Located in the San Marco sestiere of Venice, Palazzo Contarini a San Beneto, also known as Palazzo Contarini Mocenigo, is a distinguished Renaissance palazzo nestled in the quiet Campo San Beneto, near the Grand Canal and the Teatro La Fenice. Constructed in the mid-16th century, likely by architect Sante Lombardo, the palazzo is celebrated for its richly decorated marble facade, innovative floor plan, and opulent 18th-century interiors, particularly those created for the 1748 wedding of Giulio Contarini and Eleonora Morosini. Owned by the Contarini family, renowned for producing eight doges, until 1833 when it passed to the Mocenigo family, the palazzo has recently been acquired by the Municipality of Venice with plans to transform it into the Museum of the Venetian House under the Fondazione Musei Civici di Venezia. Its historical significance, architectural elegance, and cultural potential make it a compelling, if lesser-known, landmark in Venice’s architectural tapestry.
The Palazzo Contarini a San Beneto was built for the Contarini
family, one of Venice’s most prominent and influential noble families,
known for producing eight Doges of the Venetian Republic, a record
unmatched by any other family. The branch associated with this palace
traces its origins to a figure named Beneto in the early 15th century,
which gave the palace its designation "San Beneto." Over the centuries,
the palace served as a residence for various members of the Contarini
family, reflecting their wealth, power, and cultural patronage.
In 1658, Domenico Contarini, a resident of the palace, was elected the
104th Doge of Venice, further cementing the family’s legacy. The palace
remained in the Contarini family’s possession until 1833, when it passed
to the Mocenigo di San Staè family through marriage, earning its
alternate name, Palazzo Contarini Mocenigo. Until 2002, the palace
housed court offices, but it was recently acquired by the Municipality
of Venice, with plans to transform it into the headquarters of the
Museum of the Venetian House under the Venetian Civic Museums
Foundation.
A significant moment in the palace’s history occurred
in 1748, when it was extensively redecorated to celebrate the marriage
of Giulio Contarini to Eleonora Morosini. This event led to the creation
of some of the palace’s most iconic artistic features, particularly its
18th-century interiors, which remain a highlight of its historical and
aesthetic value.
The Palazzo Contarini a San Beneto is a prime example of Venetian
Renaissance architecture, with elements that reflect the city’s unique
blend of Gothic, Byzantine, and Renaissance influences. The palace is
attributed to the architect Sante Lombardo, though the attribution is
not definitive. Construction began around the mid-16th century and was
completed in 1566.
Exterior
The palace’s façade is a striking
feature, characterized by its rich marble incrustation and a central
serliana (a tripartite window with an arched central section flanked by
two rectangular openings). This architectural motif, inspired by the
designs of Sebastiano Serlio, is typical of Venetian Renaissance palaces
and provides both aesthetic elegance and structural harmony. The façade
is well-preserved, showcasing the craftsmanship of the period and the
Contarini family’s wealth.
The palace’s floor plan is somewhat
unconventional due to the possible integration of older structures. It
features an L-shaped portego (a grand central hall typical of Venetian
palaces) and two enfilades (sequences of rooms aligned along a single
axis) that wrap around two narrow courtyards. This layout deviates from
the standard Venetian palace design, which typically centers around a
single, symmetrical portego.
The top floor of the palace includes
a notable casinò, a small, private apartment or leisure space often used
for entertainment or gambling in Venetian palaces. This casinò opens
onto a terrace, adding to the palace’s charm and functionality.
Interior Layout
The interior of the palace is organized around the
portego, which serves as the main reception and circulation space. The
portego leads to various rooms, including the richly decorated piano
nobile (the main floor), which is considered one of the most intact
examples of a mid-18th-century Venetian residence. The palace’s
courtyards, though narrow, provide natural light and ventilation, a
critical feature in Venice’s densely built environment.
The
ground floor includes an androne (entrance hall), which historically
served as a space for receiving visitors and goods arriving by water.
This area is notable for housing three monumental painted-wood benches,
a unique feature discussed further below.
Interior Decoration
The interior of Palazzo Contarini a San Beneto is a masterpiece of
18th-century Venetian artistry, particularly due to the redecoration
undertaken in 1748 for the wedding of Giulio Contarini and Eleonora
Morosini. The piano nobile is the focal point of this decorative scheme,
executed in the Louis XV style, which emphasizes elegance, asymmetry,
and ornate detailing.
Frescoes and Paintings
The palace’s
frescoes are among its most celebrated features, created by some of the
leading Venetian artists of the time:
Francesco Fontebasso: Known
for his dynamic and colorful frescoes, Fontebasso contributed
significantly to the palace’s decorative program. His work is
characterized by vivid compositions and a sense of movement, typical of
the Rococo style.
Gaspare Diziani: Diziani’s frescoes complement
Fontebasso’s, adding to the palace’s opulent atmosphere with their
theatrical and decorative flair.
Brusaferro: Less prominent but still
significant, Brusaferro contributed to the frescoes, likely working in
collaboration with the other artists.
These frescoes adorn the
ceilings and walls of the piano nobile, depicting mythological,
allegorical, and decorative themes that reflect the grandeur of the
Contarini family and the festive occasion of the 1748 wedding.
Stucco Work
The stucco decorations, crafted by Carpoforo Mazzetti
Tencalla, are another highlight of the palace’s interior. These
intricate plaster reliefs frame the frescoes and add a three-dimensional
quality to the walls and ceilings. The stucco work is executed in the
Louis XV style, with flowing curves, floral motifs, and delicate
detailing that enhance the overall elegance of the space.
Venetian Floors and Hardware
The piano nobile features original
Venetian terrazzo floors, a hallmark of Venetian craftsmanship. These
floors, made from a mix of marble chips and cement, are polished to a
high sheen and often arranged in intricate geometric patterns. The doors
of the palace retain their original ferramenta (iron hardware),
including hinges and locks, which are both functional and decorative,
showcasing the attention to detail in the palace’s design.
Monumental Benches in the Androne
One of the most unique features of
the palace is the set of three monumental painted-wood benches located
in the androne. These 18th-century benches, restored in recent years,
are exceptional for their size and pictorial quality. They feature
trompe l’oeil architectural elements and the coats of arms of the
Contarini of San Beneto and the Morosini of Santo Stefano, symbolizing
the union celebrated in 1748. The benches were painted in oil on wood,
likely by the same artisans responsible for the frescoes (Fontebasso,
Diziani, and Brusaferro).
Originally placed in the androne, the
benches were later moved to the courtyard loggia, where exposure to the
elements caused significant deterioration. A restoration project, funded
by Davines S.p.A. and Venetian Heritage and carried out by Giovanna
Menegazzi and Roberto Bergamaschi, addressed issues such as paint
flaking, overpainting, and structural damage. The restored benches were
exhibited at the Museo di Ca’ Rezzonico from May to December 2015,
highlighting their cultural significance.
The Palazzo Contarini a San Beneto is not only an architectural gem
but also a repository of Venetian cultural history. Its 18th-century
interiors, particularly the piano nobile, offer a rare glimpse into the
lifestyle of Venice’s aristocratic families during the height of the
Republic’s cultural flourishing. The collaboration of artists like
Fontebasso, Diziani, and Tencalla reflects the city’s role as a center
of artistic innovation in the Rococo period.
The palace’s
association with the Contarini family, one of Venice’s most powerful
dynasties, underscores its historical importance. The family’s patronage
of the arts is evident in the palace’s decoration, which rivals that of
other grand Venetian residences like Ca’ Rezzonico or Palazzo Grassi.
The three monumental benches in the androne are particularly
noteworthy, as they are considered unique in Venetian decorative arts.
Their trompe l’oeil paintings and heraldic symbolism make them a
valuable record of the Contarini-Morosini alliance and the artistic
tastes of the period.
In recent years, the Palazzo Contarini a San Beneto was acquired by
the Municipality of Venice, which plans to designate it as the future
headquarters of the Museum of the Venetian House, managed by the
Venetian Civic Museums Foundation. This initiative aims to preserve the
palace’s interiors and make them accessible to the public, offering
visitors an immersive experience of a historic Venetian residence.
The Venetian Heritage Foundation has expressed interest in
coordinating fundraising efforts to support the restoration of the
palace’s interiors, ensuring that its frescoes, stucco work, and other
features are preserved for future generations. The restoration of the
monumental benches, completed under the auspices of UNESCO’s
International Private Committees Joint Programme for the Safeguarding of
Venice, is a model for future conservation efforts.
The palace is
not currently open to the public, as preparations for its transformation
into a museum are ongoing. However, its historical and artistic
significance continues to attract attention from scholars,
preservationists, and visitors interested in Venice’s cultural heritage.
To fully appreciate the Palazzo Contarini a San Beneto, it is useful
to compare it with other notable Venetian palaces, such as Palazzo
Contarini del Bovolo and Palazzo Contarini Fasan:
Palazzo
Contarini del Bovolo: Located nearby in the San Marco district, this
palace is famous for its external spiral staircase, the Scala Contarini
del Bovolo, built in 1499. Unlike the San Beneto palace, which
emphasizes interior opulence, the Bovolo palace is celebrated for its
exterior architectural innovation, blending Gothic, Renaissance, and
Venetian-Byzantine styles. The Bovolo palace is open to the public and
offers panoramic views of Venice from its belvedere, making it a more
accessible tourist attraction.
Palazzo Contarini Fasan: Known as the
“House of Desdemona” due to its association with Shakespeare’s Othello,
this smaller Gothic palace overlooks the Grand Canal. Its 15th-century
façade features a trifora and a Contarini coat of arms, but it lacks the
extensive interior decoration of the San Beneto palace. Its cultural
significance is tied more to literary legend than to artistic patronage.
While the Palazzo Contarini a San Beneto may not have the iconic
exterior features of the Bovolo or the literary fame of the Fasan, its
18th-century interiors and historical continuity make it a standout
example of a Venetian noble residence.