The Ca’ da Mosto is one of the most historically and architecturally significant palaces in Venice, Italy, renowned as the oldest surviving structure along the Grand Canal. Located in the Cannaregio sestiere, between the Rio dei Santi Apostoli and the Palazzo Bollani Erizzo, this 13th-century Venetian-Byzantine palace embodies the city’s early mercantile heritage. Originally a casa-fondaco—a combined residence and warehouse for merchants—it was the home of the influential da Mosto family, including the explorer Alvise Cadamosto. After centuries of varied use, including as the prestigious Albergo Leon Bianco hotel, it fell into disrepair but was restored and reopened in February 2022 as the luxurious Venice Venice Hotel.
The Ca’ da Mosto’s history is deeply intertwined with Venice’s rise
as a maritime and commercial powerhouse. Built in the early 13th century
(some sources suggest as early as the 11th century), it predates most
other Grand Canal palaces, making it a rare survivor of Venice’s
medieval past. Initially owned by the Barozzi family, a prominent
Venetian patrician clan, the palace was purchased in 1266 by Marco da
Mosto, from whom it takes its name. The da Mosto family, who joined the
Venetian patriciate in 1245, were wealthy merchants and navigators,
possibly originating from Padua or Oderzo.
The palace is most
famously associated with Alvise Cadamosto (1432–1488), born and died
within its walls. A celebrated explorer, Cadamosto worked for Portugal’s
Prince Henry the Navigator, becoming the first European to sight the
Cape Verde Islands and documenting his African voyages in the
influential Navigazioni. The da Mosto family retained ownership until
1603, when Chiara da Mosto, a wealthy widow with no heirs, bequeathed
the estate to Leonardo Donà dalle Rose, a nephew and future Doge, after
a family dispute.
From the 16th to 18th centuries, the palace
housed the Albergo Leon Bianco (White Lion Hotel), one of Europe’s
earliest hotels and a key stop on the Grand Tour. Notable guests
included Holy Roman Emperor Joseph II (in 1769 and 1775), Russian
princes, and cultural figures like Voltaire, Mozart, and Shelley. By the
19th century, the hotel closed, and the palace fell into decline,
remaining vacant for decades with its basement flooded by Grand Canal
waters.
In 2019, entrepreneurs Alessandro Gallo and Francesca
Rinaldo, founders of the fashion brand Golden Goose, initiated a €3
million restoration, followed by an €8.7 million investment to transform
the palace into the Venice Venice Hotel, a five-star art hotel blending
historical preservation with contemporary design. Despite delays due to
the COVID-19 pandemic, the hotel opened in February 2022, with a second
wing added in late 2023, including Venice’s largest hotel suites and a
private indoor pool.
The Ca’ da Mosto is a quintessential example of Venetian-Byzantine architecture, a style that flourished in Venice during the 12th and 13th centuries, reflecting the city’s trade links with the Eastern Mediterranean. Its design as a casa-fondaco—a merchant’s home with commercial spaces—distinguishes it from later, more decorative Venetian palaces.
The palace’s façade, facing the Grand Canal, is a striking blend of
functionality and elegance, characterized by:
High, narrow arches
with subtle pointed tops, a transitional feature between Byzantine and
emerging Venetian Gothic styles.
A heptafora (seven-arched mullioned
window) on the first floor, though the leftmost arch is now bricked up,
creating a hexafora. This loggia, originally open, facilitated trade
activities.
Distinctive capitals and floral reliefs in the marble
incrustation, with paterae (circular decorative motifs) crowning the
lateral windows, showcasing Byzantine influences.
An asymmetrical
arcade on the ground floor, with three irregular arches forming a curia
(portico) for unloading goods directly from boats. The portego (porch)
connects the water entrance to the land portal, a practical feature for
commerce.
Decorative panels above the arches, remnants of the
original Veneto-Byzantine design, adding to the façade’s historical
charm.
The façade originally spanned two floors and was flanked by
towers, which were demolished when the building was expanded. A second
floor with a central serliana (a tripartite window with a central arch)
was added in the 16th century, and a third floor was constructed in the
19th century, altering the palace’s proportions but preserving its
medieval core. The lack of later decorative elements like stucco or
pastel frescoes reflects its early construction, predating such trends.
The palace’s foundation, like all Venetian buildings, rests on
wooden piles anchored in the caranto (a calcium-rich clay layer) beneath
the lagoon’s muddy sand. The use of Istrian stone for the base and
lightweight brick walls ensures stability while minimizing subsidence, a
testament to Venetian engineering.
The interior of Ca’ da Mosto has been significantly transformed by
its conversion into the Venice Venice Hotel, but historical elements
remain:
Exposed wooden beams and original terracotta tiles in
many rooms, preserved during the restoration to maintain authenticity.
A grand staircase, restored to its original splendor, inspired by the
work of Carlo Scarpa, whose influence is evident in the water entrance’s
minimalist design.
Piano nobile (noble floor) with expansive windows
that reflect the Grand Canal’s light, creating a dialogue between the
interior and the water.
Low ceilings in some areas, a reminder of the
palace’s medieval origins, contrasting with the spacious suites added in
the 2023 expansion.
The restoration, led by Alessandro and Francesca
Gallo, sealed the flooded lower levels (now a meter below water due to
subsidence) and reinforced the Byzantine façade, which was at risk of
collapsing. Modern additions, like brass windows and contemporary art
installations, complement the historical structure without overshadowing
it.
While the Ca’ da Mosto is primarily valued for its architecture, its
transformation into the Venice Venice Hotel has introduced a rich
artistic dimension, aligning with the Gallos’ vision of a
“Post-Venetian” cultural hub.
Historical Artifacts
The
façade’s marble bas-reliefs and floral motifs are original 13th-century
artworks, among the oldest decorative elements on the Grand Canal.
Traces of the former grilles in the first-floor windows, visible as
filled holes, add to the palace’s archaeological intrigue.
Contemporary Art and Design
The Venice Venice Hotel integrates modern
art and design to revive the palace’s commercial spirit:
Venice
M’Art, a concept store and gallery on the ground floor, features works
by artists like Gilberto Zorio, Christo, Arnulf Rainer, and Fluxus
members, echoing the palace’s history as a trade hub.
A marble
sculpture by Fabio Viale at the water entrance pays homage to Carlo
Scarpa’s architectural legacy.
Room-specific installations, such as
Bruce Nauman’s art in the Post-Venetian de Luxe suite, curated by
Galleria Tonini and l’Arengario, blend avant-garde aesthetics with the
palace’s medieval framework.
The Felix Anima spa includes an
installation by Victoria Zidaru, with fabric tubes filled with herbs
diffusing fragrant aromas, enhancing the sensory experience.
Cultural Amenities
The hotel’s restaurant and cocktail bar, open to
non-residents, offers canal-side dining with a casual lunch menu and
elegant dinners, reviving the palace’s hospitality tradition.
The
Venice Bitter Club, a small nightclub, hosts exclusive events, while the
Altana Roof Top terrace provides panoramic views for private functions.
The 2023 expansion introduced two 200-square-meter waterside suites, one
with a private indoor pool dedicated to David Hockney, redefining luxury
in Venice.
The Ca’ da Mosto is a living monument to Venice’s mercantile and
exploratory past. As a casa-fondaco, it exemplifies the city’s early
economic model, where trade and domestic life coexisted under one roof.
Its association with Alvise Cadamosto underscores Venice’s role in the
Age of Exploration, while its tenure as the Albergo Leon Bianco
highlights its importance in the cultural exchanges of the Grand Tour.
The palace’s decline in the 20th century, exacerbated by flooding
and neglect, mirrors broader challenges facing Venice, such as rising
sea levels and depopulation. Its restoration by the Gallos, completed in
2022, represents a successful model of adaptive reuse, balancing
heritage preservation with modern functionality. The Venice Venice
Hotel’s emphasis on art, fashion, and design aligns with Venice’s
contemporary identity as a global cultural capital, while its nod to
Carlo Scarpa and avant-garde movements bridges local and international
aesthetics.
The da Mosto family’s legacy, carried forward by
descendants like Francesco da Mosto, a historian and BBC presenter, adds
a personal dimension to the palace’s story. Francesco’s expressed desire
to see the palace restored, noted in a 2019 interview, underscores its
emotional resonance for Venetians. The palace’s transformation also
counters the trend of converting historic buildings into tourist
accommodations, as seen in other palazzi, by prioritizing cultural
engagement over mass tourism.
Location: Corte del Lion Bianco, Cannaregio 5628, Venice, overlooking
the Grand Canal. Accessible via the Ca’ d’Oro or Rialto vaporetto stops
(Lines 1, 2, N).
Access: The palace is now the Venice Venice Hotel,
open to hotel guests, restaurant patrons, and visitors to the Venice
M’Art concept store. Non-guests can view the façade from the Grand Canal
or explore public areas like the restaurant and bar.
Opening Hours:
Hotel facilities (restaurant, bar, store) are open daily; check
venicevenice.com for specific hours and reservations. The concept store
and public areas are typically accessible during daytime hours.
Admission: No entry fee for public areas like the restaurant or Venice
M’Art. Hotel room rates vary (starting at €300–€1000+ per night,
depending on season and suite).
Tips for Visitors:
Take a
vaporetto or gondola ride along the Grand Canal to admire the façade’s
Byzantine details.
Visit the Venice M’Art store to experience the
palace’s art installations without booking a room.
Dine at the
canal-side restaurant for a taste of the palace’s modern hospitality.
Combine with nearby attractions like the Rialto Bridge, Ca’ d’Oro, or
Jewish Ghetto for a Cannaregio itinerary.
Book in advance for the
Altana Roof Top or special events at the Venice Bitter Club.