Doges Palace (Venice)

Overlooking the lagoon and St Mark's Square, the imposing Doges Palace is one of the most commanding historic landmarks in Venice and a popular symbol of the city. It has stood proudly as the centre of Venetian power since the 12th century, and you can still sense the extravagance it must has emitted during its heyday, especially gazing at its monumental gate called the ‘Porta della Carta’. Travellers on Venice city breaks can spend a fascinating couple of hours exploring its lavish apartments and grand halls which have changed little over the centuries, and are still adorned with priceless renaissance artwork.

 

A tour of the palace will show at first glimpse the amazing ornamentation adorning its lower colonnade, filled with murals depicting biblical scenes. The main entrance is flanked by monumental statues of Mars and Venus, but the major highlight is sure to be the sight of the Grand Council Chamber where Tintoretto's iconic masterpiece 'Paradise' takes pride of place. Those on short breaks in Venice will also discover a maze of hidden corridors and secret chambers in the Doges Palace, which are only accessible to the official guided tours.

 

A visit to the palace offers the only opportunity to stroll across the iconic Bridge of Sighs. For many people, this alone is worth the entrance fee and it lives up to and exceeds the surrounding hype. You will be given ample time to contemplate its enduring magic and to take plenty of photographs. It connects the main palace building with the notorious prison in which the legendary Casanova was incarcerated. A weekend in Venice will delight history buffs, as the many Byzantine design features that fill this majestic Gothic structure give it an almost fairy-tale quality, topped only by the sheer opulent beauty of some of its private apartments. There is nowhere that provides a more compelling journey through the glorious golden era of Venetian history.