Venice: The Doge’s Palace (the Giants’ Staircase).

“Since 1567, the Giants’ Staircase has been guarded by Sansovino’s two colossal statues of Mars and Neptune, which represents Venice’s power by land and by sea, and therefore the reason for its name. Members of the Senate gathered before government meetings in the Senator’s Courtyard, to the right of the Giants’ Staircase.”