The Porta della Carta leads into the large central courtyard, through the Foscari Arch. Although clearly Gothic, rich ornamentations of columns, niches, and turrets already show Renaissance influences, especially the statues of Adam and Eve sculpted by Antonio Rizzo.
He also designed the Scala dei Giganti, Staircase of the Giants, which adjoins the arch and leads up to the State Apartments on the upper floor. At its top landing, the Doges were crowned - or in the case of Doge Marino Faliero, beheaded. The staircase is named not for its own grand dimensions, but for the two larger-than-life figures of Mars and Neptune by Jacopo Sansovino, created in 1567 and symbolizing Venice's power on land and sea.
To the left of the staircase is the place where the senators used to gather, Cortile dei Senatori, with a Late Renaissance front and beautiful marble ornamentation. From the courtyard, you can see that although it looks like a square building, the palace actually has only three wings, with the fourth side formed by the adjoining Basilica di San Marco (St. Mark's Basilica). The courtyard, largely designed by Antonio Rizzo after a fire in 1483, is a Renaissance masterpiece.

Upon entering through the Porta del Frumento -- the main entrance on the south side of the palace -- we headed to the central courtyard. This photo faces toward the north end of the courtyard; you can see the ornate facade of the Foscari Portico, which was commissioned by Doge Francesco Foscari in the mid-15th century. It combines elements of both Gothic and Renaissance architecture; the facade is decorated with ancient Roman sculptures, and the clock was added by Bartolomeo Manopola in the 17th century. The statue featured in the lower center of the tower depicts the Duke of Urbino. In the background, you can see one of the domes of Basilica di San Marco (St. Mark's Basilica), which used to be the doges' chapel before it became a public place of worship.

To the left, you can see the palace's Piazzetta wing, which was designed in the building's original Venetian Gothic style. To the right is the Renaissance wing, which features a richly decorated marble facade; it was designed by Antonio Rizzo following the fire of 1483. Near the northeast corner of the courtyard, you can see the Giants' Staircase, which is situated opposite the Foscari Arch. The upper level landing features two colossal statues of Mars and Neptune, which were sculpted by Jacopo Sansovino and placed here in 1567. Finally, in the center of the courtyard, there are two elaborately sculpted bronze wellheads dating to the mid-16th century.