The Doge's Palace
Balet, Andrew. (2007). The Doge Palace view from the Grand Canal. [Photograph]. Retrieved from http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Photograph_of_of_the_Doges_Palace_in_Venice.jpg. Available under CC BY 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons
Architecture
Located off the Grand Canal, the Doge Palace is home to the Doge of Venice, or the chief magistrate of Venice. The Doge Palace that we see today was designed by Fillippo Calendario in the 14th century, however the Doge Palace has been around since the 10th century. In the 10th Century, the palace was built on wooden stockade, and appeared to be more of a defense tower or a fort. Unfortunately that building was destroyed by fire and other natural disasters--thus giving birth to the building that stands tall in Venice today (Doge's Palace: Palazzo Ducale).
Fillippo Calendario was executed for treason in 1355, which caused construction of the Palace to be slower than expected. The Venetian Gothic style palace was built in two phases: phase one The eastern wing (1301-1340) and phase two the western wing (1340-1450) (Doge's Palace: Palazzo Ducale).
Architecture Fun Facts (Doge's Palace):
Located off the Grand Canal, the Doge Palace is home to the Doge of Venice, or the chief magistrate of Venice. The Doge Palace that we see today was designed by Fillippo Calendario in the 14th century, however the Doge Palace has been around since the 10th century. In the 10th Century, the palace was built on wooden stockade, and appeared to be more of a defense tower or a fort. Unfortunately that building was destroyed by fire and other natural disasters--thus giving birth to the building that stands tall in Venice today (Doge's Palace: Palazzo Ducale).
Fillippo Calendario was executed for treason in 1355, which caused construction of the Palace to be slower than expected. The Venetian Gothic style palace was built in two phases: phase one The eastern wing (1301-1340) and phase two the western wing (1340-1450) (Doge's Palace: Palazzo Ducale).
Architecture Fun Facts (Doge's Palace):
- Contrary to most medieval palaces across Italy, the Doge's Palace was built with the loggias down below and full walls above. Normally, a building like this had a huge base that was easier to defend.
- Despite its size, the multi-coloured face and the "stone lace" like perforation of the Gothic loggias, gives the Doge Palace a light appearance.
Zanotto, Francesco. (2014) Floor plan of the Doge's Palace. [Photograph]. Retrieved from http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Palazzo_Ducale_Venezia_Tavola_11,_Francesco_Zanotto-notxt.svg. Available under [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons
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Moretti, Dionisio. (1831). Sketch of the Doge Palace. [Photograph]. Retrieved from http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Quadri-Moretti,_Piazza_San_Marco_(1831),_03.jpg. Available under [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons
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Rooms in The Doge's Palace
Most rooms in the Doge's Palace can be characterized by their engraved wooden ceilings, marble chimneys with, delicate carved decoration, painting friezes and stuccoes (The Doge's Apartments). The Doge's Apartment inside was not particularly large and he had to provide his own furnishings. This is thought to be a symbol that although the Doge is the most powerful man in the state, he is a servant to the state first (The Doge's Apartments). The Grand Council Chamber Restructured in the 14th century, the Grand Council Chamber is home to a lot of art. Upon reconstruction, the room was decorated with a fresco by Guariento and eventually graced with works by Gentile da Fabriano, Pisanello, Alvise Vivarini, Carpaccio, Bellini, Pordenone and Titian. The chamber is 53 meters long and 25 meters wide. Not only is it the largest room in the Doge's Palace, but also one of the largest rooms in Europe! This chamber is where the Grand Council, the most important governing body in the republic, held their meetings (The Doge's Apartments). More info on the Grand Council and Grand Council Chamber |
Diziani, Antonio. (1758-1763). The Grand Council Room painting. Retrieved from http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Antonio_Diziani_-_The_Sala_del_Maggior_Consiglio,_Doge%27s_Palace_-_WGA06352.jpg. Available under [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons
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Mackness, Jenny. (2014). Ceiling of Doge's Palace. [Photograph]. Retrieved from https://www.flickr.com/photos/jennymackness/16812280202/in/photolist-r5GrdU-55ENP-nUZbYC-69Ee7A-8YNvZg-5zmseT-o6E6YJ-oSz6UZ-rkbBHu-rki53v-rzsnoh-rkaHKE-qEXJYZ-rkbBoG-rzsnab-rBDkXc-rzsnqG-rki5W4-rBDmRs-8YRNfj-K9c49-rkbAN3-rki446-qEKhAy-rkbAuN-rkaGd1-riqwze-rBDkb3-fNnTdZ-9nKtFs-6NYzVT-bpiMdJ-pCv8Hm-4By2Nv-7h89Pz-dhg3X5-dGvDuu-dGr7c2-qP2B37-qi5GeH-qzkGAM-4CZ5NP-9q6gx-cdLkHb-prNyG3-7LjUK-bKDhW-bLDnj-bLDni-epXCP8%20(CC%20BY-NC-SA%202.0). Available under CC BY-NC-SA 2.0.
A closer look at the ceiling inside the Doge's Palace (Above). The Senate Chamber in the Doge's Palace (Below).
Young, Geoff. (2014). Senate Chamber. [Photograph] Retrieved from https://www.flickr.com/photos/geoff_young/15754795836/in/photolist-qhyqmP-qzqYXm-9nRoGH-pCvnhA-q1cm7L-6daQbF-amcRmJ-eUsQfB-nTBMuL-6P4pGU-9yPisX-amcR1d-boSjig-4HkWQF-6USeZE-pY7jNz-7SsfbW-pQimmE-ocq2Be-aiS8D9-bhEQyT-e35d66-7SoXSe-eVhqrG-pQvBsB-5CgpQP-q1crUY-dje21R-f1YR89-4MiVro-nhPbMH-eUEcYC-gxbz4d-aif79c-b1CV9e-q1cbuE-6T2b1a-cHSAW-dABpBj-6qVuTR-df3oev-9Vb2hU-pdX1ie-bsB3ef-4jYYxD-arhN4B-nnW7ru-dt2UXS-9V8gAi-arhxLB. Available under CC BY-NC 2.0
New Prisons and The Bridge of Sighs
B. Welleschik. Bridge of Sighs connected to the Doge's Palace and New Prisons. [Photograph] Retrieved from http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Seufzerbrücke1.jpg. Available under GFDL (http://www.gnu.org/copyleft/fdl.html) or CC-BY-SA-3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/)].
The Doge's Palace was also home to the prisons for criminals in the 15th century. Eventually, the Doge and republic decided that there should be her prisons that are more health considerate for the prisoners (Layout and Collections: Prisons). This idea gave birth to the New prisons and the Bridge of Sighs. In order to have easy access to the New Prisons, the Bridge of Sighs was constructed, connecting the Doge's Palace to the New Prisons.
More information on The Bridge of Sighs and The New Prisons.
More information on The Bridge of Sighs and The New Prisons.
Information Tour of The Doge's Palace
Works Cited
Doge's Palace: Palazzo Ducale. (2015). Retrieved March 20, 2015, from http://www.aviewoncities.com/venice/palazzoducale.htm
Doge's Palace. (n.d.). Retrieved March 18, 2015, from http://www.italyguides.it/us/venice_italy/doge_s_palace/doge_s_palace.htm
Layout and Collections: Prisons. (n.d.). Retrieved March 22, 2015, from http://palazzoducale.visitmuve.it/en/the-museum/layout-and-collections/prisons/
Layout and Collections: The Doge's Apartments. (n.d.). Retrieved March 22, 2015, from http://palazzoducale.visitmuve.it/en/the-museum/layout-and-collections/doges-apartments/
Doge's Palace: Palazzo Ducale. (2015). Retrieved March 20, 2015, from http://www.aviewoncities.com/venice/palazzoducale.htm
Doge's Palace. (n.d.). Retrieved March 18, 2015, from http://www.italyguides.it/us/venice_italy/doge_s_palace/doge_s_palace.htm
Layout and Collections: Prisons. (n.d.). Retrieved March 22, 2015, from http://palazzoducale.visitmuve.it/en/the-museum/layout-and-collections/prisons/
Layout and Collections: The Doge's Apartments. (n.d.). Retrieved March 22, 2015, from http://palazzoducale.visitmuve.it/en/the-museum/layout-and-collections/doges-apartments/
