Ducal Palace, Venice: description, history, interesting facts. Plan of the Doge Palace

In the distant past, there was no stronger state in the entire Mediterranean than Venice. Many years passed, and now this city attracts to these places no longer different traders and invaders, but a huge number of tourists from all corners of the world who want to enjoy the amazing magnificence of Venetian attractions.

One of them is a masterpiece of architecture, represented in the Gothic style - the Doge's Palace. For many hundreds of years, he served as a residence for the city government and even managed to be in the role of the premise where the republican councils held meetings before. We learn about this known to the whole world from this article.

Foundation and reconstruction

The Ducal Palace (Italy) began its existence in the 10th century, but the structure was periodically subjected to destructive fires. Therefore, the structure in our time has a completely different form than the one that he had more than a millennium ago.

In the early years of its foundation the palace was a real fortress and acted as an object of strategic importance. A large ditch was built around it, and huge watchtowers towered everywhere. Over time, all this was destroyed to the ground by strong fire.

In the middle of the 14th century the construction of the most recognizable southern part of the building began, from which a wonderful panorama opens. Then the government of Venice decided that all city authorities should be in a luxurious and presentable place, so the choice fell on the Doge's Palace. The history of this building suggests that for some time there was a secret police and office.

At the end of the XVI century, this structure suffered from a new fire, completely erased from the face of the earth all of its southern wing. After the Italian architects, it was decided to create a palace that would inspire respect and awe to all foreign ambassadors. Thanks to this it becomes clear why this Venetian landmark has such a luxurious decoration and amazes with its magnificence.

Appearance of the structure

When you look at the Doge's Palace, you get the impression that its facade consists of various elements of architecture, which have absolutely nothing to do with each other. But at the same time the building looks amazing, attracting the gaze of any visitor.

All the finishing works of the building were conducted mainly at the end of the XV century. At this time, just the Gothic style was gradually replaced by the era of a harmonious Renaissance. Therefore, the facade is dominated by architectural rounded forms that shimmer in the sunlight with different shades of marble.

The Ducal Palace has one detail that darkens its history. Here on the second floor, where the ninth and tenth columns were built of red stone, verdicts about the death penalty were announced.

In the central part of the structure there is a balcony, above which there is a sculpture depicting Justice. In the nineteenth century, the unification of the Venetian Republic and Italy was announced.

Description of the palace

The style of the Doge's Palace is presented in different architectural directions. The first tier of the building is specially made so that to give the building some kind of lightness, but this is only at first glance. The Doge's Palace holds 36 huge columns. And on the second tier of the building they are much larger, but they are smaller in diameter. The front part of the building is remotely reminiscent of an inverted ship ship. In its courtyard are several floors of beautiful galleries. You can go there through different gates, some of them are called Paper. They are so great due to the fact that local authorities once hung out their decrees.

In the northern wing there are many statues of various famous philosophers, and this part of the building used to be the apartment of the Doges. Here in the corners are the archangels, symbolizing war, trade and peace.

To get to the second floor of the Venetian landmark you can through the Giants Staircase, on the upper platform of which the rulers were crowned. Here everywhere there are winged lions, personifying himself St. Mark, considered the patron of the whole republic.

Halls of the Doge's Palace - this is an extraordinary and amazing sight. Here are beautiful paintings made by the best Italian artists, and many different unique architectural monuments of different times. In these rooms, important state issues were discussed earlier and sentences were passed, and at this time they are of great interest to all connoisseurs of art and culture.

According to many tourists, a very interesting arrangement of their halls and galleries is the Doge's Palace. The plan for its construction was developed by famous Italian architects.

Purple Room and Grimani Hall

At the beginning of the excursion all tourists get to the Purple room. Here, the Doge appeared before the Procurators, so the walls and ceiling of this room have rich furnishings, and the marble fireplace of this room is decorated with the coat of arms of the ruler Agostino Barbarigo, who in olden times conquered all of Venice. The Doge's Palace keeps his paintings in the Grimani Hall. Many of them depict the patron of Venice - St. Mark. In addition, in this room there are beautiful murals and many interesting historical exhibits.

Hall of Four Doors, Hall of the Board, Senate Hall

The second flight of the Golden Stairs leads tourists to the Hall of Four Doors. Its ceiling was designed by the great Palladio and painted by Tintoretto.

In another adjacent room, one of the walls is decorated with various mythological scenes, and one of the most dramatic paintings of the palace - "Abduction of Europe" is in this room near the window.

Next comes the Hall of the College, where the rulers and their advisers received foreign ambassadors, and also discussed the great affairs of the republic. In this room there are 11 paintings by the great representatives of the art of that era.

In the adjoining room, the ruler and his 200 assistants discussed various matters of international importance, so the room was appropriately named the Senate Hall.

Hall of the Council of Ten, Armory Chamber

In the Hall of the Council of Ten there were meetings of powerful representatives of the city government, which touched upon the issues of state security. In this room the ceiling is decorated with two magnificent canvases by Veronese.

In the next room - the Armory, there is a mailbox, which served in its time for anonymous denunciations. From there, a large wooden door leads to the Hall of the State Inquisitors, and after it immediately goes the torture room, and there were also prison cells.

Hall of the Grand Council

The length of this room is 54 meters, so this room is considered the largest not only in the city, but throughout the country. The Hall of the Grand Council is located in the southern part of the building and it was once adorned with paintings by famous Italian artists, who, unfortunately, were destroyed in the fires.

The picture of the Doge's Palace "Paradise", located in this room, is considered one of the largest in the world. The room has a huge flat ceiling, covered with magnificent canvases of painting, having a mandrel in the form of gilt patterns.

Now in this room is collected a complete collection of portraits of all the Doges that once ruled Venice, except for Marino Falero, who was executed for treason.

How to get to the palace of tourists?

The Doge's Palace is popular with travelers and admirers of everything beautiful at any time of the year, therefore it is almost impossible to buy tickets without queue. In addition, this place can be visited by buying a sightseeing tour of Venice to view all the sights of this city.

But it is worth to carefully study the scope of tickets, as not all can be included visiting the most secret places of the palace and the Bridge of Sighs, and they are just the most interesting for tourists. These rooms are part of a long excursion, for which you need to pay separately.

Time of work and how to get there

Between April and October, the Doge's Palace for excursions is open from 08:30 am to 19:30 pm, and in the cold season - from November to March, it closes 2 hours earlier. The entire inspection of the structure will cost about 20 euros per person.

It is absolutely not difficult to get into the palace of the doges. Where this building is located, any local resident will tell. It is located at the following address: Piazzetta San Marco, 2, San Marco 1, thus being between the Little Piazza San Marco and the pier.

Reviews

According to many tourists, this building produces a greater delight in real life than on photographs. It simultaneously has a noble, powerful and elegant appearance. When you are next to this architectural masterpiece, you get the impression that you become part of some mystery of the ages.

The palace is fraught with so many small and interesting details that having passed in one place even several times in a row, you will still see something new. The very atmosphere of this place attracts travelers from all corners of the world, producing an indescribable ecstasy from everything seen here.

Interesting Facts

It turns out that next to the palace is the largest prison in the whole city, which is separated from this magnificent structure by only a narrow canal with a covered bridge.

This building is considered to be the only one of its kind, with the construction of which absolutely no rules of architecture were used.

It is interesting that for many centuries the escape from imprisonment in the palace was considered simply impossible. In this, everyone was sure, until there was Giacomo Casanova. Together with his friend he managed on the second attempt to be free. This incident was described to them in memoirs.

This palace is depicted in the picture of the famous artist Francesco Guardi, who is currently in the National Gallery of London.

After visiting the palace, only bright and warm memories remain. This is undoubtedly a very beautiful building. The tour of this building is like a walk through medieval Venice, so thousands of tourists come here every year. I want to believe that in our difficult times every inhabitant of the planet will find the opportunity to visit this magical place and enjoy the grandeur and grandeur of the Venetian Palace of the Doges.