The Doge's Palace Venice

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If you are ever in Venice and you visit the Piazza San Marco you are bound to see the Doge's palace next to the Basilica San Marco. The decorative facade of the palace resembles fine sugar icing. The palace has been here in some form or other from the 700's. The palace is built right next to the Basilica and allowed the Doge to go directly into the Church from the Palace.The Doge was elected by his peers from aristocrats from Venice. His role was a figurehead of the republic but lead quite a sheltered life. As there had been some hanky panky going on with fiddles and corruption he was not allowed to open any dispatches or mail without it being witnessed first by a committee of people who's aim was to prevent the Doge being tempted to being involved with dodgy deals. One such Doge was tried and beheaded for bringing the office of the doge into disrepute and another was forced to abdicate and exiled. The Doge who was beheaded Doge was Marino Falliero and was executed for treason and condemned to damnatio memoriae meaning condemned without memory. There are paintings of the doge's around the palace and one deliberate space is vacant to shame the Doge Marino Falliero who lost his head. The palace itself is exquisite with inner courtyards and balconies and private apartments. There are also judicial chambers and a very large hall where prisoners were tried and if convicted they were sent to the jail either within the palace or next door. A covered passageway was built and named the bridge of sighs as prisoners were taken away to the prison they were able to see Venice from the bridge windows for the last time hence them sighing. The prison was very inhospitable. The lower floors were very damp even wet at times but the top cells were reserved for the upper classes which were just below the lead roof which was terribly hot in the summer months and freezing cold in the winter. The rooms are covered with ornate murals and ceiling artwork which is quite magnificent. It is well worth visiting the Doges palace but advisable to pre-buy your tickets to avoid the massive queues. The photo is of the Doges Palace taken from the Lagoon.