, beheaded for his crimes”).

The Prison of the Doge’s Palace and the Bridge of Sighs

Until the 16th century, the Doge’s Palace housed the city of Venice’s prison. Located just under the lead roofs, this prison was nicknamed “the Leads.” It had a stifling atmosphere, with temperatures reaching up to 50°C.

At the beginning of the 17th century, a new prison was built on the other side of the Rio della Canonica. It is connected to the Doge’s Palace by the famous Bridge of Sighs.

Unlike the first Venetian prison, the cells of this second prison were located on the ground floor and in the basement, hence their nickname: “the Wells.” Prisoners there suffered from cold and damp conditions, and the cells were regularly flooded during high tides.

Since their construction, only one prisoner is known to have escaped from the Doge’s Palace prisons. Any guesses? Here’s a hint: This famous man, condemned for libertinism, atheism, occultism, and Freemasonry, allegedly seduced 142 women in total. Yes, it’s none other than Casanova, who managed to escape in 1755!

Practical Information

Access to the Doge’s Palace

The Doge’s Palace is situated in the heart of Venice, between St. Mark’s Basilica, St. Mark’s Square, and the lagoon. The vaporetto stations San Zaccaria and San Marco are just a few steps away.

👉 To book your bus + vaporetto pass, click here.

How Much Time to Allocate for Visiting the Doge’s Palace

Plan for at least 2 hours to tour the monument at a leisurely pace. This will allow you to explore the various rooms, the prisons, and the Bridge of Sighs without rushing.

Opening Hours of the Doge’s Palace

The Doge’s Palace is open daily:

• From April 1 to October 31: 9:00 AM to 7:00 PM (last entry at 6:00 PM)
• From November 1 to March 31: 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM (last entry at 5:00 PM)

It is closed on December 25 and January 1^.

Admission Fees for the Doge’s Palace

Tickets To the Doge’s Palace

A ticket to the Doge’s Palace also grants access to the Correr Museum, the National Archaeological Museum, and the Biblioteca Nazionale Marciana.

Prices are as follows:

• Full price: €30
• Reduced price (children 6-14, students, visitors over 65): €15
• Free for children under 6

⚠️ Note: Venice is a very touristy city year-round. To avoid wasting time in line, Captain Ulysses recommends:

• Going very early
• Opting for a skip-the-line ticket
• Choosing the Venice Museum Pass, which includes skip-the-line access to selected Venetian museums and monuments

Guided Tours

To make sure you don’t miss the treasures of the Doge’s Palace and to learn all about its rich history, Captain Ulysses recommends opting for a guided tour.

For more information: Tickets for Doge’s Palace (and St. Mark’s Basilica): skip-the-line + guided tour (available in several languages)

And if you love venturing into areas normally off-limits to the public, don’t miss the secret itinerary tour of the Doge’s Palace!

👉 Skip the lines: book your tickets and tours in Venice, Italy!