Palazzo Ducale di Venezia

File:Palazzo Ducale.jpg

The Palazzo Ducale, in Venice.

The Palazzo Ducale, or Doge's Palace, was a large, palace adjoining the Basilica di San Marco, in Venice.

Built to protect the Doge, the ruler, of Venice; the Palazzo Ducale was an imposing structure with high, unscalable walls and a guarded main entrance. The palace not only housed the Doge, but also served as a prison of sorts, as they rarely left the building's walls.

In 1485, a Templar plot to gain the allegiance of the Doge of Venice – Giovanni Mocenigo – had turned to one of assassination, with Carlo Grimaldi chosen to poison him within the Doge's own chambers. The Assassins utilized Leonardo da Vinci's Flying Machine in order to bypass the palace's high walls altogether.

Following the death of Giovanni and his successor, Marco Barbarigo, Agostino Barbarigo became Doge, and continue to utilise the Palazzo Ducale as his personal residence.

Trivia

• Like the Palazzo Medici, the Palazzo Ducale is designed to be impenetrable, the only way to get in is during the mission to assassinate Carlo Grimaldi, where you can get in with the Flying Machine invented by Leonardo Da Vinci.
• Another way to get in is to climb on the Basilica di San Marco next to in and then wall run up one of the domes on the roof and push off to land on top of the fence, it is very tricky however.

Sources

• Assassin's Creed II