Doge's Palace (Palazzo Ducale)
- Address:San Marco, 1, Venice
- Hours:Open Summer 9am - 7pm (until 6pm in Winter)
- Admission:€ 13 for a Piazza San Marco museum pass
6:14 AM Monday, May 28
Clear. Mild.
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Until 1797, the Doges ruled the Venetian Empire and the Palazzo Ducale was where they ruled from. A Venetian Gothic fantasy palace, it was one of the first things those arriving in Venice saw as their ships sailed through the lagoon and landed at Saint Mark's Square. The Doges lived here and the government offices were also in this building. Justice was meted out here and the Golden Book, listing all the important families of Venice, was housed here. No one whose family was not in the Golden Book would ever be made Doge . It was an extremely political process ruling Venice and residents could accuse others of wrong doing by anonymously slipping a note into the Mouth of Truth.
Inside the palace is wonderful art (paintings by Titian, Tintoretto and Veronese), majestic staircases, the Doge's apartments, the government chambers, the prison cells and the Bridge of Sighs. Outside, along the piazzetta, each column is different. Between the ninth and tenth column death sentences were declared and executions carried out between the freestanding columns in the piazzetta next to the lagoon. Even today Venetians won't walk between them. A final chance to live was given if you could walk around the edge of the third column on the seaward side of the palace: try it - no one ever succeeded.
Latest Reviews All Doge's Palace (Palazzo Ducale) Reviews »
This was an excellent tour with a very knowledgeable tour guide. He took us through a nice walking tour of Venice,pointing out the little things we might have missed on our own, then into St Marks cathedral and the Doges Palace. Well worth the time and money!
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The tour gave an in-depth account of the palace architecture, life of the Doge, and Venician politics. The tour guide was extremely knowledgeable and personable and had been doing the tour for over 25 years.
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Our guide was amazing the tour was well paced and very informative. It was great we had time after the tour to stay in the Doges Palace and look around more. Would recommend this tour.
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The Doge's Palace (Palazzo Ducale) is located next to St Mark's Church in St Mark's Square. Vaporetto S. Marco/Vallaresso.
