Palate of the Doges

The Palate of the Doges or Ducal Palais is a Venetian palate of Gothic style located on the Place Saint-Marc.

Geography

The Palate of the Doges is located between the Rio della Paglia , the small Place Saint-Marc ( Piazzetta San Marco ), the Basilique Saint-Marc and the Canal Saint-Marc. It borders the entry of the Grand Venetian Channel. Visible since the Adriatic , it is located on the southernmost frontage of the Saint-Marc place.

History

A first Palate of the Doges existed during the République of Venice. It was destroyed by a large fire in 976, which also destroyed the first Basilique Saint-Marc. The current Palate of the Doges was built in 1340. It sheltered the doge S of Venice until in 1789. This palate was during many centuries the seat of the Venetian administration. The legislative powers, executive and legal were centralized there between the hands of the doge.

Until the 16th century, the palate sheltered the prisons of Venice located under the roofs. They are called leads ( I piombi ) because their cover was made plates of lead. In summer, their visit is prohibited besides at certain hours of the day because the visitors could not tolerate the temperature which reigns there (more than 50°C). It is in this prison that Giacomo Casanova was held which was the only one to escape some.

Then another prison of 19 cells was built beside the palate (the prison of the wells) called as that because it was no longer under the roofs, but at the ground floor and in basement. The detention conditions were not better there because, if the prisoners did not suffer any more intense heat, they were constantly in moisture and the cold, and even in water at the time of the risings, with all that such conditions involve in term of hygiene. This new prison and the palate is separate only by the Rio della Paglia , the only bond between these two buildings being the Pont of the Sighs, a small entirely closed bridge of stone that the prisoners crossed after their judgment to gain their jails.

The prisons of leads belonged to a hidden surface of the Palate whose nobody knew the existence. A whole secret administration regulated there the political matters and legal Republic. Many senior officials worked there and their activities often proceeded the night. It is considered besides that it is there that the capacity was really exerted, that they are businesses of espionage, taxation, legislation, trade or moralities, all was spring of these civils servant and their secret police. So that the ambassadors and dignitaries did not suspect the existence of this hidden administration, it had installed its offices in half-stages of the palate. Outside, one distinguished only from large closed windows similar to those of the big rooms of the palate, but in fact a floor had been installed with middle height of these windows; thus sheltering many offices, rooms of councils, room of torture, dungeons in all confidentiality.

Structure

This palate represents the philosopher's stone of imagination of Venice. During long series of years, the best architects directed his masonry, the best painters his decoration. Its frontages, that of the sea and that of the Piazzetta are composed a thickness of massive walls and polishes supported by two stages of pillars posed one on the other. It is especially a splendid museum with its rooms entirely decorated by the great painters of which the famous Tintoret. One must with this last, with the assistance of his son Domenico Tintoretto, the immense fabric of the " Paradis" in the room of the Great Council ( Maggiore Consiglio ), passing to be the largest table in the world with its 52 meters length.

External bonds

the complete history of the Palate of the Doges, Structures and symbolism by Danielle Carton

Chronology of Venice

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Palate of the Doges

Geography

History

Structure

External bonds

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