Palazzo Ariani, also known as Palazzo Ariani Minotto Cicogna (in Venetian, Palazzo Arian), is a palace in Venice, located in the Dorsoduro district, almost opposite the Angelo Raffaele church and not far from San Sebastiano. The nearby Ponte del Soccorso connects it to Ca' Zenobio degli Armeni.
Built in the 13th century but of ancient foundation (there is news of
a Palazzo Ariani as early as 845), Palazzo Ariani was the residence of
the Arian family, ascribed to the Venetian patriciate, until its
extinction in the 17th century (the last heir was Giacomo Arian) , when
it passed to the Pasqualigo family. After numerous changes of ownership,
the structure ended up in Lucia Cicogna, a nun who converted the
building from a residence to a boarding school.
From 1870 Palazzo
Ariani was owned first by the municipality of Venice, then by the
province; today the "Vendramin Corner" Technical Institute is located
there.
Palazzo Ariani is a three-story building, one of the oldest examples
of Gothic style in the city.
The façade has a remarkable opening on
the main floor, with the presence of an ancient and elegant exaphora
and, to its right, of two Gothic single-lancet windows.
The
presence of a courtyard should also be noted, partly enclosed by the
building and partly enclosed by the wall that closes the left end of the
facade: from the courtyard begins a staircase supported by pointed
arches, which leads to the upper floors.