Venice – Saint Mark – Ducal Palace
IV-pol.X pn.-sb. 8.30-18.00, nd. 9.00-13.00; half of October - March every day. 8.30-14.00; 5000L.
Ducal Palace (Doge's Palace) was much more than that, only the residence of the Doge. All the organs of the government of Venice were located here, numerous courts, offices of many government officials, and even prisons. The city was governed by an intricate system of elected committees and councils, which was to limit the power of individuals, but for the last 500 years of the existence of the Republic, only members of these families, which were entered in the register of noble births and marriages, called Libro d'Oro (The Golden Book), they had the right to participate in power.
The head of the city was the Doge, the only politician, who was a member of all major state councils, and unique, who was elected for life. Because his influence on state policy and on filling positions could be overwhelming, restrictions have been introduced, which were to reduce the risk of abuse of power, e.g.. his letters were read by censors, and he accepted foreign delegations only in the company of other officials. Privileges, what this position offered, however, they were much more numerous than these inconveniences and the candidates for the office of the Doge tirelessly conducted their "election campaign” for years.
So is San Marco, since its inception at the beginning of the 9th century, The Doge's Palace was rebuilt many times. The palace began to approach its later shape in the year 1340, when the new edifice for Maggior Consiglio was erected (Great Council). New building, built parallel to the shore, was consecrated in the year 1419. Three years later, a decision was made to extend it deeper into the Piazzetta. New wing, kept in the same style, like the older part (the columns are only slightly thicker here), it touches it under the symbol of the wheel of Justice.
Main entrance to the palace, Door of the Card, is one of the greatest gothic works in the city. The Doge's Gate Francesco Fóscari commissioned the brothers Bartolomeo and Giovanni Bon 1438, but the figures of Doge Fóscari and the lion are replicas. The originals were destroyed in a year 1797 on the orders of the master of the masons guild, who thus wanted to please Napoleon.
The entrance corridor to the palace ends at Arco Fóscari, which the Bon brothers had started (also at the behest of Doge Fóscari), and ended a few years after the deaths of Doge Antonio Rizzo and Antonio Bregno. In year 1483 the fire destroyed most of the wing, which is visible from here, and gave the job to Rizzo, who designed a new one, huge staircase (Staircase of the Giants) and a large part of the new wing. The reconstruction was continued by Piętro Lombardo, Fright, Scarpagnino, to Bartolomeo Monopola ok. year 1600 he placed arcades along the other two sides and thus completed the courtyard.
You can walk through the large parts of Palazzo Ducale relatively quickly. The walls are covered with hectares of canvases, but many of them can be treated as quite tiring for the beholder exercises in paying tribute to the Doge and self-adoration of artists. But some parties are a pity to watch too briefly, and therefore in the high season it is good to buy a ticket no later than half an hour after opening. Because the maintenance works at the palace are constantly ongoing, and the museum authorities do not make it public, which part is currently closed, there is always a risk, that on a given day it is impossible to see any of the more important paintings.
One of the first rooms, which tourists pass through, there's a waiting room for ambassadors, Anticollegio, where they had to wait for admission by the Doge and members of his cabinet. It is also one of the richest rooms in the palace with good paintings: four paintings by Tintoretto hang on the door walls, and on the side opposite to the windows there is a characteristically mild canvas by Veronese Abduction of Europe.
Veronese is also the author of a series of paintings on the vault of the neighboring Sala del Collegio and most of the decorations in the most impressive hall of the building, Hall of the Maggior Consiglio. Painting of his brush on the ceiling, The Apotheosis of Venice, towers over the podium, where the doge sat and chaired the city council meetings. There is a huge Paradise behind the podium, which Tintoretto painted at the end of his life with the help of his son Domenico. On the opposite side of the room, on the frieze, a series of first portraits were placed 76 doges (further portraits are at Sala dello Scrutinio, behind the door at the end of the room). It is interrupted by a black veil painted in place, where the portrait of the Doge Marina Falier should be. This is because this is a year 1355 plotted against the state and was executed for it.
Hence, przez Bridge of Sighs (Bridge of Sighs), descends to the almost opposite pole of the Venetian state, to the prison. Before, at the beginning of the 17th century,. these goals were built, prisoners were kept in the attic of the Palazzo Ducale, in the so-called. Leads (Lead), and on the two lower floors of the palace, in Pozzi (Wells). In contrast, mostly petty criminals were kept in the new prison. Those interested can visit Piombi and the halls, in which the administration of Venice functioned on a daily basis. You have to join the group, which your guide takes you around Itincrari Segreti del Palazzo Ducale (it is a series of offices and corridors, which complement the part of the palace open to the public). Tickets are not cheap (5000L), and the guide only speaks Italian, but when someone understands this language at least a little, it is something worth recommending. Tickets can be booked by phone (• 5204287), and the departure times of the groups are given on the posters.