Venice and the beautiful Palazzo Ducale

Next to St. Mark's Basilica is the Doge's Palace, the centre and symbol of the political power of the Serenissima. This masterpiece of Venetian Gothic art, over the years was destroyed several times by devastating fires, but today is more splendid than ever. Inside you can visit the historical apartments of the Doge, the armory, the courtyard, the loggias and all the various institutional rooms. The palace is made up of three large buildings that have incorporated and unified previous constructions: the wing towards St. Mark's Basin (which contains the Sala del Maggior Consiglio) and which is the oldest, rebuilt from 1340; the wing towards the Piazza (formerly Palazzo di Giustizia) with the Sala dello Scrutinio, whose construction in its current form began in 1424; on the opposite side, the Renaissance wing, with the Doge's residence and many government offices, rebuilt between 1483 and 1565. The public entrance to the Doge's Palace is the Porta del Frumento (so called because the "Ufficio delle Biade" was located next to it), which opens under the portico of the 14th-century facade overlooking the Bacino San Marco.