Clouds over the Doge's Palace in Venice

Photo of the Doge's Palace in Venice with behind it the Campanile, the bell tower on St. Mark's Square.

The Doge's Palace was the palace of the Doge, the head of state of the Republic of Venice. The palace served not only as the doge's residence, but also as a seat of government and courthouse. It was the center of power, where the main councils of the city, such as the Senate, the Council of Ten and the Grand Council, also met.

The Palazzo Ducale was built at the beginning of the 9th century when the Doge Agnello Participazio moved the seat of government from the Venetian island of Malamocco to the Rivoalto, a safer place in Venice (now Rialto). The building then consisted of a castle with high defensive walls and four towers. Unfortunately, there are no traces of that building because it was destroyed by fire in the 10th century.

After several medieval renovations, the Palazzo Ducale was completely rebuilt in the mid-14th century. The reason was the considerable increase in the number of members of the Great Council. Construction of the new Gothic palace began around 1340 and focused mainly on the side of the building overlooking the lagoon. The palace as we know it now largely dates from that time.

Throughout all the renovations, the palace acquired features of Gothic, Moorish and Renaissance architecture.

This artwork is offered by Arja Schrijver Photography

I enjoy taking pictures of nature, from colorful flowers to the vast landscapes of Scotland and Norway. Photos of European cities can also be found in my shop. Whatever photos they are, I create them with the idea that they really add atmosphere to your home or workplace.

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