Scala dei Giganti

Giants' Staircase
Date
1484-1501
Work Parent
Work Type

Used for formal entrances, the Giants' Staircase is guarded by Sansovino's two colossal statues of Mars and Neptune, which represents Venice's power by land and by sea. Members of the Senate gathered before government meetings in the Senator's Courtyard, to the right of the Giants' Staircase. At the opposite end of the Renaissance façade, the wide Censors' Staircase leads visitors to the loggia floor above.

References

Lorenzetti, Venice and Its Lagoon: Historical-Artistic Guide (Rome: Istituto Poligrafico dello Stato, 1961) as translated and with supplementary content by Taryn Marie Zarrillo, 2012/13

  • Exterior: View of Giants Staircase and Interior Courtyard
  • Exterior: View from the Top of Giants Staircase
  • Exterior: View of Inner Courtyard
  • Exterior: View of Inner Courtyard
  • Northern end of courtyard
  • detail: Mars, courtyard, Scala dei Giganti
  • detail: courtyard, Scala dei Giganti
  • detail: Neptune, courtyard, Scala dei Giganti
  • detail: courtyard, Scala dei Giganti
  • detail: courtyard, Scala dei Giganti
  • detail: courtyard, Scala dei Giganti
  • view from Scala dei Giganti
  • view from South
  • view from South
  • view of Scala dei Giganti from South