Palazzo Foscarini 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 Zan Degolà, not far from the Fondaco dei Turchi
The palace was probably built in the mid-15th century. The design is
attributed to Filippo Calendario, the architect of the Doge's Palace.
Over the centuries the palace has been renovated many times; in the
years 1847-1848 it was almost completely rebuilt according to the plans
of the architect Giovanni Battista Meduna. These interventions can be
seen in particular on the side of the palace facing the Rio di San Zan
Degolà; the facade there consists of a mixture of Gothic, Neo-Gothic and
Renaissance elements.
Giovanni Battista Donà, member of one of
the most important Venetian families, was the first owner. In 1538 the
Republic of Venice donated the palace to Francesco Maria I della Rovere,
Duke of Urbino. Then it fell to the Giovannelli family to settle debts.
Originally from Bergamasco, the Giovannellis became rich through their
investment in Hungarian mining. In 1668 they bought their title of
nobility to the Serenissima in return for payment of the enormous sum of
100,000 ducats.
The palace has three floors. The two main floors are decorated in the center by quadruple lancet windows flanked by two pairs of single windows of the same style. The quadruple window on the first floor has a balustrade. Meduna redesigned the interiors at the same time as the renovation of the Ca' d'Oro, inspired by the neo-Gothic style. Interiors have coffered ceilings, plasterwork, and marble fireplaces. Paintings such as La Tempesta by Giorgione and Ritratto del'Inglese by Titian also adorned the palace.