Doge's Palace, Gothic palace in Saint Mark's Square, Italy
The palace exhibits intricate marble decorations, with a facade featuring white stone arches supported by columns extending across two floors.
Built in the 9th century and reconstructed after a fire in 1577, this palace served as the residence of Venice's rulers until 1797.
The interior halls present large-scale paintings by Venetian masters Tintoretto and Veronese, depicting scenes of power and religious narratives.
Visitors can access the palace daily from 9 AM to 6 PM, with guided tours available in multiple languages through the chambers and prison cells.
The Bridge of Sighs connects the palace interrogation rooms to the prison cells, where inmates caught their final view of Venice through small windows.
Location: Venezia
Address: P.za San Marco, 1, 30124 Venezia VE, Italy 30124 Venezia
Opening Hours: Monday-Sunday 09:00-18:00
Phone: +390412715911
Website: https://palazzoducale.visitmuve.it
GPS coordinates: 45.43370,12.34039
Latest update: March 18, 2025 18:54
This collection brings together penal institutions that have marked the history of incarceration worldwide through their architecture, detention conditions, or roles in major historical events. From the Guantanamo Bay naval base in Cuba, established in 2002 for holding individuals suspected of terrorism, to high-security facilities like Red Onion in Wise County, Virginia, these sites document the evolution of penal systems across continents. Among the institutions transformed into memorial sites, Diyarbakır Prison in Turkey stands out for its conversion into a cultural center and museum since 2019. Its 24 dormitories spread over two floors, its cells, and corridors allow visitors to explore this chapter of Turkish penal history. In Argentina, Mendoza Prison, built in the early 20th century, reflects the prison practices of that era and the development of the regional judicial system. Other facilities remain operational and raise questions about prisoners' rights and incarceration conditions. Gldani Prison in Tbilisi caused national protests in 2012 after images exposing systemic abuses were released, leading to major reforms in the Georgian penal system. Ciudad Barrios Prison in El Salvador continues to function as a correctional center in the eastern region of the country. These sites, spread across multiple continents, provide documented insights into penal practices in various political and social contexts. From Rwanda to North Korea, passing through Colombia and the United States, they help understand the evolution of judicial and correctional systems while raising current issues related to detention and rehabilitation.
St Mark's Basilica
98 m
Bridge of Sighs
54 m
St Mark's Campanile
112 m
Horses of Saint Mark
116 m
Biblioteca Nazionale Marciana
104 m
Portrait of the Four Tetrarchs
78 m
St Mark's Clocktower
163 m
Columns of San Marco and San Teodoro
68 m
St Mark's Clock
98 m
Loggetta
103 m
Treasury of San Marco
98 m
Ponte della Paglia
52 m
San Basso
166 m
Chiesa di San Teodoro
139 m
Museo diocesano d'arte sacra Sant'Apollonia
113 m
Porta della Carta
62 m
Palazzo Patriarcale
151 m
Palazzo Trevisan Cappello
167 m
Museo dell'Opera
23 m
Ponte de la Canonica
139 m
Palazzo delle Prigioni
72 m
Sala del Maggior Consiglio - Palazzo Ducale
14 m
Column of San Marco
54 m
Ponte Compagnia della Vela
127 m
Ponte Capello
172 m
Lion of Venice, Piazzetta San Marco
54 m
Ponte dei Consorzi
189 m
Calle dei Albanesi
112 mReviews
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