CA' D'ORO

CA' D'ORO

Ca' D'Oro (correctly Palazzo Santa Sofia) is one of the finest examples of Venetian Gothic architecture (the Bon brothers' Venetian floral Gothic style). It was built in the XV century by the Bon brothers (1428-1430) at the request of the Contarini family who provided Venice with eight dogi between 1043 and 1676. Upon election, each doge would leave his own palazzo and take up residence within Palazzo Ducale. Ca' d'oro itself is situated roughly at the midway point of Canal Grande with the loggia providing an elevated view of the world famous Mercato di Rialto. Its name, Golden House, refers to the gilt covered facade that as with so much of Venice's glorious past has become the decadent old lady we know today. Napoleon's sweep into Italy and a brokered deal with Austria in 1797 led to the fall of the Venetian Republic after more than a thousand years which led to Ca' d'Oro exchanging hands frequently. One 19th century owner, the Russian prince Troubetzkoi, gave the palace as a gift to the famous ballet dancer Marie Taglioni. According to their taste and to the fashion of the century, they removed the stairways, the stunning ornate balconies, the well and most of the columns and floors. It now houses the extensive art collection that in 1916 the last private owner, Baron Giorgio Franchetti (1865-1922), donated to the state and some additional pieces that have been added over the years. In 1894, Franchetti bought the palace for 170.000 lire with the project to bring it back to its XV century appearance. He made a deal with the State that he would donate the palace if they would help him financially to restore it. Here, it is possible to admire works of the Venetian, Tuscan and Flemish school. Among the works, you can admire Venus with a Mirror (1550) and Judith (or the Justice) by Titian (1509), Tintoretto, Carpaccio, Francesco Botticini, Tiepolo, Giorgione, Saint Sebastian by Mantegna (1506), Sleeping Venus with Cupid (1540) by Bordone Paris, Francesco Guardi, Marcello Durazzo portrait by Antonie van Dyck, van Eyck, Adam Elsheimer, Jan Fyt.