Located in St. Mark’s Square, you’ll find one of the top attractions in Venice: the Doge’s Palace. Also known as the Palazzo Ducale, this palace was the center of political power in Venice. From Venetian authorities to infamous prisoners, it’s filled with great stories that our guide will be sure to tell you. Here’s how to see the Doge’s Palace, Venice.
Pro Tip: It’s easier to organize your trip when you have all your resources in one place. Create a browser folder and bookmark this post along with our dedicated guide to planning your visit to Venice, where you’ll find everything you need. Also, check out our article on the best Venice tours.
How to Visit Doge’s Palace, Venice
The Doge’s Palace (Palazzo Ducale) was first built in Venice in the ninth century for the Duke of Venice. See the gorgeous architecture and learn about the legends of Doge’s Palace up close. The behind-the-scenes stories are what make it a really compelling place to visit.
Join our knowledgeable guides to discover more than you’d ever expect in a palatial building like this. Our Doge’s Palace Venice tour includes skip-the-line tickets, an expert guide, and an informative and engaging tour of the mystifying palace itself.
In this guide, we go over everything you need to know to visit the Doge’s Palace, from getting tickets to tips on what to see inside. Here’s what we’ll cover:
- Doge’s Palace History
- Doge’s Palace Tickets and Hours
- What to See Inside Doge’s Palace
- Doge’s Palace Tour Options
Doge’s Palace History
Originally built in 810, the Doge’s Palace was the home of Venice’s public administration, where important decisions were made. But almost nothing remains of this Venetian highlight’s original structure, although the majority of what you see today is still ancient. The Doge’s Palace had to be reconstructed more than once due to fires. This led to the Gothic Venetian architecture we see today.
The fortress-like palace not only held the seat of the Venetian Republic but was also connected to its prison by the famous Bridge of Sighs. Legend tells of prisoners looking out the window trying to capture one last glance of beautiful Venice and sighing before heading to their cell, hence the name. One of Venice’s most famous prisoners was Giacomo Casanova, who escaped his cell and fled to Paris.
Doge’s Palace Tickets and Hours
Doge’s Palace Hours:
April 1st to October 31st: 8.30 am – 7 pm (last admission 6 pm)
November 1st to March 31st: 8.30 am – 5.30 pm (last admission 4.30 pm)
What to See Inside Doge’s Palace
Scala dei Giganti
When entering the Doge’s Palace, you’ll find yourself in its courtyard. There, you’ll see the Scala dei Giganti. At the top of the stairs, there are two statues. One of Poseidon, representing Venice’s coastal trade power. The second statue is a representation of Mars, symbolizing the political power of the trading empire. In between these two statues is the winged lion, the symbol of Venice’s Patron Saint, St. Mark.
Great Council Chamber
The Great Council Chamber inside the Doge’s Palace is one of the most amazing rooms you’ll see in Europe. Surrounded by astonishing pieces of art, this room is where the Senate would deliberate and come to agreements about financial matters and other public concerns, like the sentences for the prisoners.
One of Doge’s Palace’s artworks you’ll be able to admire in this room is Tintoretto’s Paradise. This painting is one of the largest oil paintings on canvas in history. The painting represents heaven on earth. It is said that its purpose was to look over the council to ensure they made appropriate decisions.
Bridge of Sighs
Another highlight of the Doge’s Palace is the Bridge of Sighs, which connects the palace to its prison. In the prison, you’ll find the pozzi or wells. These pozzi were a place of detention for prisoners, and one of the worst to be in. As you can deduce from its name, these wet little cells were hardly ventilated and reeked, making them extremely miserable for prisoners.
Other types of cells were the piombi. These cells were reserved for people who committed political crimes or who had to serve short sentences. The famous Casanova was imprisoned in both types of cells for a period of time.
Chamber of Torment
A dreaded place by the accused was the Chamber of Torment. Here, interrogations took place. It’s where criminals were pulled by their arms that were tied behind their backs—a very painful position to be questioned in. This torture would continue until the prisoner confessed to the crime committed.
You can also discover Venice’s darker side by following us on our Venice Doge’s Palace Tour. This is not your typical tour. Experience some of the beautiful parts of the palace, as well as the darker side. Listen as your guide tells gruesome tales of some of the prisoners kept there.
Doge’s Palace Tour Options
We highly recommend doing tours when you come to a new city. You not only gain historical and anecdotal knowledge, but you also save tons of time looking for important things at certain sites. Plus, our guides are local and super passionate about what they do! You’ll find our tours are very competitively priced and our standard is fun learning, so no boring moments on our tours!
Doge’s Palace Venice Tour
You’ll see where the highest-elected magistrates ruled Venice with an iron fist. Go back in time to hear stories of crime, betrayal, and the legal system that once kept Venice in check. During this two-hour tour, your passionate guide will show you the inside of the Venetian Gothic palace. Admire works of art by Titian, Tintoretto, and Veronese. See the Golden Staircase, the Bridge of Sighs, and even some prison cells.
Venice in a Day Combo tour with Gondola Ride
If you want to make sure you experience Venice in-depth, this full-day tour is your best choice. Especially if you’re only spending a short time in the lagoon, covering Venice in a day is a smart idea. That way, you can spend the remainder of your time sipping Prosecco by the canals.
Venice Doge’s Palace Private Tour
This is for you if you’d like to have a private guide and go at your own pace. Venice is a city full of artwork, culture, beauty, and romance. Amidst the canals, gondolas, cafés, and grand piazzas is the breathtaking facade of the Doge’s Palace. On one edge of St. Mark’s Square, this was once the residence of Venice’s ruler, the Doge.
Where to Stay in Venice
Despite the size of this little island, there are endless hotel options to choose from. We’ve picked the best neighborhoods and hotels to stay in whether you prefer Italian luxury or quiet serenity—or both!
