Lavish and impressive (Palazzo Ducale)

Member Name: MykReeve

Product:	Palazzo Ducale
Date:	25/07/00 (36 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Reasonable price, lots to see

Disadvantages: Takes a lot of time

The Palazzo Ducale, or Doge's Palace, is one of Venice's best-known and impressive sights. Originally built in the 9th century as a fortified castle, the current Gothic palace was built in the 14th and early-15th centuries.

The building spent a long time as the seat of Government for the Venetian republic, as well as housing the Palace of Justice, and being home to the doge. This illustrious history means that the building provides a fascinating guide to the history of the city, in addition to housing a superb collection of art. There are some excellent statues on display around the exterior of the building, and some beautifully carved windows and pillars, which contribute to the stunning appearance of the pink marble and stone building.

Décor is suitably lavish for a building of such importance, with suitably lavish staircases and furniture. There are paintings by Tintoretto throughout the building, including a particularly impressive one of "Paradise" in the enormous, and splendidly decorated Great Council Hall. There are also paintings of the first 76 doges in a frieze around the upper walls of the Great Council Hall – look for where treacherous Marin Falier has been painted out! One room, the Sala dello Scudo, is predominantly decorated with maps and globes, and I found this to be particularly interesting showing how the quality of mapmaking has improved over the years.

There are also several rooms showing armour and weaponry used by the doge's guard through the years, and this is an impressive and fascinating collection of rifles, swords and axes.

The palace tour concludes with a trip over the Bridge of Sighs to the prison complex in the neighbouring building. According to tradition the bridge's name comes from the groans of prisoners leaving the Doge's palace, as they made their way to the prisons.

There are some fantastic paintings on display here, including several superb works
by Heironymus Bosch, and what with the impressively lavish surroundings and the variety of exhibits, they don't become dull as rapidly as in some of the Museums. With a modest admission fee, and such an impressive collection of exhibits, the Doge's Palace is definitely worth a visit.

Summary: