Initially, I was a little put off at the prospect of spending a couple of hours exploring a stuffy museum on a sunny day. However, it really is worth taking the time to visit as it's one of the most unique buildings of it's type in Europe . . . and beyond.

There are tours but I would recommend arming yourself with a copy of a good guide book and following the route as signposted. The Rough Guide to Venice has an adequate section with enough detail to keep you informed without boring you to tears.

On your tour, the highlights include the Bridge of Sighs, Sala del Maggior Consiglio - the largest room in Europe - and the numerous artworks which embellish the walls.

The entrance fee of approx 10€ may seem on the pricey side but it's worth every penny.

Politics apart, it's the art the really stands out here. Everything is gigantic, from the sculptures that surround the Sala dei Giganti, to the paintings that decorate pretty much every chamber. You can easily see where these politicians put the money of the state.

The Palazzo Ducale was the seat of the Venetian government and the home of its ruling duke, or doge, for 400 years. The palace was built to show off the power and wealth of the Venetian Republic. The facades of the building have been newly restored. In the courtyard, notice the doge's private entrance into the Basilica di San Marco, and the grand staircase that everyone had to climb to see the doge. As one guidebook put it, "this was the beginning of an architectural power trip." The tour is a one-way trip through his quarters, the public rooms on the top floor, the Bridge of Sighs and the prison.

The doge's quarters are on the first floor, near the halls of power. As the elected-for-life ruler of this "republic", he lived here with his family. Beyond his quarters, you see (among other rooms) the Senate room, Armory and the Hall of the Grand Council. The Hall of the Grand Council is where the entire nobility met to elect the Senate and the Doge. The hall is 180 feet long with a capacity of 2,000 people. Behind the throne is Tintoretto's Paradise, which is the world's largest oil painting.

Crossing the Bridge of Sighs, you enter the prisons. The doges could jail, sentence and punish their enemies within the walls of their own home. Yikes.

If you don't have a good guidebook, the L7,000 audioguides (available in English, French, German and Italian) are worth the money. There is a short English description in each room in the palace, but the audioguide has much more detail.