Looking at the Doge’s Palace, your eyes cannot fail to linger in front of the ancient and monumental entrance portal: the Porta della Carta (Paper Door).
In this article I will tell you about its function, its history, and its sculptural decorations.
Before we begin, a brief preamble: if you plan to visit the Porta Della Carta, the courtyard, the halls and all the other rooms of the Doge’s Palace, it is strongly recommended that you buy your ticket online, because of the long queue that may form at the ticket office. By purchasing your ticket in advance, you will be able to access the Doge’s Palace by skipping the queue.
Doge’s Palace Venice tickets: quick access
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Table of content
Porta della Carta: history and architecture
The majestic Paper Door provides access to the inner courtyard of the Palace.
This portal dates back to the 15th century, when it was designed by Renaissance architect Bartolomeo Bon, who worked on the Palace with his father.
The practice that took place inside is the source of the door’s name: the palace’s administrative officials checked, approved, and recorded all paper documents, hence the term ‘carta’ (paper).
The Porta della Carta is an excellent architectural example of the Venetian Renaissance. It is built of white Istrian marble and is surrounded by two pilasters adorned with sculptures, bas-reliefs, niches, and pinnacles.
Numerous sculptors of the time worked on the bas-reliefs on the door, which show mythological and allegorical images.
Above the door, there is a sculpture representing Justice and the proper exercise of the laws. Below is a tondo depicting St Mark accompanied by two angels.
The first floor has a large triforium with sculptures of the Marcian lion and the Doge at the base.
The bottle-bottomed glass was made using a special blowing technique that allowed for perfectly circular shapes.
The statues under the window of the Doge Foscari and the lion were destroyed in 1797 when the French occupied Venice in an attempt to remove any memory of the city’s greatness, only to be rebuilt in the 19th century.
Inside the niches of the Porta are four sculptures: Charity, Prudence, Fortitude and Temperance.
The Porta della Carta was the main entrance to the administrative offices of the Doge’s Palace and played an important role in the public and administrative life of Venice.
Today, the door is used as the exit of the palace, the end of the tour.
Frequently asked questions
Where is the Porta della Carta (Paper Door) in the Doge’s Palace in Venice?
The Porta della Carta is located on one of the fronts of the Doge’s Palace in Venice and was the main entrance to the administrative offices of the palace.
Why is the Porta della Carta called this?
The name Porta della Carta derives from the practice that took place inside it. Indeed, inside it the palace’s administrative officials checked, approved and recorded all paper documents, hence the term ‘carta’ (paper).
Doge’s Palace Venice tickets: quick access
Buy online. Choose the time of your choice. Visit Venice’s Doge’s Palace, Bridge of Sighs, prisons and more.
You can cancel for free up to the day before your visit.
Photo credits:
- Porta della Carta: Photo by Brian Sibley via Flickr
- San Marco accompagnato da due angeli: Photo by Craig Moe via Flickr
- Leone di San Marco: Photo by Robert Wash via Flickr
