Scenic route
Grand Canal
Venice, Italy
Venice's main waterway, lined with palaces, best seen from a public water bus.
Palace · Italy · Veneto
Doge's Palace
The Gothic palace of the Venetian rulers, with grand halls and a prison across a bridge.
Paid entry about 2 h
For storytellers
Why Doge's Palace matters
The Doge's Palace was the seat of Venetian power and a showcase for its wealth. Inside you see huge council halls, painted ceilings and the courtyard with a giant staircase. A covered bridge leads to the prison, where prisoners got a last look at the lagoon.
Talking points
- The doge was the elected leader of the Republic of Venice.
- Council halls are covered in giant paintings.
- A covered bridge connects it to the former prison.
- The palace is a major example of Venetian Gothic.
Free to read aloud or adapt in your video. Check facts that matter to you against an official source before you publish.
More in Venice
Church, mosque or temple
St Mark's Basilica
Venice, Italy
Venice's glittering Byzantine-style cathedral covered in golden mosaics.
Bridge
Bridge of Sighs
Venice, Italy
A small covered bridge linking the Doge's Palace to the old prison.
Church, mosque or temple
Santa Maria della Salute
Venice, Italy
A grand baroque church with a white dome at the mouth of the Grand Canal.
Also nearby
Within about 40 km, closest first.