Palazzo Ducale, Piazzetta San Marco, 30124 Venice, Italy

A tourist first-stop in Venice is the architectural extravaganza of The Doge's Palace on St Marks Square. Its glorious Venetian Gothic facades of white Istrian stone and pink Veronese marble was once the palatial residence of the doge (duke), supreme leader of the Venetian republic. It also housed all the offices of government including prisons. Tours of the Doge's Palace include the Appartamento del Doge (Duke's Apartments) followed by various grand rooms. The peak is the huge Sala del Maggiore Consiglio which houses featuring Tintoretto's Paradiso and Veronese's Apotheosis of Venice. Next you cross the Ponte dei Sospiri (Bridge of Sighs) over the canal to the Prigioni Nuove (New Prisons). Such characters are Casanova spent some time here. Exit from the main entrance, the Porta della Carta.