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 utilised 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

• As well as the Palazzo Medici, you cannot access this building by climbing to the top. You can only access this building in one part of the game, which is the Assassination of Carlo Grimaldi, and using Leonardo's Flying Machine.
• Although it is designed to be impenetrable, there are multiple ways to get in. On the mission to assassinate Carlo Grimaldi, you can get in with the Flying Machine invented by Leonardo Da Vinci.
• Aswell, there is a cheat glitch to walk on air, and you can use this to get into the Palazzo anytime during the game after completing that mission.

Sources

• Assassin's Creed II
• Leonardo Da Vinci
• Flying Machine