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Doge's Palace

Seat of the doges, the government and the courts of the Republic of Venice, on the eastern side of St Mark's Square. It began as a fortified building around the 10th or 11th century and took its present form through later reconstructions; it is a masterpiece of Venetian Gothic. The Porta della Carta was built in 1442 and the Giants' Staircase, by Antonio Rizzo, in the 15th century; at the top it is guarded by Sansovino's statues of Mars and Neptune. After several fires the doge's apartments and the great hall of the Maggior Consiglio were rebuilt, the latter dominated by the Paradise by Tintoretto and his son Domenico. The route crosses the Bridge of Sighs to the New Prisons, among the first prisons in Europe designed as such. Since 1923 it has been a museum and holds works by Tintoretto, Titian, Veronese and Bellini, as well as the original capitals from the Museo dell'Opera. The inner courtyard shows the two oldest sections and the more ornate Renaissance wing.

Things to do at Doge's Palace: 4 missions

• Cross the Bridge of Sighs from the insideFollow the route to the narrow enclosed corridor that crosses the bridge towards the New Prisons and peer out of its small windows.
• Find the Paradise in the Maggior Consiglio hallEnter the great Council hall and find the enormous canvas of the Paradise, painted by Tintoretto with his son Domenico, which dominates the whole back wall.
• Climb the Giants' StaircaseFrom the courtyard, look at Antonio Rizzo's staircase and, at the top, the two colossal statues of Mars and Neptune by Sansovino.
• Pass through the Porta della CartaLook at the Gothic doorway of 1442 next to the arch dedicated to Doge Foscari that leads to the Giants' Staircase. Today it is the exit of the visit, but it can be admired well from the square.

Near Doge's Palace

Source: Web oficial - Palacio Ducal