Until January 6, 2026, the Doge’s Apartment at the Palazzo Ducale hosts the exhibition “Democracy through Law. From the Serenissima Republic to the Venice Commission of the Council of Europe”. The event celebrates the 35th anniversary of the Venice Commission, a consultative body of the Council of Europe on constitutional matters. Composed of judges, jurists, and constitutional experts from 61 member and observer states, the Commission provides opinions that safeguard democracy, the rule of law, and human rights across Europe.
Organized in collaboration with the Council of Europe’s Italian Office, the Venice Commission, the Superintendency of Archives and Bibliography of Veneto and Trentino-Alto Adige, the State Archives of Venice, the Fondazione Musei Civici di Venezia, and the Regional Council of Veneto, the exhibition presents a fascinating journey through legal history — linking the governance of the Serenissima with today’s democratic principles.
The exhibition opens with the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR), adopted in 1950 and celebrating its 75th anniversary in 2025, a cornerstone of European human rights protection. Visitors then explore an engaging comparison between the democratic systems of today and the intricate electoral process of the Doge of Venice, illustrated with original artifacts such as ballot boxes and the Doge’s Horn.
The final section delves into the rule of law in the Venetian Republic, from legal codes and territorial governance to iconic cases involving Marco Polo and Giacomo Casanova, culminating with the degree certificate of Elena Lucrezia Corner Piscopia, the world’s first female graduate (1678).
Website: www.visitmuve.it
Location: Palazzo Ducale, Venice
Schedule: until January 6, 2026
