Palazzo Giovanelli (also known as Palazzo Foscarini Giovanelli) is a palace in Venice, located in the Santa Croce district, overlooking the right side of the Grand Canal and the Rio di San Giovanni Decollato, before the Fondaco dei Turchi.[1][2]

Palazzo Giovanelli
Palazzo Giovanelli; facade on Grand Canal.
Map
Alternative namesPalazzo Foscarini Giovanelli
General information
TypeResidential
Architectural styleGothic
AddressSanta Croce district
Town or cityVenice
CountryItaly
Coordinates45°26′31.55″N 12°19′39.3″E / 45.4420972°N 12.327583°E / 45.4420972; 12.327583
Construction stopped15th century
Technical details
Floor count3

History

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The palace dates back probably to the mid-15th century.[3] The design is attributed to the architect Filippo Calendario, the designer of Palazzo Ducale. The palazzo has, nevertheless, undergone many renovations over the past centuries; it was almost completely rebuilt in 1847-48 by the architect Giovanni Battista Meduna. These interventions are visible on the side of the building facing the Rio Fosca river; they resulted in the mix of Gothic, late Renaissance, neo-Gothic style openings.[4]

Giovanni Battista Donà, a member of one of the most important Venetian families, was an initial owner. Then the building was donated by the Republic to Francesco Maria della Rovere, Duke of Urbino in 1538, who passed the ownership to the Giovannelli family as a debt payment. The Giovanellis were originally from Bergamasco and became wealthy via investing in mines in Hungary. They bought the noble title in 1668, paying the enormous sum of 100,000 ducats to the Serenissima.

Architecture

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The palazzo has three levels, including the ground floor. The noble floors are decorated with quadriforas flanked by pairs of single-light windows. The lower quadrifora is supported by a balustrade. The interiors were created by Meduna in the same period as the restoration of the Ca' d'Oro took place and were inspired by the neo-Gothic style. The interior rooms have coffered ceilings, stuccos, and marble chimneys. Also a very rich collection of art objects including La tempesta by Giorgione and Ritratto dell'Inglese by Titian was kept in the palace.[5][6]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ Lucas, E. V. (2013). A Wanderer in Venice. Read Books Ltd. ISBN 9781447488743. Retrieved 2 October 2019.
  2. ^ Venezia. Arte E Storia. Ediz. Inglese. Casa Editrice Bonechi. 2007. ISBN 9788847620933. Retrieved 2 October 2019.
  3. ^ Romanelli, Giandomenico (1997). Splendours of Venice. Tauris Parke Books. p. 52. ISBN 9781860642067. Retrieved 2 October 2019.
  4. ^ "Canal Grande di Venezia - Catalogo illustrato - Palazzo Giovanelli". canalgrandevenezia.it. Retrieved 2 October 2019.
  5. ^ Lucas, Edward Verrall (1924). A Wanderer in Venice. Macmillan. p. 227. Retrieved 2 October 2019.
  6. ^ Okey, Thomas (1907). The Story of Venice. J.M. Dent & Co. p. 403. Retrieved 2 October 2019.