THE HISTORY

The construction of the building probably began in the ninth century, following the transfer of the ducal seat from Malamocco today's Venice, a milestone of 812 during the reign Partecipazio Angelo.

Followed the reconstruction started by Peter I Orseolo (976-979), a fortified consisting in a central and corner towers, surrounded by water, traces of which still intuitively positioned in the floor porch.

The complex underwent a first major renovation, which transformed the original fortress into an elegant building with no fortifications, in the twelfth century during Doge Sebastian Ziani. A new extension was built in late '200 and early fourteenth century, to serve the new needs of the state Republican followed the Shutdown of the Great Council, whose room was enlarged. In 1310 an attempted assault was repressed during the building of a conspiracy led by Bajamonte Tiepolo.

Since 1340, under Doge Bartolomeo Gradenigo, the building began a radical transformation to its present form. In 1404 was finished the facade on the quay in 1423, were initiated work on the side facing the square and basilica, in 1439 also began work on the Porta della Carta, after the great fire of 1483 it was rebuilt the interior, ie one side of the Rio Palace that ends with the Ponte della Paglia, with work that continued until 1492 and the construction of a Giant Scale.

The May 11, 1574 a fire destroyed some boardrooms on the first floor. Decided immediately to rebuild the technical direction and execution was entrusted to the "proto" Antonio da Ponte, flanked by Andrea Palladio

The presence of Palladio, the Palazzo Ducale is well documented between 1577 and 1578, for the restoration of the building damaged by a second serious fire (December 20, 1577) in which important cycles of paintings were lost. Again, the hypothesis of a concrete proposal leave no doubt among his critics. Between 1575 and 1580 Titian and Veronese were in turn hired to decorate the interior of the building and their work came to join the reconstruction of the rooms of the South followed the fire of December 20, 1577.

Early seventeenth century were added the New Prisons, beyond the river, by the architect Antonio Contin. This new building, the seat of the Lords of Night, magistrates in charge of preventing and punishing criminal offenses, is connected to the Palace by the Bridge of Sighs, path from convicted Publishing Palace, seat of the courts, prisons.

After the end of the Venetian Republic, which was eventually enacted in the session of the Great Council of 12 May 1797, the Palace was never used as the seat of the prince and the magistrates, but was used as headquarters for administrative offices of the Napoleonic and Habsburg empires . The prisons, known Leads retained their function and were the subject of the writings of Silvio Pellico. With the annexation of Venice to the Kingdom of Italy, the Palace underwent substantial renovations and in 1923 was a museum as it still is.