Doge’s Palace Venice, a journey through history and architecture

The Doge’s Palace in Venice is one of the most fascinating symbols of the Serenissima, a masterpiece of architecture that encapsulates centuries of history and art.

Located in St. Mark’s Square, the palace served as the center of Venetian political power for centuries and continues to awe visitors with its grandeur today. Among its most distinctive features are the red marble columns, unique in both beauty and symbolism, which tell ancient stories and harbor the mysteries of the city.

Welcoming those arriving by water, the Doge’s Palace rises like a castle of lace and embroidery, a representative jewel that marks the rhythm of artistic wonders in the vibrant heart of the city

History of the Doge’s Palace Venice

Built in the 9th century and rebuilt several times, it was the residence of the Doge and the administrative heart of the Venetian Republic.

This building has witnessed centuries of history, from the pompous days of the Serenissima to its fall when the last Doge abdicated.

Today, it receives thousands of visitors and, from both sea and land, it enchants with its beauty. It looks like an architectural inlay of styles that chase each other and merge into a perfect and original result, unique and unrepeatable. Every stone in the palace tells stories of political intrigues, battles, and decisions that shaped the destiny of Venice.

In 1355, Doge Marin Faliero was involved in a conspiracy to establish a kind of personal dictatorship. Discovered, he was arrested and executed in the Doge’s Palace. This episode is emblematic of the rigor with which the Serenissima Republic of Venice defended its governing structure.

One of the most dramatic events in the history of the Doge’s Palace was the fire of 1577, which destroyed much of the building, including many artistic masterpieces. Reconstruction was swift and involved artists such as Veronese and Tintoretto, who helped restore the palace’s magnificence.

In 1797, with the arrival of Napoleon’s troops, the Republic of Venice ceased to exist.

The Doge’s Palace, a symbol of Venetian political power, was transformed into an administrative headquarters and later into a public museum, allowing the world to admire its beauty and learn about its history.

It stands as a silent yet eloquent witness to the glorious and complex history of Venice.

Architecture of the Doge’s Palace

The architecture of the Doge’s Palace is a sublime example of Venetian Gothic, with Byzantine and Eastern influences.The façade is a masterpiece of elegance and refinement, with arches and intricate Gothic tracery.

The main entrance of the Doge’s Palace, located between the palace and St. Mark’s Basilica, is the Porta della Carta. Built in the 15th century by Giovanni and Bartolomeo Bon, it is a magnificent example of flamboyant Gothic architecture. The gate is decorated with intricate sculptures and reliefs, including the Lion of St. Mark and a statue of Doge Francesco Foscari kneeling before the lion, representing the Serenissima. The name “della Carta” derives from the fact that decrees issued by the Republic of Venice were posted there in paper form.

Justice, Charity, Wisdom, and Fortitude are the statues that represent the values to which Venice aspired.

Located at the southwest corner of St. Mark’s Basilica, near the Doge’s Palace, is the Monument of the Tetrarchs (the four emperors that guaranteed the stability of the Roman Empire under Diocletian). The red porphyry sculpture group was originally in Constantinople and arrived in Venice following the conquest of the city in 1204 during the Fourth Crusade, which destroyed the Byzantine capital. Dating from between 293 and 303 AD, the figures of the tetrarchs are depicted in a symbolic embrace, representing the unity and cohesion of the Roman Empire under Diocletian’s system of government.

The Doge’s Palace was not only the residence of the Doge but also the center of political and administrative power of the Serenissima Republic of Venice: the development of its rooms testifies to the complexity of the Venetian government system.

Among the most important halls, to mention just a few, is the Sala del Maggior Consiglio: the most imposing room in the palace, over 53 metres long and more than 25 metres wide, capable of accommodating up to 1,500 Venetian patricians, who were the voters of the time. It was here that official ceremonies were held and the plenary sessions of the Great Council took place, where important decisions were made that led to the promulgation of new laws.

The hall is famous for Tintoretto’s painting “Il Paradiso”, one of the largest canvases in the world, depicting a heavenly vision with a multitude of angelic and hieratic figures.

The Sala del Senato was the meeting place of the Senate of the Republic, composed of the most influential members of the Venetian nobility. Foreign policy and the most sensitive matters of state were discussed and decided here. The room is decorated with frescoes and paintings celebrating the glory and power of Venice.

The Sala dello Scrutinio was dedicated to electoral processes, including the election of the Doge. Here the system of ballots and run-offs was used to ensure a fair and transparent electoral process. The ballots, small balls used for voting, were placed in special urns, and a run-off election was held if no candidate obtained an absolute majority, requiring a second round of voting.

The Venetian tradition has left an important legacy in the current voting procedures!

The Sala del Consiglio dei Dieci was the meeting place of one of the most feared bodies of the Republic, responsible for maintaining state security and investigating conspiracies and treason.

Inside, the rooms are decorated with works by great artists such as Veronese, who contributed to making the palace a treasure trove of art and culture.

The structure of the palace is characterised by a combination of architectural elements that reflect the different periods of its construction. The loggias and porticoes, with their finely sculpted columns and capitals, give an incredible lightness to the base of the building, while the architectural mass increases as it rises.

Every detail tells a story of power, art and culture, making it a ‘book’ to be read and interpreted, an eternal symbol of the greatness of the Serenissima Republic of Venice.

The two red marble columns

As part of the upper loggia overlooking St Mark’s Square, the two red Verona marble columns stand out from the rest, which are all white, creating a striking visual contrast.
They too are a powerful symbol of the Ducal power.

The Doge would stand between these two columns to attend ceremonies and pronounce death sentences.
The two red marble columns are not just two architectural elements, but silent sentinels, metaphorically stained with the blood of the condemned.

Monolithic witnesses to a rich and complex past that has often become a legend.

According to a more reliable theory, the columns marked the starting point of a staircase leading down to the square, before the restoration work carried out by the architect Filippo Calendario in the 14th century.

With a little imagination, we can imagine the Doge standing during official ceremonies or to announce important decisions for the Republic.

At the base of the Ducal Palace is a magnificent colonnade with loggias and arcades with finely carved columns and capitals.
The capitals are a veritable book in stone, a work of art in themselves, with inscribed details that invite the visitor to embark on a journey of discovery.
Seamlessly unfolding up to the façade overlooking the lagoon, a decorative apparatus ‘narrates’ philosophy, fauna, trades, vices and virtues.

The column on the corner of Porta della Carta holds statues of the Archangel Gabriel and of the Judgement of Solomon, and its capital is dedicated to Justice and the Lawgiver.
At the corner of Piazzetta and Molo, the column with the simulacrum of the Archangel Michael and the group of Adam and Eve has a capital on the theme of the creation of man and the planets.
From here, the story continues to be “read” in stone: at the corner with the Rio di Palazzo, the biblical episode of Noah’s Drunkenness is depicted, an episode that highlights human frailty and is meant to be an invitation to humility and forgiveness.

Visiting the Doge’s Palace

Visiting the Doge’s Palace is an unmissable experience for anyone traveling to Venice. Every corner of the palace offers a discovery, an architectural detail, or a work of art that tells the greatness of Venice.

Among the points of interest, we will limit ourselves to mentioning the Scala dei Giganti, at the top of which stand the statues of Mars and Neptune, where the Doge’s coronation took place.

The Bridge of Sighs connects the prisons of the Doge’s Palace to the offices of the State Inquisitors and the torture chamber.

Prisoners crossed the bridge to be interrogated and often never returned. The “sighs” were those of the prisoners who saw the daylight and the lagoon of Venice for the last time before being locked up. The name “Bridge of Sighs” was coined by Lord Byron, but not for romantic reasons.

The Piombi are the most famous prison system of the Republic of Venice, named after their location: they were exactly under the sloping roof covered with lead plates. In summer, the cells were scorching hot, while in winter, they were freezing cold. These were the secure rooms where the Venetian aristocracy was held awaiting trial. Although they were escape-proof, one particular prisoner managed to escape.

His name?

Giacomo Casanova, and the year was 1756.

He recounted his daring escape in the book “History of My Escape from the Piombi” where he narrates that he wanted to have one last coffee at Florian before embarking on his escape journey to Paris.

Casanova and Caffè Florian: two examples of irresistible and timeless charm.