Piombi is a former prison in the Doge's Palace in Venice. The name of the prison refers to its position directly under the roof of the palace, which was covered with slabs of lead. In winter, these slabs let the cold pass and they acted as a conductor in the summer heat, imposing harsh conditions for inmates.
The Bridge of Sighs and the Piombi prison on the left.
Interior of Piombi Prison, one of the Old Prisons in Doge's Palace in Venice.
Prisons of Venice called "Piombi"
The Doge's Palace is a palace built in Venetian Gothic style, and one of the main landmarks of the city of Venice in northern Italy. The palace was the residence of the Doge of Venice, the supreme authority of the former Republic of Venice. It was built in 1340 and extended and modified in the following centuries. It became a museum in 1923 and is one of the 11 museums run by the Fondazione Musei Civici di Venezia.
The Doge's Palace facing the lagoon
Drawing of the Doge's Palace, late 14th century
View of Doge's Palace, Campanile and San Marco Square from the Grand Canal. ca. 1870–1890
Facing the Grand Canal on the Piazzetta San Marco, with Doge's Palace on the left. The Marciana Library is on the right.