Palazzo Ducale

The Ducal Palace was the residence of the Doge up to the fall of the Venetian Republic in I797 a public palace and seat of the administration of justice. the highest and richest symbol of Venetian civilisation, of its cultural, military, political and economic history.

The Palazzo Ducale (Doge's Palace) got its present form after radical changing during the 14th and 16th century. The first floor was occupied by minor institutions, such as the Avogaria or lawyers offices, where law cases were examined; the Chancellery; the Censors and Provveditori della Milizia del Mar (Naval Offices) which oversaw the care and equipping of ships.

The Grand Council chamber, the largest room of the palace, the Ballot chamber, where the committee met to elect the Doge, and the Doge's apartments are located on the second floor.

The Sala del Collegio, where foreign ambassadors were received, and rooms used by the state security service like the Council of Ten are located on the third floor. The Bussola chamber is a small room with a box where citizens could submit written complaints against other citizens. The Sala dei Tre Capi (Three Chiefs Room) was used by three components of the Council of Ten, who kept that place only for one month. The State Inquisitor Room was used to interrogate prisoners.