The Doge's Palace (Palazzo Ducale) is a historic palace in Venice, situated on St. Mark's Square (Piazza San Marco), adjacent to St. Mark's Basilica. The palace was the residence of the Doge of Venice, the chief magistrate and leader of the Venetian Republic.
Palazzo Ducale adjacent to adjacent to St. Mark's Basilica
The Doge's Palace traces its origins back to the 9th century, although the structure seen today was largely constructed in the 14th and 15th centuries. The current Gothic structure was begun in 1340 and was expanded in the 1420s with the construction of the façade facing the Piazzetta. The palace was continually modified over the centuries, adapting to the growing administrative needs of the Venetian Republic and embodying its political ideals.
Its courtyard is surrounded by arcades and features a blend of Gothic and Renaissance elements, including a grand staircase, the Scala dei Giganti (Staircase of the Giants), flanked by colossal statues of Mars and Neptune create by Italian sculptor Jacopo Sansovino, symbolizing Venice's power by land and sea.
interior courtyard with statue of Mars by Italian sculptor Jacopo Sansovino
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