Doge's Palace

The Doge's Palace is one of the symbols of the city of Venice. Located near Piazza San Marco and the Grand Canal, the palace is a masterpiece of Gothic architecture with Byzantine and Renaissance architectural elements.

It was once also called the Ducal Palace as it served as the residence of the Doge, but now it is visited by millions of tourists every year.

In the 9th century, the Doge's Palace was a fortified castle and was used as a prison.

Visiting the Doge's Palace

The Golden Staircase leading to the second floor takes you to the rooms of the doges adorned with extraordinary works illustrating the history of Venice by artists such as Titian, Veronese, and Tintoretto.

The visit continues to the Hall of the Great Council, one of the largest assembly halls in Europe, which used to host meetings of the most important members of the Republic.
Inside, you will find Tintoretto's masterpiece, Paradise, one of the largest oil paintings on canvas in the world.

The last two areas to explore are the Armory, displaying various armors and weapons, and the Prisons, a labyrinthine complex of dark rooms and narrow corridors.

To access the prisons, you cross the famous Bridge of Sighs, named so because it was crossed by condemned prisoners who sighed as they looked out of the prison windows at the lagoon for the last time.

Inside the Doge's Palace, you will also find the Mouths of Truth, containers shaped like animal heads, which were used in the past to collect secret denunciations intended for the Magistrates.

To make your visit even more complete and discover further details about the history of the Republic of Venice, we recommend joining a guided tour or using an audio guide.