The Scala dei Giganti (Giants’ Staircase), located in the courtyard, continues inside the Palace with its ramps, taking the name Scala d’Oro (Golden Staircase) for its ornaments in gilded stucco and marmorino marble.
What is it all about? Why is this staircase so important? Read on to find out more.
Before we start, a brief preamble: if you plan to visit the Golden Staircase, the courtyard, the halls and all the other rooms of the Doge’s Palace, it is strongly recommended to buy your ticket online, due to the long queue that may form at the ticket office. By purchasing your ticket in advance, you will be able to enter the Palace by skipping the queue.
Doge’s Palace Venice tickets: quick access
Buy online. Choose the time you prefer. Visit the Doge’s Palace in Venice, the Golden Staircase and the Giants’ Staircase, the prisons and more. You can cancel for free up to the day before your visit.
Golden Staircase Venice: history and architecture
The Golden Staircase in the Doge’s Palace is one of the points that will leave you open-mouthed and gazing upwards as you follow the elaborate decoration of the stuccoes, gilding and paintings that adorn the ramps leading to the Doge’s Apartment and the Venetian government rooms.
This is the palace’s honour staircase, which was built to separate the courthouse, located to the south, from the doge’s private flat to the north.
The first of its five flights is dedicated to Venus, leading to the doge’s flat, to Neptune, representing the city’s dominion over the sea.
Although the key to the arch of the staircase bears the coat of arms of Doge Andrea Gritti, construction began at the behest of Doge Lorenzo Priuli in 1556 to a design by Jacopo Sansovino and continued until almost the end of the century.
Scarpagnino designed the great arch that serves as a passageway to the staircase.
Alessandro Vittoria was the architect of the stucco decoration on the barrel vault, while the fresco panels are by Giambattista Franco.
Doge’s Palace Venice tickets: quick access
Buy online. Choose the time you prefer. Visit the Doge’s Palace in Venice, the Golden Staircase and the Giants’ Staircase, the prisons and more. You can cancel for free up to the day before your visit.
