Palazzo Venezia (National Museum). The most beautiful palaces in Venice

Piazza Venezia is the starting point of many tourist routes, as it is located in the center of Rome and is considered one of the main squares of the city. Piazza Venice has not lost its importance since the Middle Ages, when it was a crossing point for important trade routes. Now it is crossed by six important streets of Rome. In the 15th century, on the instructions of Cardinal Pietra Barbo, the Palace of Venice was built at the foot of the Capitol, which gave the name to the Piazza.

Piazza Venice: history

Today Piazza Venezia is the center from which Roman streets radiate like rays of the sun. They will lead to the Colosseum, to St. Peter's Square, the famous Roman quarter of Trastevere. From here begins the most important shopping street with various shops and boutiques - Via del Corso.

In the Middle Ages, when Cardinal Barbot became Pope Paul II, by his order the square became the venue for the traditional Roman carnival. The main event of the festivities was the wild horse racing, which was later canceled by Victor Emmanuel II, after the reign of which the square began to change its appearance. Construction of the Vittoriano monument and expansion of the territory began.

In all corners of the piazza you can see many interesting places related to the historical events of the city. Not far from the Church of San Marco, a bust of Madame Lucrezia has stood since the time of papal rule. In the Middle Ages, criticism of the authorities was prohibited, so people expressed their dissatisfaction on paper and glued it to the bust. According to some sources, the bust of Madame Lucretia depicted the goddess Isis. According to another version, this bust was erected in honor of the beloved woman of King Alfonso of Aragon - Lucrezia Borgia. Lucretia patronized artists and musicians.

Legends also hover around the Bonaparte Palace, which stands out in the square with its green balcony. Napoleon's mother, Laetitia Bonoparte, loved this place very much, but she was so chatty and curious that without a twinge of conscience she discussed the outfits of passing ladies. This behavior reflected badly on the emperor’s reputation, and he ordered the balcony to be shuttered.

Palace of Venice

The palazzo, built by order of Cardinal Barbeau, is considered one of the first monuments of the Renaissance. The Roman Forums and the Colosseum in the middle of the 15th century had no historical significance, they were broken down to use the stone for new buildings. The palace of Venice was built with stones from the Colosseum. The windows in the building are located asymmetrically - this was done so that evil spirits could not get inside.
The palazzo had many owners. Initially, it housed the Venetian embassy, ​​which gave the palace its name. After the occupation by Austria, it served as the Austrian embassy for a long time. It was then occupied by the Fascist Party of Italy, led by Benito Mussolini.

Now the building houses the national historical Museum, which presents items dating from the historical period from the Middle Ages to the 19th century. The museum is open six days a week, except Mondays from 8.30 to 19.30. But tourists are always most interested in the Chere Museum, located in the same building. There you can see an exhibition of wax figures famous personalities and Mussolini's office, recreated down to the smallest detail.

Church of San Marco

Practically being part of the Palace of Venice, the Church of San Marco, the oldest basilica in the city, rises on the square. The 4th century building was rebuilt several times. By order of Cardinal Barbeau, it was made part of the Palace of Venice during its construction. In the middle of the 18th century, the basilica again underwent reconstruction, after which all the decoration was made in the Baroque style. But despite all the alterations, the church has preserved a colorful mosaic dating back to the 9th century, depicting Jesus Christ surrounded by saints and part of the floor from the time of Pope Paul II. Under the altar are the relics of one of the Popes - Mark. Entrance to the church is free. But it is recommended to take coins with you to throw them into the bowl for “desecrating the temple.”

Vittoriano

Venice Square in Rome itself, which has a rectangular shape, does not represent anything outstanding. What makes it unusual is the monument to the first king of united Italy, Victor Emmanuel II - Vittoriano, erected on the slope of the Capitoline Hill. The author of the monument was Giuseppe Sacconi, according to whose drawings construction continued for fifty years. He won the competition announced by the government. But in his developments, the architect relied on the clear requirements of the customer: the location was the northern slope of the Capitol, necessarily a statue of a horseman and a rear arbitrary building covering the church of Santa Maria in Araceli. All structures were made of marble quarried in the province of Brescia.
The main part of the ensemble is a statue depicting Victor Emmanuel sitting on a horse. It is cast from bronze and has a height of 12 meters. To this day, the first king is revered by Italians as a liberator and protector.

The “Altar of the Fatherland” is located under the statue of the king. It was built in 1906 by sculptor Angello Zanelli and was conceived as the personification of labor and love for the Fatherland. All images decorating the bas-reliefs are allegorical and symbolize agriculture, industry, and the fire of the fatherland. Since 1921, there has been the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, dedicated to the heroes of the First World War.

Construction of Vittoriano led to demolition large quantity ancient buildings, but during excavations the ruins of a house dating back to the 2nd century AD and a Roman fortress wall were discovered, which are now available for viewing by tourists.

All buildings of the monument combine features of many historical styles.

The entrance to the building is decorated with columns. There are two bronze statues installed in the open area, symbolizing the unity of the Motherland and the freedom of citizens. The two fountains in front of the building are symbols of the seas washing the peninsula: the Tyrrhenian and the Adriatic. Six statues symbolize Italian values, another sixteen represent Italian regions.

For such eclecticism, the presence of bulky parts, and their crowding, the Italians themselves do not like it. They call it “wedding cake”, “dentures”, “typewriter” and this is not a complete list of condescending and contemptuous names for the complex. Tourists do not miss the opportunity to take large-scale photos against such a monumental background and are delighted with what they see. In the evening, Vittoriano is illuminated with soft light, which smooths out its pretentiousness and makes it even more beautiful.

The Vittoriano ensemble includes two museums: the Risorgimento and the banners of the navy.

One of the best viewing platforms in the city is also located here. In December, the largest Christmas tree is installed in Piazza Venezia. In the same place there is a park of horse-drawn carriages, ready to take tourists to any part of Rome.

How to get there

Piazza Venezia is located near Teremini Station, from which three bus routes pass through the piazza: 50, 64, 175. Near the Basilica of San Marco there is a stop for tram number 8. The closest metro stations to the square are: Colosseo, Cavour. They are located a 10-minute walk from Piazza Venezia. The road from the metro goes along the imperial forums, bronze sculptures green with time.

Publication date: 2014-05-19

(Italian: Palazzo Venezia) - historical palace, residence of the Barbeau family, as well as the former representation of the Venetian Republic in papal Rome. Today the palazzo houses the National Museum, the exhibitions of which mainly include rare collections ceramics, sculpture, collection of art objects up to the early Renaissance. It is also the headquarters of the library of the National Institute of Archeology and History.

The Palazzo was built as a residence for Pietro Barbo, the future Pope, known as Paul II. Construction has begun in 1455 around a medieval tower. The choice of location for the residence was not accidental. This is where the Basilica of San Marco was located. As you know, Pietro Barbo was born in 1417 in Venice, whose heavenly patron is Saint Mark (from the time his relics were transported from Alexandria captured by the Muslims). Simultaneously with the construction of the palace, the basilica was also reconstructed (the famous architect Alberti worked on the reconstruction and redevelopment of its facade).

Palazzo Venezia has the elongated shape of two buildings located on either side of the medieval tower of the Ouzha, named after the serpentine staircase leading to the crenellated roof. Construction of the first building was completed in 1464, in the year of the election of Pietro Barbo as Pope. Then he decided to enlarge the palazzo, making it more monumental and majestic. The work continued for 26 years and was completed after the death of the Pope.

In the 16th century, during another renovation under the leadership of Cardinal Lorenzo Cibo, the Cibo apartments were added to the residence, which later served as a residence for the bishops of the Basilica of St. Mark. In the very late XVIII century, the building of the former residence of Pietro Barbo was transferred to the authorities of the Republic of Venice for embassy service. Since then, the palace began to be called Palazzo Venezia. During the period of Venice's transition to Habsburg rule, the Austrian embassy was located here.

In 1916, after the building returned to Italian ownership, it was restored and turned into the National Museum of Art. However, during the dictatorship of Mussolini, Palazzo Venezia became the residence of the Duce until the fall of the fascist regime.

Currently, the National Museum, which also occupies the premises of the adjacent Petit Palazzo Venezia, is connected to the main core of the complex by the ancient passage of the guards or Corridor of the Cardinals, reconstructed in the 17th century. Currently, the National Museum houses its collections in 28 rooms of the Palazzo Venezia.

At the entrance to the museum there is a marble bust of Pope Paul II, the coat of arms of the Barbeau family and 18th-century frescoes depicting Pius IV (in memory of the transfer of the building to the Venetian Republic). At the end of the passage there is a door, opening which you can enter the Basilica of St. Mark. The Library of the Institute of Archeology and Art History is located in the side rooms.

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Rooms of the National Museum in Palazzo Venezia

Veneto Hall(Sala Veneto). Early examples of Byzantine iconography are presented. The hall's gallery also displays several works by Paolo Veneziano, a prominent 14th-century painter. The 15th century is represented, in particular, by a fragment of the fresco "Head of a Woman", attributed to Antonio Pisanello.

Hall "Emilia-Romagna"(Sala Emilia Romagna) exhibits paintings by Lorenzo Sabatini, several historical artifacts from the Ruffo collection, as well as three magnificent wooden statues (Madonna and Child and Two Magi, copies from the Fabriano Palace).

Hall "Lazio, Umbria, Marche"(Sala Lazio, Umbria, Marche). The iconography is presented here. The main exhibits are two carved crosses from the 13th century.

Halls "Tuscany"(Sale Toscana) are dedicated to the Tuscany region and illustrate the development of one of the leading schools Italian painting in the XIV and XV centuries.

Hall “Paintings on Canvas”(Sala Dipinti su tela). Paintings on canvas from the Italian school of the 17th–18th centuries are on display. Most of the works belonged to the Ruffo collection, donated by Fabrizio Ruffo in 1919.

Altoviti Hall(Sala Altoviti) is decorated with frescoes from the Altaviti Palace, by Giorgio Vasari, which were transferred to the Palazzo Venezia in 1929.

In other halls of the National Museum you can see collections of bronze, ceramics, ancient terracotta, ivory, and religious objects. One of the halls houses the armory of the Odescalchi family, as well as the richest collections of applied art, partially transferred from the Kirkeriano Museum.

- group tour (up to 10 people) for a first acquaintance with the city and main attractions - 3 hours, 31 euros

Venice is a surprisingly multifaceted city, rich in its history, which has seen its ups and downs. Among all this, there was a place for the history of the cursed Palazzo Dario. The story is so famous that the artist Claude Monet was interested in it, and venerable writers dedicated their works to it... But I have not heard the answer to this story. Maybe you know her? It’s easy to miss a lot in the information flow. In the meantime, here’s a story about what cast such a dark shadow over one of the most unusual palazzos in Venice.

Almost no building in Venice was mentioned in Donna Leon’s detective stories, including Palazzo Dario:
Brunetti stood in the same place for a minute, then went to one of the windows and lifted the curtain. The Grand Canal stretched below, the sun's reflections played on the water, reflected on the walls of Palazzo Dario located to the left; the golden tiles from which the mosaic was made on the façade of the palace caught the light emanating from the water; breaking up into many sparks, it again rushed down to the canal. Boats sailed by as time passed.
Donna Leon, "Counting in Venetian"

The little red dot on the map is Palazzo Dario:

First, some help from Wiki:

Ca" Dario or Palazzo Dario (Italian: Ca" Dario, Palazzo Dario) is a palace in Venice, in the Dorsoduro district. One side faces the Grand Canal, the other faces Barbaro Square. Opposite the palace is the marina of Santa Maria de Giglio. The palace is a magnificent example of Renaissance architecture. The mosaic facade made of colored marble attracts attention. The palace was built in 1487. Among the owners of the mansion was French poet Henri de Regnier, who lived here at the end of the 19th century. The palace is also famous for the fact that one of the weddings of the famous film director Woody Allen took place here. The palace has a bad reputation as a cursed house. The owners of the mansion were repeatedly subjected to violence, became bankrupt or committed suicide. The last death occurred in 1993, when one of the richest Italian industrialists shot himself here after a corruption scandal broke out. In 2005, German writer Petra Reske published the best-selling book Palazzo Dario.
http://ru.wikipedia.org/wiki/%D0%9A%D0%B0%27_%D0%94%D0%B0%D1%80%D0%B8%D0%BE

Here are quotes from the said book by Petra Reschi (slightly abbreviated and highlighted in blue) and we will continue the story about Palazzo Dario. I will add my notes to the quotes in black.

“More precisely, they call him “Ka Dario,” said Wanda’s traveling companion. – Previously, all the palaces in Venice were called “Ca”, from casa, and only the Doge’s Palace was called a palazzo, Palazzo Ducale. But today things are looked at more broadly. You are surprised, signorina, aren't you? Yes, there is a lot that foreigners don’t know. Just imagine, one American woman recently asked me why the city is so flooded with water. I answered her: “Signora, this is how we wash the streets.”

The map shows the small Palazzo Dario in the center and other palazzos nearby:

Reschi's book details the curse of the palazzo and how it affected its inhabitants. Here are just a few brief mentions:

“I mean the curse,” he replied, somewhat annoyed that she had interrupted him. “The palazzo where your uncle lives brings bad luck.” Many Venetians say that Palazzo Dario especially does not like businessmen, but, on the contrary, saves artists. We Venetians always try to find a pattern in everything. But she's not here. Massimo Miniato, for example, was a businessman and survived in this palace. And the antiques dealer Fabio delle Fenestrelle, on the contrary, in my opinion, was more of an artist. The only pattern that I see here is that misfortune, like powdery mildew, falls on each of its inhabitants. Very few survived and left the palace themselves.

– The first tenant of Ka Dario, as far as I remember, was the American Robert Boulder. After him there was Fabio delle Fenestrelle. He ran an antique store. After him there was a hippie, Mick Swinton, he was the manager of the rock band What. Then Massimo Miniato Sassoferato, financier, as he called himself, whatever that means. And then Aldo Vergato. The richest man in Italy. You've heard about him, of course. Even Ka Dario didn't bring him happiness, that's for sure. Oh yeah, I probably forgot to mention that none of them survived in Palazzo Dario. That is, there was one who survived, but he was also unlucky. And these are only those who have lived there in the last fifty years. If you think about the fact that the palazzo is over five hundred years old, who knows what scenes were played out there that we know nothing about.

“In Ka Dario,” the gentleman answered, “they always celebrated something, at all times.” I think there is hardly another palazzo in which so much fun was had. During the times of Mick Swinton and Miniato, the parties boomed one after another. “Kilograms of cocaine. These were not holidays, these were orgies." “Bras and panties were flying out of the windows,” said taxi drivers who were forced to stand below the pier all night long.

– During Vergato’s time, Ca Dario was calm. And after his death, the house was empty for quite a long time; no one dared to buy it, although the price was quite reasonable. In my opinion, at first this American director became interested in him. He just had a burning desire, ten billion more for a Renaissance palazzo on the world famous Grand Canal - it’s just a gift. He always comes to Venice with his wife on New Year's Eve and stays at the Hotel Gritti just opposite Ca Dario. Perhaps one day at breakfast he looked at the house and calculated how many nights he would have to spend in Venice to justify those ten billion. And with prices like those at the Gritti Hotel, these nights wouldn't be that many. There, renting one suite costs a million, that is, the cost of almost ten thousand nights in Ca Dario. And if he were destined to spend them there, they would fly by in thirty years, which for a city like Venice is tantamount to the flap of a wing. However, he refused the deal. They say he learned about the curse of the palazzo.

All his life, Boulder dreamed of living on the world famous Grand Canal in Venice. He knew that many people lived in the fashionable palazzos of the world famous Grand Canal famous singers, composers, artists, writers and poets: Hemingway and Rainer Maria Rilke, Hugo von Hoffmannstel and Marcel Proust and even the Queen Mother herself. He bought Palazzo Dario from a mysterious guy whom he had seen only twice in his life at the Florian cafe. This guy's eyes burned like coals. He offered his empty palace at a ridiculous price. Boulder, who never turned down a good deal, agreed without hesitation. Did he then assume that by concluding this deal, he thereby handed over his soul to a dark force?

People like Robert Boulder are unlikely to be sensitive to such sensations at all. And even more so, Americans, unlike Europeans, are completely insensitive to spiritualistic phenomena. If a mysterious man with sparkling eyes had told Boulder that there was a curse on Palazzo Dario that had cost the lives of all its previous owners, he would have laughed in response. Perhaps he might have been impressed by the accident that befell Mario del Monaco, the famous tenor, after he had negotiated a price with a mysterious man and signed a contract to purchase the ill-fated palace. On the way back to Treviso, the singer's elegant limousine overturned and, still recovering from his terrible injuries, he canceled the purchase of Ca Dario.

Boulder, however, took ownership of Palazzo Dario with complete confidence. Having wildly celebrated the signing of the purchase agreement at the Florian cafe, he boarded a gondola on the St. Mark's embankment. The moon, making its nightly round, entailed a trail of light along the water of the world famous Grand Canal. A trail of ghostly radiance lay like a shroud on Palazzo Dario, but Boulder did not feel that the cold fingers of the curse were already touching him.
– Stunning Venetian light! - he sighed while the gondolier paddled steadily through the black water of the world famous Grand Canal.

The boy's heart began to beat wildly because Boulder immediately invited him to lunch at Palazzo Dario.
A little later they entered the palace through the wrought iron gates. Boulder leaned his shoulder against the heavy oak door, and Girolamo found himself in a room with a cool white marble floor, bathed in the soft, warm amber light of tall candles. There were ancient musical instruments: harps, cymbals, lyres and spinets.
– Do you study music? - Girolamo whispered.
“No,” Boulder answered and smiled with some contempt. “It was Juan who wanted to furnish the salon with musical instruments.”

He then took him around the palace and even showed him the “luxurious” bathroom, noting the delight with which Girolamo looked at the bidet made from a single piece of marble. In the salon, the boy especially liked the tiger skins with tan marks, and in the hallway he was scared to death by the small marble children's sarcophagi.
“Oh, these are just hat stands,” Boulder smiled, noticing that the boy was scared.

On the topic of interiors and exteriors of the palazzo:

Among its rivals challenging each other on the world-famous Grand Canal, Palazzo Dario looked exhausted. Yellow-gray fragility incarnate. A house of cards that only holds up because its base is wider than the upper floors. it seemed that it was enough to just touch a small piece of its marble and the entire palace would silently collapse and collapse into the world famous Grand Canal. On the base of the palace was engraved GENIO URBIS JOANNES DARIO - “Giovanni Dario to the genius of the city.” Above, three narrow windows with pointed arches, chained with triple bars, rushed upward, as if they were intended to protect the harem. The marble façade was decorated with medallions made of green granite and red porphyry - the painted, made-up face of the palace was reflected in the water.

But even this beautiful mask could not hide the conspicuous thinness, although it set off all three floors - two piano nobile, aristocratic floors, conceived for viewing, and not as housing, and a modest, restrained upper floor. The palazzo stretched coyly and swaggered in its entire appearance, but individually each floor was nothing more than an impressive salon. On the ground floor was the Mohamed Salon, named after Sultan Mohamed II, to whom the architect Giovanni Dario owed his fame and fortune.

On the second floor there was a pink salon. Next to it was a library, a luxurious bathroom, a bedroom, small guest rooms and closets with storage.

Within the walls of the palace pier it was cold, damp and dark. entire generations of Venetian architecture students devoted their theses these marble arches, vaults and columns of the piers and quays of the late Middle Ages and the Renaissance.

The marble vaults were washed away by the tides, and they were completely covered with pockmarks and chips due to endless flooding. On the pier of Sopraport, two marble figurines of boys, whose foreskin had been chewed off by water, held in their hands the turquoise and white striped coat of arms of the Dario family. Everything that was once beautiful about them crumbled and disappeared: limbs, curls, noses - now the salt was biting into their faces. One of them had such a cavity in the lower part of his face, as if he had leprosy.

Take the stairs to the second floor. The corridor was decorated with gilded plaster rosettes - examples of eerie rococo. But what can you do? For five centuries, the palazzo digested all its inhabitants, calmly and silently.

Some of them believed that they could express themselves by building a marble fountain, while others tried to embody their creative impulses by equipping the palace with a dumbwaiter to deliver food to the upper floors.

But what all its residents valued as the individuality of the house - the white and golden tiled stoves of the Rococo era and the ceilings decorated with plaster rosettes, was nothing more than worthless tinsel decoration, which, however, could not spoil the true originality and individuality of the Palazzo Dario.

Of the three floors of the palazzo, Radomir occupied mainly only the third. On the second floor, that is, the first of the piano nobile, one could only live in the summer. The Sovraintendenza, the Office for the Protection of Monuments, has prohibited the heating of this salon in order to preserve the unique examples of stucco in it. Therefore, the furniture on the second floor dozed under white sheets during the winter months. Radomir opened this piano nobile only in exceptional cases, for example, when he received photographers from publishing houses producing albums of Venice, naturally, for a certain monetary compensation.

He didn’t care in which album the photographs of his palace would appear: “Life in Venice”, “Venetian Palazzos”, “Palazzo of the world famous Grand Canal” - Radomir and his Palazzo Dario should have appeared in any of them: Palazzo Dario - view from water; Palazzo Dario - view from the garden; detail of the marble fountain at the entrance; second floor fountain; luxurious third floor bathroom.

Second floor. Window glass, cast with a generous dose of lead, painted the interior a bright pink color.

The pink salon was crammed with furniture, of which until now only the Empire style couch could be used. Everything else: chairs with graceful legs, chests, cabinets, chests of drawers, magnificent inlaid tables and secretaries made of root wood - seemed to demonstrate indignation at the very idea of ​​​​using them for their intended purpose.

“You know, in a certain sense, I have a special relationship with Palazzo Dario, because thanks to me, it preserved the original furniture,” he said proudly. “Who knows what would have happened if someone else had bought it.” The best items from it would then be in Milanese salons or in America. And Venetian antiques would not tolerate this. He needs the Venetian climate. High humidity. If you put it in an American apartment, where the air conditioner works in the summer and everything dries out in the winter due to heating, it will very soon come to an end.

From the history of the owners of the palazzo:

– Palazzo Dario holds many secrets for me as an art historian. A lot of circumstances hide the truth about him. For a long time there was not a single worthy historical evidence, except for the inscription “Genio Urbis Joannes Darius” on the facade, but such a meager message did not limit human imagination, rather the opposite. And perhaps this is precisely what should be considered as the source of endless stories about the palace.

– Palazzo Dario is the only one in Venice named after its creator. The inscription on the facade is a sign of Giovanni Dario's respect for his homeland. Giovanni Dario was one of the few owners of palaces on the world famous Grand Canal who were not aristocrats. Most likely, the aristocrats of the world famous Grand Canal considered him an upstart, and all his life he fought for public recognition.

“Once I looked at the magnificent decoration of this facade, and it seemed to me that I saw in it the elegant nuances of the early Lombard style.
...a balcony with an iron balustrade, installed in the 18th century, emphasizes the splendor of the facade decoration, the same can be said about the grille for the lower windows near the water.

One of the rooms was almost entirely covered in copper. Above the windows of the second floor hall there is a Gothic amazingly inlaid cornice. Palazzo Dario, undoubtedly, became a worthy possession and home of its creator - Giovanni Dario, whose name we read on the facade.

– The Dario family belongs to the most famous and ancient in Venice. It comes from Crete. Giovanni Dario was supposedly born in 1414. By origin he was a tradesman, not a patrician, and a member of, on the one hand, the honorary, and on the other hand, the minor group of Senate secretaries. He performed various duties in the Council of Ten, led quite significant departments in the Senate and carried out various assignments...
– Many historians have appreciated the merits of Giovanni Dario. Tentori, for example, admires him, almost idolizes him, as a person with a wealth of experience and talent as a politician. Lecomte of the Faculty of History at the University of Montelier writes that Dario was already appointed ambassador of the Republic in 1450. However, this statement is not scientific nature, it is unproven.

...To Paolo Morosini, our honored historian from Padua, we owe the fact that it was Giovanni Dario who managed to make peace with the Sultan of Turkey, the terrible Mohamed II, conqueror of Constantinople...
– Dario was authorized in 1478 by Doge Giovanni Mocenigo with unlimited rights to decide and conclude peace with Mohamed II.
– Giovanni Dario was held in high esteem in Constantinople, as evidenced by two extremely interesting letters in which he describes the luxurious reception he received in that city...
...for establishing peace with Mohamed II, the Republic granted him possession of Noventa in Padua and, in addition, a thousand ducats from the salt magistracy as his dowry illegitimate daughter Marietta. And Mohamed gave him three gold-woven outfits...

...and Dario's family settled in the palace: Dario with his mistress Chiara, his daughter Marietta and his two nephews Andrea and Francesco Pantaleo.
- How? Giovanni Dario was not married?
- Apparently not. But there are no direct indications of this. Giovanni Dario was seventy-five years old when he settled in his palace, and his life was already clouded with thoughts of illness and death. Then he made a will. And in the same year, his daughter Marietta married the patrician Vincenzo Barbaro.

These Barbaros were a very influential and aristocratic family. They lived in a nearby palazzo. On May 1, 1494, at the age of eighty, Giovanni Dario died. After his death, the palace came into the possession of the Barbaro family. Until the beginning of the 19th century it remained their property. With the death of Dario, some kind of fate came upon his heirs and descendants...
– Marietta was unlucky with her husband; Vincenzo Barbaro’s temper and anger were known to everyone. Soon he was expelled from the Grand Council for ten years for insulting one lawyer.

“Marietta suffered because of her husband’s shameful position. And after the death of her father, she also died soon. Young and unhappy. She was not even twenty. In the prime of youth! In the bedroom of the Palazzo Dario from a heart attack. And a few years after her death, Dario’s nephews were brutally and mysteriously killed by robbers. Neither he nor his daughter found peace even after death. The church of Santa Maria delle Grazia, where they were buried, was blown up in 1849. The fact is that since 1810 it housed a gunpowder warehouse, which was blown up when the Austrians entered here.

– We are grateful for these numerous valuable references and facts to the work of Raudon Labocca Brown, author of the famous study of the life of Maria Sanuto. Raudon Brown was the owner of the Dario Palace from 1838 to 1842. He bought it for four hundred and eighty pounds sterling from the Marquis of Ebdoll, an Armenian diamond merchant who represented Saxony in Venice until he unexpectedly went bankrupt.

…V last years last century, the palazzo housed a boarding house. The central chapter of his story. At that time it belonged to the Countess de la Baume Plouvignelle. She was friends with many thinkers, the French poet Henri de Regnier was her frequent guest in the early years of the 20th century, the inscription on the garden wall still reminds of him...

“It was Countess de la Baume Pluvignel who initiated the decisive restoration work, when, for example, the fountain on the third floor was rebuilt.

She, however, went a little overboard with the decorations, in a word, she overloaded the palace. By her order, large mirrors were hung, they still hang today, and majolica stoves were installed. As D'Annunzio rightly noted then, Palazzo Dario turned into “a decrepit courtesan, bent under the weight of her jewelry.” The poet lived at that time opposite, in the casetta rossa (pink house).

They tried to make a connection between the ebb and flow of the tides - as one of the mysteries of the palazzo:

– What does the curse of Palazzo Dario have to do with the flood? – Wanda did not let up. - All of Venice suffers from him.
- But not during low tide?! Palazzo Dario is the only palace in which the water remains standing even during low tide in the world famous Grand Canal. And it started almost immediately after our arrival: water suddenly rose through the sewer hole - black, smelly, and flooded the entire first floor. We thought it was a real flood and didn't understand why the siren didn't sound. And then we looked out of the window and it turned out that the water in the world famous Grand Canal had gone out with the tide. It had gone so far that even the boat would not have approached the pier.

– Maybe there’s something wrong with the drain? This happens often,” said Wanda.
Mikel even raised his voice.
– Yes, we had the head of the city hall’s department for floods, magistratto delle acque. And I couldn’t say anything! - he shouted.

The bells on the Campanile struck midnight and the moon bathed the city in silver light. Anya took a deep breath. The first line of vaporetto went towards the imposing church of Santa Maria della Salute. As they approached Palazzo Dario, soft light fell on its pale Istrian marble, illuminating it in a festive way.

Wanda's tension eased a little. She began to get her bearings again as they sailed through the Rio San Maurizio towards the world famous Grand Canal. So Primo really was taking her to Palazzo Dario. Palazzo Morosini dai Leoni, where the Guggenheim Museum was located, lay like an unfinished cake on the embankment. Near Rio de le Toresele between Palazzo Dario and the American Consulate. Primo brought the gondola to the portico of Palazzo Dario.
...And Palazzo Dario with its porta nera (black gate)!

Reska's book tells with great humor how various magic charlatans were invited to the palazzo to cleanse it of the curse. And here quite a cool theory of the origin of the curse due to the poor location of the palazzo:

– Basically everything is clear. So to speak, mathematically,” Wanda said. “Of course, neither you nor your predecessors even bothered to look at the map of the city and how Palazzo Dario is located. But once you take a look, everything will become clear to anyone who has even the slightest bit of imagination.
She went to the library and, taking out a map of Venice, laid it out on the table in front of Radomir.
“I’ll show you what the magician Alexander explained to me.” Do you see that the world famous Grand Canal is shaped like a snake or even a dragon? It divides the city into two parts. Here, above, at Margera's, is the head of a dragon. – Wanda led index finger along the world famous Grand Canal. – Here, below, we find ourselves in an area that brings misfortune, because this is the tail of the dragon, the most unlucky place, although contradictory at the same time.
– Why contradictory? – asked Radomir.
“Have patience,” said Wanda, “just listen for once.” The place where Ka Dario stands is very negative. On the one hand, the palace is located on the left bank…
...And left means negative,” Radomir finished for her.

- ABOUT! Bravo! – Wanda responded. – Look, we are making progress in the world of the unknown! On the other hand, at the end of the world famous Grand Canal is the island of San Giorgio, named after St. George, who defeated the dragon. It neutralizes negative energy.
“Sounds logical,” Radomir agreed.
“Across from us is the symbol of Venice – St. Mark’s Cathedral,” Wanda continued confidently. – And both saints, St. Mark and St. George, must drive out evil spirits and destroy dark force dragon.
“But if you look closely at the palazzo, its asymmetry becomes clearly visible. Besides, there are seventeen windows in the palace, which is very bad. And the inscription: “Genio Urbis Joannes Darius.” Dedication to the city. Like a dedication to the dragon, Alexander said. The same. He also tried to find out what the twenty-three letter anagram meant. It means: Sub ruina insidosa genero (under the rubble, treason is born). This means that everyone who moves into this palace will be destroyed,” Wanda finished.

The book is an interesting read, but - Petra Reski did not give her version of the origin of the curse and left the ending open - it can be interpreted in different ways. For those who like to read books with humor, but without a logical ending, this is suitable.

I'll just add a few interesting facts to the history of Palazzo Dario.

They wanted to rebuild the palazzo. On the left is a drawing of the existing facade, on the right is a drawing of the proposed reconstruction, which never took place:

The famous French impressionist artist Claude Monet and his wife visited Venice:

The history of Palazzo Dario interested Claude Monet and views of the building were immortalized in the artist’s paintings:

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And we saw this palazzo when we went straight from St. Mark’s Square in this direction.

Italian Venice- an ancient and majestic European city, a visit to which will be remembered for a lifetime, because it is a unique city on the water, which has become famous throughout the world for its famous, best Venetian palazzos, great works of art. Venice includes more than a hundred large and small islands, almost two hundred canals - they have an irresistible attraction for the several million tourists who come here every year. Today we will talk about the most beautiful palaces in Venice.

Venice, shrouded in a light haze rising from the water, the bright turquoise waters of local canals, unique palaces and bridges - enigmatic and mysterious, what could be more attractive to travelers? But this city is also loved by romantics and newlyweds, as well as art connoisseurs who dream of getting acquainted with the rich cultural heritage of this Italian city. The most attractive Venetian palaces in the eyes of tourists are located with graceful facades along the Grand Canal, they demonstrate to all those entering the power of Venice and its living history, embodied in these architectural wonders in Gothic, Baroque, classic styles. These famous Venetian palaces are beautiful not only on the outside, they are lush and luxurious inside: many have preserved ancient decoration, furniture and household items from the Middle Ages. Some Venetian palazzos were given over to government institutions of the city, and museums were located somewhere. So, what are the most beautiful palaces?

1. "Doge's Palace" or "Palazzo Ducale"- a beautiful ancient palace built in gothic style, as the main residence for the Doges of Venice. Construction of the palazzo began in 1309 and was completed in 1424. The “Doge's Palace” was used in the Middle Ages as the main political, judicial and maritime control center of Venice. Today, within the walls of this palazzo there is a wonderful museum. The building itself is a bright and memorable element of the Venetian architectural ensemble. The palace is open to tourists from April to October: from half past eight in the morning to half past eight in the evening, and from November to March: until half past five in the evening. Getting to know the palace will cost you twenty euros.

2. “Palace Ca’ d’Oro” or “Palazzo Ca’ D’Oro”- This elegant building was built in the fifteenth century for the Bona family. Palazzo Ca' d'Oro was built in the beautiful Venetian Gothic style. The second common name for this palace is “Golden House”, the fact is that after construction the building was covered with gold leaf. This remarkable structure is located on the Grand Canal, in the Venetian district of Cannaregio. It contains art Gallery Giorgio Franchetti. Gallery opening hours: from eight fifteen in the morning to seven fifteen in the evening, from Tuesday to Sunday, and from eight fifteen in the morning until two in the afternoon, on Monday. The box office closes half an hour before the gallery closes. Official holidays: January 1st, May 1st, December 25th. Ticket price is six euros.

3. “Palazzo Barbarigo” or “Palazzo Barbarigo”- this austere building was erected in the fifteenth century for the ancient and noble Italian family of Barbarigo - a family that gave the city great commanders, smartest politicians and wise religious leaders, and belonged to it until its sale in the nineteenth century. The architectural appearance of the building belongs to the Venetian-Byzantine style, it is distinguished by the severity of its forms, the absence of excessive pretentiousness and pomp. It was only with the change of owners that occurred in the nineteenth century that the façade of the building was decorated with beautiful mosaics made of the famous Murano glass. Today this palazzo is open to tourists, there are showrooms there, as well as trading platforms, where you can see interesting works of art by glassblowers on the island of Murano and buy the ones you like.

4. “Palace Fondaco dei Tedeschi” or “Palazzo Fondaco dei Tedeschi”- the name of the palace is translated as “German Compound”. The building actually arose as a result of close commercial relations between the Venetians and the Germans. It was built in 1228, but the original version of the building burned down in a fire in 1505. Today we see a rebuilt building from the sixteenth century, designed by the architect Hieronymo Tedesco, whose nickname was “The German”, and who supervised the work of Antonio Abbondi Scarpagnino. This beautiful building was built in the Renaissance style: it has a wide courtyard, a beautiful portico located at canal level, framed by an interesting crenellated cornice. Previously, the walls of the palazzo, restored after the fire, were covered with frescoes by Giorgione and Titian; today the surviving remains of this painting are in the Franchetti Gallery, in the Accademia Palace and the “Palace of Rains”. In the nineteenth century, the palace was given over to house customs, and throughout the twentieth century there was a post office here. In our twenty-first century, the building was bought by the fashion brand Benetton; they wanted to place a shopping center there, but their idea failed due to protests from the defenders cultural heritage Venice.

5. “Palazzo Fondaco dei Turchi” or “Palazzo Fondaco dei Turchi”- this is a wonderful monument of Veneto-Byzantine architecture and one of the most ancient buildings in the city of Venice, built in the manner of the first palaces of Constantinople. The name can be translated as “Turkish Compound”, the fact is that for a long time it was rented out to Turkish merchants for warehouses and housing. But the palace was built between the tenth and thirteenth centuries for the local wealthy patrician family of Pisaro. And only in the sixteenth century it was transferred to the use of the merchant community of Turkey. When, at the beginning of the nineteenth century, trade with the Ottomans ceased to be vibrant, the number of oriental merchants in the city declined and rental income fell sharply, and the ancient palace began to collapse. He returned again to the Pisaro family, then passed to the Manin family, and they sold it again, and so it changed owners until 1860, until it was bought by the commune, which carried out its restoration and reconstruction. The palace again acquired Veneto-Byzantine features. Today, in the Palazzo Fondaco Dei Turchi there is a “Museum of Natural History”, where paleontological collections are located, and their most interesting exhibits are: the skeleton of a prehistoric crocodile, numerous dinosaur skeletons, aquariums with very rare inhabitants of the underwater world.

6. “Palazzo Dolfin-Manin” or “Palazzo Dolfin Manin”- this airy building was erected in the mid-sixteenth century for the Venetian diplomat and merchant Dolphin. The project was created by architect Jakop Sansovino. The basis for the new building was two medieval houses. The facade of the three-story snow-white palace was decorated with magnificent arched colonnades. This Venetian palazzo received its name in the period from 1789 to 1797, when the last Doge of Venice, Lodovico Manin, lived in it. Since 1867, this palace was transferred to house the National Bank, where it operates to this day.

7. “Palazzo Grimani” or “Palazzo Grimani di San Luca”- this beautiful building is located at the intersection of the Rio di San Luca canal with the Grand Canal, not far from the Rialto Bridge. The Grimani Palace was built during the Renaissance for the Doge of Venice, Antonio Grimani, but after his death, it was constantly rebuilt by his heirs, Vittore Grimani, the Procurator General of Venice, and Giovanni Grimani, the Cardinal and Patriarch of Aquileia. The palazzo is divided into three parts and has a miniature backyard. Its elegant white facade is decorated with multi-colored marble. Today this Venetian palace houses the city's appeal court.

8. “Palazzo Cavalli-Franchetti” or “Palazzo Cavalli Franchetti”- this architectural monument in the Gothic style is located near the Accademia Bridge, facing the Grand Canal, it has its main entrance from Campo Santo Stefano. This wonderful palace was built in the sixteenth century for the Marcello family. For three centuries, representatives of three related branches lived under the roof of the palazzo: Marcello, Gussoni, Cavalli. In the first half of the nineteenth century, the residence of the Austrian Archduke Friedrich Ferdinand was located here. And in 1878, the palazzo passed to Baron Raimondo Franchetti, and he began a large-scale reconstruction of the building, hiring the architect Camillo Boito. Today, within the walls of this palace is located the “Institute of Science, Literature and Art of Venice” - “Istituto Veneto di Scienze, Lettere ed Arti”. There are pavilions for various cultural events, exhibition halls occupy four hundred fifty square meters, conference rooms - nine hundred square meters, garden - one and a half thousand square meters.

9. “Palazzo Ca’ Foscari” or “Palazzo Foscari”- this majestic building was built in 1452, it is a prominent representative of the houses of the Venetian nobility. Its reddish facade is distinguished by symmetry and delicacy, which attracts the attention of any tourist. At first, the house was owned by the famous Venetian Giustiniani family, and then the mansion passed to the Foscari family, after which it was named. The architecture of the palace is Gothic: arches alternate with columns and windows. For several centuries, trade warehouses were located on the ground floor of the building, and only the upper rooms were residential. The main entrance of the mansion faces the Grand Canal. Royalty often stayed at the Ca' Foscari Palace, for example, the French king Henry III lived here. This palazzo has undergone several major restorations, the largest following a fire in 1979, and the final restoration, aimed at improving safety measures, took place in 2006. Today, there are several departments and institutions of the Ca' Foscari University - "Università Ca" Foscari. And another remarkable feature of Palazzo Ca' Foscari is associated with its location on the bend of the Grand Canal, which provides an excellent overview of the annual "Historical Regatta of Venice ", it is held on the first Sunday of September. For convenience, near the mansion there is a floating platform where jury members sit, monitoring the progress of the regatta, and awards are presented to the winners on it.

10. “Palazzo Dandolo” or “Palazzo Dandolo”- this beautiful mansion was built in 1400 for a Venetian family with a similar surname, but in 1536 they decided to sell this wonderful palace to the Gritti family, and since then the building began an endless change of owners: the Michele family, the Mocenigo family, the Bernando family. And so, the next owners of the palazzo decided to open a casino there. Thus, in the period from 1638 to 1774, the most famous gambling house in Venice was located in Palazzo Dandolo, until, through the efforts of the most influential families of the city, they decided to close it, putting pressure on the owner of the establishment, because noble young people of Venice had wasted more than one million fortune here. Today, this beautiful old palazzo houses the luxurious five-star Hotel Royal Danieli, and is very popular among tourists who want to live on the Grand Canal, near St. Mark's Square and the Ducal Palace. The address of Palazzo Dandolo and, accordingly, “Hotel Danieli”: street - “Riva degli Schiavoni” 4196, Venice, 30122. You can get to the hotel yourself by using water trams - “vaporetto” No. 1 or No. 2, departing from the train station or bus station.

11. "Palazzo Ca' Pesaro" or "Palazzo Ca" Pesaro"- this beautiful palace in the Venetian Baroque style was built in the second half of the seventeenth century for representatives famous family Pesaro. The author of the project is the architect Baldassare Longhena, who began the construction of the palazzo in 1659 from the part of the building facing the land, then he completed the courtyard, decorating it with a magnificent loggia, this was in 1676. Then he began construction of the façade on the side of the Grand Canal, but having reached the second floor of the palazzo, he died in 1682. The work of the great master was continued by his talented student, Antonio Gaspari, who completed the palace in 1710, according to the original drawings. Long time the mansion was supplemented and remodeled inside: it was decorated with wall frescoes by the most famous masters, famous artists painted the ceilings: Francesco Trevisani, Girolamo Brusaferro, Nicolo Bambini, Giovanni Battista Pittoni. Previously, the palazzo had a fresco by Tiepolo: “Zephyr and Flora”, but in 1935 it was moved to the Museum of Venice, located in the “Palazzo Ca” Rezonico.” The Pesaro family owned many great works of world art - brilliant works by Titian, Giorgione, Carpaccio, Tintoretto, other Venetian artists of the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries.But, in 1830, after the death of the last representative of the Pesaro family, most the property of one of the oldest Venetian families was sold. Then the palace became the property of the Gradenigo family, then to the Armenian community, which opened a college within its walls. Then the palazzo was bought by Duchess Felecita Bevilacqua La Massa, and after her death she bequeathed it to the city so that a museum could be opened there. In 1902, a collection was housed here contemporary art, and in the period from 1908 to 1924, exhibitions of works by young artists began to be held in the palace: Gino Rossi, Felice Casorati, Umberto Boccioni, Arturo Martini. The museum's exposition was constantly replenished thanks to such famous patrons as Baron Eduardo Franchetti, Prince Alberto Giovanelli, Baron Ernst Sighera, Filippo Grimani - a representative of the most noble Venetian family and a major political figure. In the twentieth century, paintings by Kandinsky, Miro, Morandi, Wildt, Klimt, Chagall, and other artists and sculptors appeared in the museum. Today, the Palazzo Ca Pesaro also houses the Museum of Modern Art - Galleria Internazionale d'Arte Moderna, as well as the Museum of Oriental Art - Museo d'Arte Orientale, which is no less interesting.

12. “Palace Ca’ Dario” or “Palazzo Ca’ Dario”- oddly enough, this beautiful building is often called the “Cursed Castle of Venice”, the fact is that any of it new owner became unlucky: they went bankrupt, were attacked and violated, became victims of various accidents, committed suicide - that’s why local legends finally secured its fame as a “cursed house.” This palace was built in 1487, in the Renaissance style: the structure is asymmetrical, its facade compares favorably with neighboring houses in that it is lined with beautiful mosaics of green marble and reddish porphyry. The front façade of this palace overlooks the Grand Canal, the building itself belongs to the Dorsoduro quarter, which stands on the Rio delle Torreselle, and with its opposite façade it faces Piazza Campiello Barbaro, facing the marina of Santa Maria de Giglio. At the end of the twentieth century, director Woody Allen chose this beautiful Venetian palace as a wedding venue. Today, Palazzo Ca'Dario is private property, but sometimes, with the consent of the owners, they host cultural events, organized by the Venice Art Museum.

13. “Palazzo Pisani Gritti” or “Palazzo Pisani Gritti”- a beautiful ancient building, dating back to the fourteenth century, which became the residence of the Doge of Venice Andrea Gritti and the family residence of this famous Venetian family. The facade of the palazzo overlooks the Grand Canal, located opposite the Church of the Madonna della Salute. The facade of the building was changed in the sixteenth century. The building has a Gothic architectural style; it is decorated with spectacular pointed arches and four lancet windows located in the center of the building. The third floor of the palazzo was rebuilt in the nineteenth century and acquired a neo-Gothic style; there are three lancet windows that are separated from each other. In ancient years, the facade of the beautiful building, on the side of the Grand Canal, was decorated with frescoes by Giorgione, but they were lost. The luxurious palace was often used as a residence for ambassadors from the Vatican. In the twentieth century, an elite hotel opened here, and at the same time a terrace was built on the ground floor overlooking the canal. In 1994, The Gritti Palace was associated with the prestigious Starwood Hotels & Resorts brand, becoming part of the Luxury Collection. It has undergone a thorough restoration, the interiors have been carefully restored to delight visitors to the city who come to experience the beautiful Venice.

14. “Palazzo Labia” or “Palazzo Labia”- the luxurious building of this palace was erected at the end of the seventeenth century as a residence for the richest Venetian family with Catalan roots. The building has two magnificent facades, which are made in the “Longren” style, one overlooks the Cannaregio Canal, the other overlooks the Grand Canal. Talented Venetian architects Alessandro Tremignona and Andrea Cominelli worked on these amazing architectural masterpieces. The third façade of the building faces San Jeremy Square and was completed in 1730. The inside of the palace is no less magnificent; its ballroom, designed by Giorgio Missveri, is especially gorgeous. The Labia family eventually went bankrupt and was forced to transfer their wonderful palace to Prince Lobkovich, and he, in turn, sold the mansion to the Israeli “Konigsberg Foundation”. Then a sawmill was set up in the interiors of the palazzo, a textile factory and a clothes dryer were opened, until in 1964 it was bought by the RAI television and radio company and the Regional Broadcasting Center was opened here.

15. “Palazzo dei Camerlenghi” or “Palazzo dei Camerlenghi”- this extraordinary palazzo is an ideal example of the early Renaissance, overlooks the Grand Canal, and forms an angle on its two sides, its design was created by great architect Guglielmo dei Grigi - Guglielmo dei Grigi. The Palazzo was built by 1528, it was built specifically to house the administrative institutions of Venice, thus becoming the first purely public building in Europe. The Palazzo dei Kamerlinghi has distinctive features from other Venetian palaces: its front parts face each cardinal direction. At first the palace was the “House of City Treasurers”, then it became a state prison. The walls of the pentagon-shaped building, to indicate the significance of the institutions located here, were long ago decorated with overlays made of precious metals, but over time they were lost. The arches that overlook the Grand Canal contain numerous windows. In past centuries, the interior of the palace was decorated with two hundred paintings by famous Venetian artists, many of them of enormous size, and such a collection was accumulated in government agency, for this reason: traditionally, upon retiring, every judge was obliged to give this palazzo expensive painting. Of course, to this day, the lion's part of the collection was stolen, and even destroyed in 1797, after Napoleon captured Venice, but the remaining paintings can be seen in the Academy Museum.

Today we told you about the most interesting Venetian palaces, which have an ancient and glorious history, inextricably linked with the history of the city, the country and its great people. We hope that we were able to convince you of the need to visit Venice and the importance of getting to know the great masterpieces of Venetian architecture on the water.

Venice and further visiting the Roman Forum, St. Peter's Temple, the ruins of the Colosseum, the ancient Pantheon and other attractions of the Eternal City. Venice Square is considered one of the most famous in the capital. The Romans do not like it very much due to the fact that it is overloaded with a large number of monuments, but the most fascinating excursions around the city originate from here.

Venetian Square - a historical monument of the city

Piazza Venice in Rome, a photo of which can often be seen on excursion brochures, can be considered the heart of the capital. It is located near the Capitoline Hill and the Roman Forum and has existed for many centuries. During this time, it was rebuilt several times, and took on its current appearance in the 20th century. The square received its name thanks to the Palace of Venice, built in the middle of the 15th century by order of Cardinal Pietro Barbo, who was elected Pope Paul II 6 years later.

Tourists are attracted to Piazza Venezia in Rome. The sights have been preserved here since the times. There is an observation deck on the square. It offers a panoramic view of the Eternal City. The buildings house museums with unique exhibits telling about the history of Rome. In addition to sightseeing, you can take a ride in an elegant horse-drawn carriage in the square.

St. Mark's Basilica - ancient landmark of Rome

Piazza Venezia in Rome owes its fame not only to the beautiful panorama of the capital. In 2009, during the construction of the metro in Piazza Venezia, the walls of ancient Athenium were discovered - educational institution in Ancient Rome, built in the 2nd century, which was later destroyed. According to available information, the Apostle Mark spent several nights in this building. It was here that he wrote his famous Gospel.

In 336, a basilica was built on the site of the destroyed building, which was named Saint Mark in honor of the apostle. Since the city lacked building materials, bricks from the ruins of the Colosseum were used to construct the building; later they were replaced with marble. Over the centuries, the building suffered from fires and earthquakes and was rebuilt several times.

The Mark took on its modern appearance in the 15th century during the construction of the Venice Palace. To make it fit into the architectural ensemble of the palace, its façade was rebuilt in the Renaissance style. The ceiling of the three-nave church is decorated with a coffered ceiling with the coat of arms of Paul II. Inside there is a mosaic depicting Jesus. The basilica houses the relics of Pope Mark, and one of the columns is decorated with a bowl for holy water.

Altar of the Fatherland, or Vittoriano

Piazza Venezia in Rome has undergone many reconstructions. The last large-scale reconstruction began at the end of the 19th century and ended at the beginning of the 20th century. The old buildings were demolished, and in their place a monument was erected dedicated to Victor Emmanuel II (Vittoriano), who united the country into one state. Construction of the monument lasted 26 years and was completed in 1911. 16 years later, a man who died in the First World War was added to it. Later, some bronze details were added to the monument, after which its final opening took place in 1935. The composition was called "Altar of the Fatherland".

In the center of the monument there is a 20-meter statue. At the back there is a gallery of columns in the neoclassical style, on top they are covered with a magnificent architrave - a system of beams and crossbars resting on the columns. On the sides of the gallery there are porticoes; on their roof there are sculptures of the goddess Nike on a chariot. Below there are two fountains, symbolizing the seas that wash the shores of Italy. The first fountain is decorated with a statue of a lion - a symbol of the Apostle Mark, on the second there is a statue of a siren - a symbol of the city of Naples. You can climb to the monument along a wide staircase decorated with bas-reliefs.

History of the Venetian Palace

The Venetian palace is built of dark brick in the early Renaissance style. The building has a strict architectural form and is decorated with forked battlements along the roof and windows made of white marble. A special feature of the building is the asymmetrical position of the windows. The different distances are explained by the fact that in the Middle Ages this was how they protected themselves from evil spirits that penetrated through window openings located symmetrically.

During World War II, the palace housed Mussolini's residence. His office was a room called “Map of the World.” The ceiling of the hall is decorated with an artistic painting depicting a world map. There is also a small balcony from which the ruler made his speeches and called on the Italians to support Germany.

Museums in Piazza Venezia

Piazza Venezia in Rome is famous for its historical buildings The city's museums are located. Two of them are located in the premises of the Vittoriano monument.

• Risorgimento Museum. Its exhibitions tell about the people's struggle for Italian independence in early XIX century.
• Museum of the Banners of the Italian Navy.

The Palace of Venice houses the National Museum, which has become famous for its large collection of wax figures - doubles of famous personalities.

The Chere Museum is also located within the walls of the palace. Stored here large collection Renaissance objects made of silver and ceramics, paintings by famous Italian and German masters, tapestries, a large collection of watches and weapons from the Middle Ages.

How to get to the square

Piazza Venezia in Rome is easy to find. It is located at the intersection of the main transport routes of Rome. The streets and avenue, on which the city's famous boutiques are located, radiate from it. The capital has a developed transport service system. There are 12 bus routes running through the area, there is a metro line and tram tracks. Public transport fares are 1.5 euros. Once the ticket is validated, it is valid for 100 minutes. During this time, you can change the type of public transport several times. You can get to the square by taxi. In this case, the fare is fixed and amounts to 40 euros.