The Doges' palace

The palace which today seems a single construction even if not homogeneus (the main gateway and the imposing balcony are decentralised), is in reality the result of subsequent additional touches, enlargements and betterments, as on the other hand, the original building structure of the palace carried out by Alberico I Cybo, Pope Innocenzo VIII's nephew, in 1563 that is six years later the foundation of Massa, behind a house the family already owned in that place and which therefore can be considered the original building structure.
In those days there were already a Bagnara street (today Guidoni street) and Oranges' square so called after the demolition in 1807 of the homonymous church and the planting of oranges trees around the square in 1819. In 1597 Bagnara's palace was increased, by raising it as you can see today.
The new palace cost 460 golden "scudi" and included the part going from the left corner to the square room with only 9 windows. The part under the balcony including the hall known from 1900 as the Swiss hall, had not yet been built.
It was Carlo I, Alberico's successor, who had this wing carried out. And so the palace had a long side on Orange square and a short one (the original house even though higher)on Bagnara/Guidoni street .
In 1664 - 65, Alberico II, who succeeded Carlo I, extended Bagnara Street's wing so as to make it as long as the other and also carried out with the help of his brother Alderano, Pope Innocenzo XI's Secretary of State, the wing now facing the Mercury square providing the two final wings with two marble staircases that still exist.
Carlo II's wife, Teresa Pamphili, around the years 1697 - 98 and later in 1703 - 4 decided a initial betterment because she believed the palace was still too low and with few apartments,. It was the duchess herself, who wanted the palace painted red and white, colours symbolising the supreme ecclesiastical dignity of the family and which later became the family's emblem the "Grottesco" or "Neptune cave", as well as the inner loggia with its wide staircase and the characteristic 100 columns.

The fresco in the ducal library

The Alcove