TicketDoge’s Palace
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The Doge’s Palace and Saint Mark’s Square.
Doge’s Palace ticket
A must-see in Venice.
The residence of the Doges. Arriving in Venice by sea, the first thing you see on the water is the Doge’s Palace. This is undoubtedly the city’s most characteristic monument, symbolising its history, politics and culture! Its construction began in the 9th century, at the instigation of Doge Angelo Participazio, who transferred the seat of government here. Destroyed by fire in 976, a new palace was rebuilt in 1340. From then on and for several centuries, the building served as the permanent residence of the doges, the seat of government and the court house.
Who are the Doges?
An unfamiliar name if you’re not Italian, the ‘doge’ of Venice was the guardian of the laws and the guarantor of the balance of power. Elected for life by the Venetian aristocracy, his mission was to govern the Republic of Venice. In particular, he commanded the armies and appointed the principal magistrates and representatives of the Church. This status lasted from 697 to 1797, when the regime was defeated by Napoleon Bonaparte.
An exceptional façade
Before entering with your Doge’s Palace ticket in hand, take a few minutes to admire the exterior. It’s as elegant as it is stunning, resplendent with Gothic-style loggias and stone lacework. A real architectural feat! The façade is distinguished by its unique design for its time.
Architecture with multiple colonnades.
The delicacy of the lower part, made up of arcades and a multitude of columns, contrasts with the upper part formed by a solid wall. The stone capitals and medieval sculptures are carefully modelled, depicting knights and signs of the zodiac, among other things. Take a close look at the 9th arcade. It was from here that death sentences were read out and that the Doge came to witness public executions.
A masterpiece of Gothic architecture
A marriage of architectural styles. Your Doge’s Palace ticket will take you inside this unusual building, characterised by its blend of Venetian Gothic and Renaissance architecture. This mix is easily explained by the palace’s history. A series of fires, including two major ones in 976 and 1577, led to successive reconstructions.
The building as we know it today is the work of the 14th century. While the Doge’s Palace is a marvel of Gothic art, there are also Renaissance features and Mannerist touches throughout.
A journey through history
A tour route is offered to tourists, but your Doge’s Palace ticket allows you to go at your own pace. You can stroll at your leisure through the various rooms of the monument.
Details of the Porta della Carta.
The entrance to the Doge’s Palace is via the Porta della Carta, originally in gold and blue. The top of the Porta della Carta is decorated with the symbol of Venice: the winged lion. Take the Staircase of the Giants into the courtyard where the Doge’s coronation ceremony was held. Explore the sumptuous upper halls of the Doge’s Palace. And don’t forget the ducal flat, accessible via the magnificent Golden Staircase, the Scala d’Oro, all in white and gold, breathtaking in its design and majesty.
A visit back in time to the Doge’s Palace
Exceptional works of art. Your Doge’s Palace ticket will enable you to discover some of the greatest masterpieces of Venetian art. Among the masterpieces, you can admire Paradise, by the painter Tintoretto. This extraordinary work, 24.5 metres long and 9.9 metres high, is on display in the Great Council Chamber. Numerous paintings by the famous Paul Veronese also decorate the walls of the various rooms in the monument.
The Grand Council Chamber.
Keep your eyes peeled: the Doge’s Palace is full of treasures and ornaments, from the floor to the ceilings, adorned with frescoes. Your Doge’s Palace ticket also includes a visit to the Palace Museum. Located on the ground floor, it houses the capitals and other architectural remains of the palace. Six rooms house an impressive collection of refined and grandiose sculptures.
Visit the Bridge of Sighs
If you book your Doge’s Palace ticket, you can also visit a number of other sites. These include the Marciana National Library, the Armoury, the Correr Museum, the Archaeological Museum and the famous Bridge of Sighs. This little footbridge, undoubtedly one of the best known in the world, dates back to the 17th century.
The Bridge of Sighs links the prison to the Palace.
The Bridge of Sighs was built to link the prison to the Doge’s Palace. At the time, the building was used as a courthouse. After the trial, the prisoners would leave the courtyard of the Palace, taking the footbridge to their cells.
Prison in the Doge’s Palace.
It was given this name because of the sighs that the condemned prisoners would let out when they were distressed. Among the famous inmates was Casanova, the only prisoner to have managed to escape. A visit to the interior of the bridge and part of the prison is included with your Doge’s Palace ticket.
Practical information
Book your Doge’s Palace ticket. Don’t waste time getting your tickets. Book your Doge’s Palace ticket online in advance: the guarantee of fast entry, without wasting time. You’ll receive your precious sesame straight to your inbox, to present at the ticket office on the day of your visit.
Opening times:
Open every day
from 9AM to 7PM.
Last admission at 6PM.
Time required:
Between 2H and 3H.
Frequently asked questions
Public access:
Access the Doge’s Palace via Porta del Frumento, Piazza San Marco.
By Vaporetto boat:
L1 St. Vallaresso (at 4 min.)
L1 St. San Zaccaria (at 5 min)
L2 St. Giardinetti (at 3 min)
4.1 St. San Zaccaria (at 5 min)
5.1 St. San Zaccaria (at 5 min)
Here’s the Vaporetto map to help you get around Venice.
Questo sito è affiliato alla piattaforma Tiqets. Tiqets è uno dei partner ufficiali del monumento per rivendere i tuoi biglietti, questo sito non è il sito ufficiale, i nostri biglietti funzionano con la piattaforma Tiqets, partner di Palazzo Ducale.
San Giorgio Abbey from the Bridge of Sighs.