What could be better than a leisurely gondola ride along the luxurious Venetian palazzo, as if growing out of the water surface of the Grand Canal? Introducing the 13 most beautiful palaces in Venice.
Ca 'd'Oro palace
Ca 'd'Oro is considered one of the most famous palaces in Venice. It was built in the Gothic style on the banks of the Grand Canal between 1428 and 1430. The original facade of the building was finished with gold leaf - hence its name - "/>
On the ground floor of the palace there is a loggia - an arcade gallery with graceful columns. On the next floors, covered balconies can be seen, decorated with a row of columns supporting miniature four-leafed windows.
The Ca 'd'Oro Palace now houses the Franchetti Gallery, which includes works by Andrea Mantegna and Anthony van Dyck.
Fondaco dei Turchi Palace
Fondaco dei Turchi was built on the banks of the Grand Canal at the beginning of the 13th century. For a long time, eminent guests of Venice stayed in this luxurious palace. In the 17th century, this building was turned into a kind of Turkish ghetto - merchants from the Ottoman Empire lived here and stored their goods.
The palace is made in the Venetian-Byzantine style: a spacious loggia with columns on the first floor and a covered balcony on the second. During the restoration at the end of the 19th century, side towers were added.
Today, the Fondaco dei Turchi Palace houses the Natural History Museum of Venice.
Palazzo Ca 'Foscari
Ca 'Foscari was built by the Doge Francesco Foscari in 1452-1457 as his residence. The palazzo stands on the banks of the Grand Canal and is made in the Gothic style.
The palazzo's exterior features elegant pillared balconies on the 2nd and 3rd floors. Above them is a horizontal frieze decorated with images of a helmet, lions and angels with a shield - symbols of Venice and the Foscari family.
This palazzo now houses the Ca 'Foscari University.
Palace Ka 'Vendramin Kalerjee
Ka 'Vendramin Kalerjee was erected in the Renaissance style between 1481 and 1509. The three-story palace stands on the banks of the Grand Canal. A distinctive feature of this building is a pair of high arched doors, separated by graceful columns. And on the second floor nice balconies have been added to them.
Nowadays, the Ka' Vendramin Kalerji Palace houses the Casino and the Wagner Museum - the great composer often visited Venice and died in this palace in 1883.
Palazzo Bembo
Palazzo Bembo is located on the banks of the Grand Canal near the Rialto Bridge. It stands out for its appearance - its bright red facade is decorated with high arched windows with columns and balconies.
The palazzo was built in the 15th century by the aristocratic Bembo family. It was here that Pietro Bembo, a renowned poet and scientist of the Renaissance, was born.
Palazzo Cavalli-Franchetti
Palazzo Cavalli-Franchetti was built in 1565 on the banks of the Grand Canal, not far from the Accademia Bridge. It is made in the Gothic style and has a rich facade decoration.
The palazzo's exterior features two balconies on the second and third floors. They are decorated with tall arched windows separated by columns. Above them are elaborate miniature four-leafed windows.
Now the Palazzo Cavalli-Franchetti houses the Institute of Sciences, Literature and Art.
Ca 'Pesaro Palace
Ca 'Pesaro is a marble baroque palace overlooking the Grand Canal. The building was built at the turn of the 17th and 18th centuries.
The upper floors of the palace are distinguished by repeating rows of columns, between which are high windows. And the lower floor is decorated with rustic - raw stone.
Now in the Ca 'Pesaro palace there are two museums at once: the International Gallery of Modern Art and the Museum of Oriental Art.
Ca 'Rezzonico Palace
Ca 'Rezzonico rises on the banks of the Grand Canal. This three-story palace with a mezzanine was built over a hundred years: from 1649 to 1756.
The facade of the palace is made in the Baroque style: the upper two floors are distinguished by graceful arched windows, decorated with columns and balconies. And the lower floor is decorated with rustic - raw stone.
The Ca 'Rezzonico Palace is open to tourists - here you can see rich interiors, paintings and paintings of the 18th century.
Palazzo Balbi
Palazzo Balbi stands on the banks of the Grand Canal, not far from the equally beautiful Ca 'Foscari Palace. The palazzo was built at the end of the 16th century. In its appearance, there is a mixture of Renaissance and Baroque styles.
The lower floor of the palazzo is decorated with untreated stone - rustic stone. The upper floors have arched windows with pillars and balconies. The second floor is decorated most vividly, the elaborate coats of arms of the Balbi family were added.
Palazzo Pisani-Moretta
Palazzo Pisani-Moretta was built at the end of the 15th century on the banks of the Grand Canal. It stands out for its striking red Venetian Gothic façade.
A distinctive feature of this palazzo is its narrow arched windows. The upper floors are decorated with a row of such windows with balconies and pillars supporting rows of miniature four-leafed windows.
The Palazzo Pisani-Moretta was the stay of the Russian Emperor Paul I. Now it is a private property and is closed for tourist visits.
Ka 'Loredan Palace
Ka 'Loredan stands on the banks of the Grand Canal, not far from the Rialto Bridge. This palace was built in the XIII century and has retained the features of the Roman-Byzantine architecture.
The façade of this three-story building features tall arched windows, graceful columns and a prominent balcony. The central part of the palace is the most brightly decorated: it is worth noting the ancient bas-reliefs and sculptures above the columns.
Now the city municipality is located in the Ka'Loredan palace.
Ca 'Sagredo Palace
The Ka 'Sagredo Palace stands on the banks of the Grand Canal. This small building was built in the XIV century in the Venetian-Byzantine style, which was popular at that time.
The palace itself consists of two main floors, a basement and a mezzanine. The facade is painted pink and decorated with small arched windows with columns and balconies. It is also worth noting the graceful carvings and miniature four-leafed windows in its central part.
The Ca 'Sagredo Palace acts as a hotel.
Palazzo Barbarigo
Palazzo Barbarigo was built in the 16th century on the banks of the Grand Canal. It is built in the typical Venetian Renaissance style, with arched windows adorned with columns and balconies in the central part of the building.
However, Palazzo Barbarigo differs from other palaces in Venice - its façade is decorated with a mosaic of the famous Murano glass, added in 1886 by its new owners. It is curious that the aristocratic neighbors did not approve of such an update, considering it bad taste.
