The Collegio was the heart of the government of the Republic of Venice.

It consisted of the doge and six councillors, plus the three chiefs of the Council of Ten and the Grand Chancellor.

It was located on the second noble floor of the wing overlooking the Rio di Palazzo, right next to the Senate Hall or dei Pregadi.

The current room is covered with a coffered ceiling designed by Palladio and decorated with Veronese canvases depicting the “Virtues of Venice” namely Fidelity, Prosperity, Mansuetude and Simplicity.

There is also another canvas of Veronese depicting the famous naval battle of Lepanto.

The very luxurious decoration of this room was obviously linked to the fact that the highest Venetian authorities gathered there, but it is also necessary to know that it was here that foreign ambassadors were received, that it was appropriate to impress!