Doge's Influence On American Architecture

For four centuries the Doge Palace was the most powerful piece of real estate in Europe. The Doge Palace was used as a political and judicial hub where elected leaders passed laws, debated, convicted criminals, and traded with neighboring countries. There were 120 Doges in 1100 years, these men were the shrewdest nobles in the city and, of course, were elected by other nobles. This vast hall would hold meetings of up to 2500 nobles at a time. Unfortunately the Doge Palace has seen some hard times, with a fire that completely destroyed the 9th century Gothic masterpiece of the first Doge Palace. This was also followed by two other fires but they caused considerably less damage. One occurred later in the 10th century and the other in the 11th

Mark’s Square. This palace had predominantly Byzantine-Venetian architectural inspirations. Political changes and expansion in 1297 also led to the major modifications of the Doge Palace that we see in Venice today, except the Piazzeta’s façade that was completed with the construction of the Porta della Carta by Giovanni and Bartolomeo Bon. In 1483 Antonio Rizzo was commissioned to repair the damages caused by a violent fire that broke out on the canal-side of the palace that housed the Doge’s apartments. This was the introduction of the Renaissance architectural influence. The exterior of the Doge Palace is every bit as unique as the slight history lesson I’ve just provided. Its structure is incredibly open because the Doge was so confident in its ability to withstand intruders that they felt

Lovers often share a kiss under this bridge as they sigh with passion, while being led down the canal on a Gondola. It is rumored that if a couple passes under the bridge together their love will last forever. However the Bridge of Sighs has an incredibly different history that proves the love front utterly ironic. The Bridge of Sighs actually gets its name because criminals used the bridge to cross from the Doge Palace where they had just been convicted of a crime, and sighed as they caught their last glimpse of their magnificent city. This masterpiece was designed by Antonio Contino. It is a relatively narrow and on the inside feels even smaller because it is divided in half by a concrete wall separating the incoming criminals and those that were lucky enough to leave, or escape. It is said that only one prisoner has ever escaped this prison, and he goes by the name of Giancomo Casanova (1725-1798). According to Elizabeth Salthouse in L’Italo-Americano, “This famous bridge, arching high above the Rio Palazzo canal, is known as one of the finest examples of baroque bridge architecture in the world. It’s made of gleaming white Istrian stone and spans around 11 meters or 36 feet. But look a bit closer and you’ll begin to notice the fabulous details in its design, including over 20 faces, or mascarons, carved along the bridge’s lower arch.” (Salthouse) These faces are used