PALAZZO DUCALE Construction began in 1340, and it became the centre of political power of the Republic. The Doge lived here and carried out his duties as head of the government. Building began on the part opposite the waterfront and then continued in 1424 with the façade towards the Piazzetta and was completed in the mid-sixteenth century after numerous changes and additions The interior of the Palazzo underwent considerable reconstruction due to two terrible fires in 1574 and 1577. THE COURTYARD - 2 bronze well heads from the 1500's - Baroque "Clock-façade" (1515) - Foscari arch (1470) - Scala dei Giganti ("The Giant's Staircase") (A.Rizzo with statues by J.Sansovino depicting Mars and Neptune) WORKS OF ART - Scala D'Oro ("The Golden Staircase") (project by J.Sansovino-stucco by A.Vittoria-1558) ducal apartment - Pietà (Giovanni Bellini) - Leone Marciano (Carpaccio) room of the four doors - ceiling designed by A.Palladio and built by A.da Ponte - doge Grimani adors Faith (Titian) - Neptune offering Venice the riches of the sea (G.B.Tiepolo-XVII) anticollegio - ceiling by A.Palladio - four paintings by J.Tintoretto: --- Vulcan's workshop --- Mercury and the Graces --- Pallas protecting Peace --- Ariadne found by Bacchus - The Rape of Europe (P.Veronese) collegio (Palladio-Rusconi) - Venice triumphant with Justice and Peace (P.Veronese-1577) - Sebastiano Venier thanks the Redeemer for the battle of Lepanto (P.Veronese-1578) - The Marriage of St.Catherina (J.Tintoretto) - Doge N.Da Ponte invokes the protection of the Virgin (J.Tintoretto) - Doge A.Mocenigo adores the Redeemer (J.Tintoretto) - Doge A.Gritti before the Virgin (J.Tintoretto) The Hall of the Senate (or dei Pregadi) - paintings by J.Tintoretto and assistants - paintings by J.Palma il Giovane The Hall of the Consiglio dei Dieci - An old man from the East in a turban and with a young woman (P.Veronese) - Juno offering Venice the ducal cap (P.Veronese) The Hall of the three heads of the Consiglio dei Dieci - Victory of Virtue over Vice (G.B.Zelotti) - The punishment inflicted on a forgerer (P.Veronese) - Sin overcome by Victory (P.Veronese) Armoury - collection of arms (1400-1500) Lobby Hall of the Maggior Consiglio - The transfiguration (D.Tintoretto) - Doge M.Memmo before theVirgin (J.Palma il Giovane) Hall of the Maggior Consiglio (54m long, 25m wide, 15m high) (End wall) - Paradise (J.Tintoretto and assistants) it is the biggest canvas in the world: 7.45m x 24.65m (wall towards the courtyard) - canvases with episodes of the struggle between Pope Alexander III and Federico Barbarossa and the intervention of Venice. (paintings by J.Tintoretto, D.Tintoretto, heirs of Veronese, A.Vicentino, J.Palma il Giovane and others) (Central order) - Apotheosis of Venice (P.Veronese) - Venice supreme crowned by Victory (J.Palma il Giovane) (wall towards the waterfront) - celebration of the most important episodes of the IV Crusade (paintings by D.Tintoretto, J.Palma il Giovane, A.Vicentino and others) (central wall) - Doge Andrea Contarini returns victorious toVenice (P.Veronese) Hall of the Scrutinio - triumphal arch in honour of Francesco Morosini (1694) - Victory of Pisa at Rhodes (A.Vicentino) - The Last Judgement (J.Palma il Giovane) - Victory of Venice against the Hungerians for Zara (J.Tintoretto) - Battle of Lepanto (A.Vicentino) - Ponte dei Sospiri ("The Bridge of Sighs") (Antonio Contin) with parallel double passage. - new prisons (XVI-XVII cent.) [Beginning of the page] [Home] [Preceding page] [Next file] translated by C.Cawthra http://www.venicebanana.com - copyrights 2000-2001 SAMIS

The façade sul Molo [41 K] Il ponte dei sospiri [37 K] Le arcate sulla Piazzetta [48 K] La Porta della Carta [52 K] Un capitello d'angolo [40 K]