The facade towards the pier, the oldest part of the palace, with the Bridge of Sighs on its left side
The Doge’s Palace (Italian: Palazzo Ducale) is one of the main landmarks of Venice, Italy. It was the residence of the Doge of Venice, the supreme authority of the Republic of Venice. It was enlarged and modified in the following centuries. Today it represents a combination of the Gothic style with Renaissance elements. It became a museum in 1923. In the palace , you will visit the Doge’s Apartments, the courtyard, the Institutional Chambers, the armoury and the prisons. The Doge’s Apartments are beautifully decorated with works of art by Veronese, Titian and Tintoretto that depict the city’s history.
The visit to the Doge’s Palace takes at least 2 hours, but if you want to enjoy it more calmly, calculate at least 3; to this you must add the time of any queues at the entrance if you have not purchased a skip-the-line ticket.
The best time to visit the Doge’s Palace is early afternoon or very early in the morning. On summer the closing is postponed to 10 pm and in that case around dinner time you may find fewer visitors.
How to best experience Doge’s Palace?
Discover tickets, tours, and activities for Doge’s Palace through these providers:
Best Doge’s Palace Tickets
Tickets for Doge's Palace: Fast Track
/5Experience the splendor of the Venetian Republic
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Venice: Doge's Palace Reserved Entry Admission Ticket
/5Skip past the ticket line and go inside the Doge's Palace, once the seat of the leaders of Venice. Explore over 600 years of history, remarkable architecture, and priceless works of art. Cross the Bridge of Sighs to enter the palace's New Prisons.
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Doge's Palace Skip-the-Line Entry Ticket with Guide Book
/5Skip the long lines to walk the corridors of the magnificent Doge's Palace and see masterpieces of art collected by the dukes of Venice over many centuries. Use the free guide book to learn more and create your own adventure in the city.
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Best Doge’s Palace Tours
Tickets for St. Mark's Basilica & Doge's Palace: Skip The Line + Guided Tour
/5Two-hour tour with a professional guide of Venice’s most important venues
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Tickets for Palazzo Ducale: Skip The Line + Guided Tour
/5Take a guided tour of Venice's fabled golden age
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Venice: Doge Palace and St. Mark's Basilica Skip The Line Tour with Terrace Access
/5Skip the long lines at Doge’s Palace and get stunning views of Venice from the terrace of St. Mark’s Basilica. Admire beautiful mosaics and impressive artworks alongside an expert guide.
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Doge Palace and St. Mark's Basilica: Skip-The-Line Tour
/5Skip the long lines at the iconic Doge’s Palace and visit St. Mark’s Basilica. Admire beautiful mosaics and impressive artworks and learn the history of the dukes of Venice.
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What was a Doge?
The Doge of Venice was the chief magistrate and leader of the Republic of Venice between 726 and 1797. Doges of Venice were designated for life by the Venetian nobility. The doge was neither a duke in the modern sense, nor the equivalent of a hereditary duke. The title “doge” was the title of the senior-most elected official of Venice and Genoa; both cities were Maritime republics and elected doges.
After the Fall of the Republic of Venice, the position of Doge was abolished. Instead, from 1806 to 1866, a Podestà of Venice was appointed by the rulers of the city: Napoleon and the Habsburgs. In 1860, the embryonic Kingdom of Italy created the office of the Mayor of Venice (Sindaco di Venezia), chosen by the City council. From 1946 to 1993, the Mayor of Venice was chosen by the City Council. Since 1993, under provisions of new local administration law, the Mayor of Venice has been chosen by popular election, originally every four and, later, every five years.
When was the Doge’s Palace built?
The ancient seat of the Doge and the Venetian magistrates was founded after 810 and has been hit by fires several times (at least three times) and consequently rebuilt. The palace was a silent witness to the history of the Serenissima, from the dawn to the fall.
Why was the Doge’s Palace built?
The Palazzo Ducale was originally a fortified castle founded between the tenth and eleventh centuries. The palace was partially destroyed by a fire and was rebuilt between 1172 and 1178, as was the Piazza San Marco. During this period, the Palazzo was used as a fortress and prison.
What was the Doge’s Palace used for?
During its history the palace has played different roles and has been used for different purposes ranging from being the Doge’s residence to being the prison of the Venetian republic. Since the building was used in many ways, there are different things to see in its different areas such as the “Museo dell’Opera di Palazzo” and the Bridge of Sighs.
What can you admire inside the palace?
The interiors, now partly deprived of the works that once decorated them, still retain a large art gallery, which includes works by the most famous Venetian masters, including Jacopo and Domenico Tintoretto, Tiziano Vecellio, Francesco Bassano, Paolo Veronese, Giambattista Zelotti, Jacopo Palma the Younger, Andrea Vicentino and Antonio Vassilacchi.
General informations
Useful information for your visit to the Doge’s Palace.
Location
The Doge’s Palace is a building located in the monumental area of Piazza San Marco, in the San Marco district, between the square of the same name and the dock of the Doge’s Palace, adjacent to the St. Mark’s Basilica.
Opening hours
To visit the Doge’s Palace the times are as follows:
- Daily from 8:30 am until 5:30 pm (April to October until 7 pm)
How to get to the Doge’s Palace
To reach the Doge’s Palace:
Water Buses: San Zaccaria or San Marco, lines 1, 2, 41, 42, 51, 52, N and LN.
Attractions nearby
- Campanile di San Marco (73 m)
- San Marco (74 m)
- St. Mark’s Basilica (81 m)
- Piazza San Marco (143 m)
- Museo Correr in Venice (209 m)
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