Doge’s Palace (Palazzo Ducale) stands on the edge of St Mark’s Basin in Venice, its Gothic arcades supporting a delicate-looking facade of pink marble and white Istrian stone. For centuries it was the seat of the Venetian Republic: part residence of the elected doge, part government headquarters, courthouse and prison. Its grandeur tells the story of a city that knew how to turn political power into spectacle.
The Great Council Chamber is the palace at its most theatrical, with a richly decorated ceiling and Tintoretto’s vast Paradise filling one wall. Look for the black shroud among the portraits of the doges: it marks Marin Falier, executed for treason in 1355. Elsewhere, paintings by Veronese and other Venetian masters dress the rooms of state in scenes designed to glorify the republic.
A visit to Doge’s Palace also crosses the enclosed Bridge of Sighs to the New Prisons. From its latticed windows, prisoners caught a glimpse of the lagoon on their way to their cells. For another perspective on the palace’s workings, the separately booked Secret Itineraries tour visits restricted spaces, including the attic prison from which Casanova escaped.
Book tickets ahead, particularly during the busy warmer months, and aim for opening time if you want quieter rooms. Allow at least two hours for the main visit, longer if you join a guided tour.