Guided tour of the Doge's Palace and the politics and government of Venice Italy

Venicescapes' guided tour "A Most Serene Republic" takes place within the Doge's Palace in Venice

Free of the civil strife that plagued other nations, Venice emerged as the most legitimate Renaissance power, guaranteeing peace and glory for its subjects and distinguishing itself as the wisest of governments.

In A Most Serene Republic, you'll explore the glittering courtrooms and council halls of the Doge's Palace, Venice's political heart, to find out how this ingenious government really worked and discover the constitutional mechanisms and legislative procedures behind the “Myth of Venice” as it came to be extolled in Western political thought. You'll also learn to decipher the huge, painted canvases that adorn the palace interiors to see how the city's ruling aristocracy envisioned the State and its role in the lives of its subjects.

Beginning on the loggia, we'll return to the twilight of the Roman Empire and relive the invasion of the barbarian hordes as they sweep into the surrounding mainland and force the terrorized inhabitants to flee into the marshy wasteland along the shores of the fabled Seven Seas. We'll see these humble refugees establish Venice's first, democratic government just as Byzantium conquers the mainland and creates the embryo of its future aristocracy. Age-old rivalries ignite and bitter trading disputes ensue as Venice's tranquility is shattered by violence and bloodshed. We'll witness the investiture of the first doge and then enter the palace itself, climbing the Golden Staircase as we talk about the mythical origins of the Venetians themselves. In the courtroom of the Old Civil Quarantia, we'll see how the doge's power waned as a result of the complex legal issues raised by the city's expanding commerce and then enter into the vast hall of the Great Council where we'll relive its blood-stained birth and see Venice evolve from turbulent Byzantine dukedom into serene, aristocratic republic. Here and in the adjoining electoral hall and New Civil Quarantia courtroom we'll talk about the commissions that came to control the doge, about the elaborate electoral laws that prevented intrigue and fraud, and about the intricate appellate system and court procedures that truly ensured justice for all. We'll also discover the political relevance of Venice's aggressive wheat policy and of its magnificent religious processions. We'll then pass through the halls of the Criminal Quarantia, the Senate, and the College and enter into the palace's dark prisons watching the government grow increasingly complex as more and more controls and magistrates are instituted to defend the State from its worst natural enemy: the ambitious and corruptible individual.

DURATION Venicescapes' guided tour "A Most Serene Republic" takes place within the Doge's Palace in Venice Italy.

Approximately 4 hours

MAJOR SIGHT

Doge's Palace (public halls and prisons)

ENGAGING TOPICS

Democratic beginnings: the Conventus ante ecclesiam in Christian Rome
The Aristotelian ideal: the many,
the few, the one
Of courts and councils: separation and compenetration of powers
Sponsorship: pecuniary and penal co-responsibility in the electoral process
Contumacia: preventing the concentration
of power
Judicial review: civil suits
and the appellate process
Criminal justice: individual punishment
and public reparation
The politics of art: State iconography and the republican ideal
The limits on power: from the Athenian Republic to the United States of America

PRICE AND SPECIAL NOTE

The price indicated is intended to cover the costs of the Society's continued research initiatives and organization and is in compliance with the conditions concerning the activities of non-profit organizations as set forth in the Ministry of Finance Unified Code Article 111, paragraph 3 (Art. 111, T.U., comma 3)

Price: $250.00 (U.S. dollars) for two (2) persons. Each additional adult costs $60.00. Minors under the age of 18 cost $30.00 each.

Entrance fees are not included.

Special note: A Most Serene Republic is a highly specialized and technical itinerary delving into the organization and operation of the Venetian government and judiciary. It is specifically designed for students of political science and jurisprudence and should not be mistaken for a general-interest tour of the Doge's Palace. For general-interest tours, visitors are encouraged to take advantage of the audio tour available at the ticket office.