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The exterior of the Doge’s Palace (Palazzo Ducale) in the UNESCO World Heritage city of Venice, Italy, has two main façades. One faces the Piazzetta di San Marco section of Piazza San Marco while another faces the lagoon. A third façade faces a canal, Rio di Palazzo, which is crossed by the Bridge of Sighs (Ponte dei Sospiri).
Each of the main façades is made up of two colonnaded levels topped with a larger level decorated with inlaid marble. A central balcony is flanked by three large windows on each side.
Lagoon Side
The façade overlooking the lagoon is the oldest part of the palace. The capitals date back to the 14th century although some were replaced with copies in the 19th century. Each corner is decorated with sculptures attributed to Filippo Calendario.
The balcony in the center is attached to the Chamber of the Great Council (Sala del Maggior Consiglio). It was built between 1400 and 1404. There are several statues contained within niches on the balcony, but many had been removed for care during my visit.
Piazza Side
The façade facing Piazza San Marco was built starting in 1424, commissioned by Doge Francesco Foscari and using the façade facing the lagoon as a model. Notice two red columns on the loggia. They represent the death sentences carried out between the columns of Saint Theodore and Saint Mark.
On the 13th column of the loggia from the lagoon is a representation of Justice by Bartolomeo Bon.
The balcony, designed by Jacopo Sansovino, was built between 1531 and 1538. It contains a statue of the Lion of Saint Mark with Doge Andrea Gritti kneeling before it. It was destroyed in 1797 under French occupation and redone in the 19th century. The four statues in the niches represent Mercury and Jupiter (next to the lion), and Mars and Neptune (on the bottom).
On the northwest corner of the building is a statue of the Archangel Gabriel, symbolizing politics. A statue of the Archangel Michael is attached to the southwest corner and symbolizes war. A third archangel, Raphael, is situated on the southeast corner (lagoon side) symbolizing commerce.
Porta della Carta
A monumental entrance called the Porta della Carta is on the left side of the façade facing Piazza San Marco and next to Saint Mark’s Basilica. It was carved by Giovanni and Bartolomeo Bon and leads to the courtyard of the palace.
Above the portal is a representation of Doge Francesco Foscari kneeling in front of the Lion of Saint Mark. It was destroyed in 1797 and redone by Luigi Ferrari in the 19th century. Above that is a bust of Saint Mark.
