Founded in the ninth century; south wing 1341-65,
west wing 1424-38, east wing 1484-98;
redecorated 1574 following a great fire
Venice's situation on a lagoon brought the city many advantages. Primary among them was the protection from conquest either by land or by sea, since navigating the lagoon's shallow waters without prior knowledge of the channels was impossible. Unlike any other medieval city, Venice was safe from intruders and never needed to erect city walls and fortifications. The Doge's Palace is a visible expression of Venice's image of herself--open and unguarded, but a great imperial power. The palace as it stands today dates to the early-fourteenth century, when Venice was at the height of her power, and it is Gothic in style. The upper walls are decorated with red and white brick worked into a damask pattern, while the loggias with their delicate arcades and quatrefoil windows bring to mind the airy quality of Venetian lace. In keeping with its position as the center of a world empire, the interior of the palace was lavishly embellished with paintings and carved and gilded wall decorations.
