Palaces

Along Canal Grade banks stand over 200 marvellous palaces, most of which were erected between the 12th and 18th Century. Most of them are seat of famous museums and expositions, this is the case of Palazzo Grassi, Ca’ Rezzonico, Fondaco dei Turchi and many others. Visitors have just to walk around the city looking up to admire how wonderful it is even the more simple building. Palazzo Ducale, on Piazza San Marco is the most famous. In the past it was the Doges’ private residence and the symbol of the supremacy of the Republic of Venice. It is characterized by open lower stories and multicolored marble exterior. Not far away from Palazzo Ducale, on Piazza San Marco, there are the Procurarie, that surround the square. They have galleries with shops over the 50 arches of the ground floor. In the past they were the quarters of high-ranking city magistrates.

Not far away from the hart of Venice that faces the Canale Grande there is Ca D’oro, masterpiece of Gothic architecture. Once his façade was covered by gold. Ca’ Foscari is another significant palace that faces the main canal. Recently restored it is considered a stunning success of Gothic style. In the past it was the Venetian residence of important people, it also guest Henri III of France while now it houses the University of Venice. Not far away from there that also faces the Canal Grande there is Palazzo Pesaro, masterpiece of the seventeenth-century architecture that evokes a sense of power.