The Doge's Palace - or Palazzo Ducale - is Venice's premier civic building, the seat of the Doge, or 'Duke' of Venice, the city's ruler for 1100 years up until Venice's conquest by Napoleon in 1797. Built in the 14th century, the Doge's Palace contains magnificent state rooms, paintings and furniture, as well as the notorious prison, to which condemned prisoners would trudge from the court across what became known as the Bridge of Sighs. Its intricate laticework, arched arcade and gothic arched windows make an impressive visual approach to Venice from the lagoon - a picture of it is in most tourists' albums. Well worth a visit, preferably with a guide, on any trip to Venice - though they have useful audio guides. Try and get there early in the day to avoid the cruise ship and other tourist groups.

Written by  James Dunford Wood.

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take the tour.

You must to really appreciate the sheer majesty of the artwork the Venetians collected. Giant, intricately detailed paintings of coronations and battles are only part of the prize, as a visit to the scaffolding holding the false ceiling up is incredible. Ancient sailors were brought in to rig up one of the largest free-hanging ceilings in the ancient world, and the actual framework forces visitors to ask themselves, "How can that possibly work?!"

 

Review posted 9th September 2009 by Robert Evans.

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