The Palazzo Pisani Gritti is a distinguished Gothic palace located in the San Marco sestiere of Venice, Italy, overlooking the Grand Canal at the confluence with the Rio di San Moisè. Positioned opposite the Church of Santa Maria del Giglio and near Piazza San Marco, this 14th-century residence, rebuilt in the 15th century, is renowned for its intricate Gothic facade and historical significance as the home of the Pisani family, a prominent Venetian patrician lineage that produced Doge Andrea Gritti (1455–1538). Since 1896, the palazzo has served as a luxury hotel, currently the Gritti Palace, a Luxury Collection Hotel, following extensive renovations, most notably in 2013. Its rich history, architectural elegance, and cultural role make it a landmark of Venetian heritage.
The Palazzo Pisani Gritti’s origins date to the 14th century, when a
Gothic structure was built on the site for the Pisani family, one of
Venice’s most influential patrician families. The Pisanis, with branches
including the Pisani di Santo Stefano and Pisani di San Polo, were key
players in Venetian politics, commerce, and culture, producing multiple
doges, including Andrea Gritti (Doge from 1523–1538), who resided in the
palazzo. The current building, constructed in the late 15th century
(circa 1475), replaced the earlier structure, reflecting the family’s
wealth and ambition during Venice’s Renaissance peak.
Andrea
Gritti, a diplomat, military leader, and patron of the arts, shaped the
palazzo’s cultural significance. His diplomatic missions to the Ottoman
Empire and leadership during the War of the League of Cambrai
(1508–1516) elevated the Pisani name, while his patronage supported
artists like Titian and architects like Jacopo Sansovino. The palazzo
likely hosted intellectual and artistic gatherings, as seen in other
Pisani residences like Palazzo Pisani Moretta. Gritti’s death in 1538
marked a high point in the palazzo’s noble history, though the Pisani
family retained ownership into the 19th century.
By the 19th
century, the palazzo’s role shifted. In 1819, it was acquired by
Baroness d’Anthoine, who transformed it into a private residence. In
1896, it became the Hotel de la Ville, one of Venice’s first luxury
hotels, hosting luminaries like John Ruskin, who admired Venetian Gothic
architecture, and Ernest Hemingway, who wrote parts of Across the River
and Into the Trees there in the 1940s. Other notable guests included W.
Somerset Maugham, Peggy Guggenheim, and European royalty, cementing its
status as a cultural hub.
In 1908, the Compagnia Italiana Grandi
Alberghi took over, renaming it the Grand Hotel Gritti, and in 1948, it
was purchased by the CIGA hotel group, founded by Giuseppe Volpi. The
palazzo underwent significant renovations, including a 1994 restoration
by Gianni Agnelli and a 2011–2013 overhaul costing €35 million, which
restored its Gothic facade and opulent interiors, integrating modern
amenities while preserving historical elements. Since 1994, it has been
part of The Luxury Collection by Marriott, operating as the Gritti
Palace, a 5-star hotel with 82 rooms, including 21 suites, and amenities
like the Club del Doge restaurant and Riva Lounge.
The palazzo’s
history reflects Venice’s evolution from a medieval maritime power to a
modern tourism capital, with the Pisani family’s legacy, Gritti’s
patronage, and its hotel transformation highlighting its enduring
significance.
The Palazzo Pisani Gritti is a quintessential example of Venetian
Gothic architecture, characterized by its intricate facade, pointed
arches, and delicate tracery, adapted to the Grand Canal’s aquatic
environment. Rebuilt in the late 15th century, it blends Gothic elegance
with early Renaissance influences, reflecting Venice’s architectural
transition.
Facade
The Grand Canal facade, constructed in
Istrian stone with a brick core, is organized across four floors,
showcasing a balanced yet dynamic Gothic design:
Ground Floor:
The base features a water portal with a pointed arch, offset to the left
due to the palazzo’s irregular plan, allowing gondola access. Flanking
the portal are round-arched windows, likely added during later
renovations, providing ventilation for service areas. The rusticated
stonework (bugnato) conveys solidity, contrasting with the upper floors’
delicacy.
Mezzanine: This level, used for storage or offices, has
small rectangular windows, aligned with the ground floor’s rhythm,
designed for utility rather than ornamentation, as seen in Palazzo Benci
Zecchini.
First Piano Nobile: The main noble floor, for reception and
living quarters, is the facade’s highlight. It features a hexafora
(six-light window) with pointed arches, slender columns, and quatrefoil
tracery, a hallmark of Venetian Gothic, as described by John Ruskin in
The Stones of Venice. The hexafora is flanked by two monofore
(single-light windows) with similar arches, creating a symmetrical
composition. A marble balcony with trefoil motifs extends across the
hexafora, emphasizing elegance.
Second Piano Nobile: The upper noble
floor mirrors the first, with another hexafora and monofore, though
simpler in detailing. The tracery is less intricate, reflecting the
hierarchy of floors, as in Ca’ d’Oro. A dentilled cornice crowns the
facade, replacing earlier Gothic crenellations, possibly added during
19th-century renovations.
The facade’s Gothic “flowery” style, with
trefoil and quatrefoil patterns, reflects Byzantine and Moorish
influences from Venice’s trade networks, as noted for Palazzo Ariani.
The Istrian stone ensures durability against canal water, while the
brick core reduces weight on the lagoon’s wooden piles. The 2013
restoration, costing €35 million, polished the facade’s stonework and
reinforced foundations, preserving its Gothic character while addressing
acqua alta damage.
The Rio di San Moisè side facade, simpler in
design, features rectangular windows and a secondary entrance,
maintaining the palazzo’s canal-side integration. The terrace on the
first piano nobile, overlooking the Grand Canal, is a modern addition
for hotel guests, offering panoramic views of Santa Maria del Giglio and
Punta della Dogana.
Interior
The interior, extensively
renovated in 2013, blends 15th-century Gothic elements with 18th-century
opulence and modern luxury, reflecting its hotel function:
Portego: The central hall on the first piano nobile, accessed via the
water portal, serves as the hotel’s grand lobby. It features vaulted
ceilings, marble floors, and marmorino plaster walls, with Murano glass
chandeliers and antique furnishings evoking the Pisani era. The
portego’s scale and decor recall Palazzo Pisani Moretta’s grandeur.
Rooms and Suites: The 82 rooms, including 21 suites, are decorated with
Rubelli fabrics, Venetian mirrors, and frescoed ceilings, some retaining
15th-century stucco work. Notable suites, like the Doge Dandolo Suite
and Hemingway Suite, feature 18th-century antiques, terrazzo floors, and
views of the Grand Canal, as described in marriott.com. The 2013
renovation by Donghia Associates integrated modern amenities like Wi-Fi
and climate control while preserving historical details.
Public
Spaces: The Club del Doge restaurant, on the canal-side terrace,
showcases Gothic arches and the Riva Lounge, a bar with Art Deco
touches, offers a modern contrast. The Explorer’s Library, inspired by
Venetian adventurers, contains rare books and the Gritti Spa, in a
former storage area, features Sisley products and mosaic tiles, blending
history with luxury.
Courtyard: A small courtyard, accessible via a
land entrance from Campo del Traghetto, includes a wellhead with the
Pisani stemma, a relic of the 15th century, similar to Palazzo Benci
Zecchini’s heraldic wellhead. The courtyard’s Gothic arches, if
preserved, would reflect the original palace’s design.
The interior’s
2013 restoration, praised by Travel + Leisure, reintroduced historical
elements like frescoes and stucco, uncovered during renovations, while
ensuring accessibility with elevators and ramps, as noted in forbes.com.
The integration of 18th-century Venetian decor with modern luxury
reflects the palazzo’s dual role as a historical monument and 5-star
hotel.
Architectural Significance
The Palazzo Pisani Gritti is
significant for its late Venetian Gothic architecture, representing the
peak of this style in the 15th century, as seen in Ca’ Foscari and Ca’
d’Oro. The hexafora and quatrefoil tracery, described by Ruskin, embody
Venice’s synthesis of Byzantine, Moorish, and Gothic influences,
facilitated by trade networks, as noted for Palazzo Moro Lin. The early
Renaissance influences in its symmetry and balcony design anticipate the
classical shift seen in Palazzo Contarini del Bovolo.
The
palazzo’s 2013 restoration, costing €35 million, is a model of adaptive
reuse, preserving Gothic elements while transforming it into a luxury
hotel, akin to Palazzo Vendramin Calergi’s casino conversion. Its Grand
Canal location, opposite Santa Maria del Giglio, and proximity to Piazza
San Marco, enhance its urban significance, anchoring San Marco’s
architectural ensemble, as explored in Palazzo Civran Grimani’s context.
The Palazzo Pisani Gritti holds a multifaceted cultural and
historical role:
Pisani Family Legacy: The Pisani family’s
prominence, producing Doge Andrea Gritti, ties the palazzo to Venice’s
political and cultural zenith. Gritti’s patronage of Titian and
Sansovino, documented in venicewiki.org, suggests the palazzo as a
Renaissance cultural hub, similar to Palazzo Bolani Erizzo’s association
with Pietro Aretino.
Literary and Artistic Connections: The palazzo’s
hotel phase hosted John Ruskin, who likely admired its Gothic facade,
and Ernest Hemingway, who wrote there, as noted in marriott.com. Guests
like Peggy Guggenheim and W. Somerset Maugham underscore its role as a
20th-century intellectual salon, akin to Palazzo Smith Mangilli
Valmarana’s cultural patronage.
Tourism and Hospitality: Since 1896,
the palazzo’s transformation into a luxury hotel, now the Gritti Palace,
reflects Venice’s shift to a tourism-driven economy, as seen in Palazzo
Vendramin Calergi. The 2013 renovation, praised by Forbes and Travel +
Leisure, positions it as a global hospitality icon, hosting celebrities
like George Clooney and Amal Alamuddin in 2014.
San Marco Context:
Located near Piazza San Marco and Teatro La Fenice, the palazzo anchors
San Marco’s cultural heart, complementing landmarks like Palazzo Dandolo
(Hotel Danieli) and Palazzo Contarini del Bovolo. Its Grand Canal
setting, opposite Santa Maria del Giglio, enhances its picturesque
appeal, as noted for Palazzo Moro Lin.
Conservation Efforts: The 2013
restoration, funded by Marriott, preserved Gothic and 18th-century
elements, addressing acqua alta and corrosion, as supported by Save
Venice, per forbes.com. This effort mirrors Palazzo Ariani’s school
conversion, balancing heritage with modern use.
The palazzo’s history
reflects Venice’s resilience, adapting from a patrician residence to a
luxury hotel, with the Pisani legacy and literary associations bridging
medieval and modern eras, as explored in Palazzo Smith Mangilli
Valmarana’s narrative.
The Palazzo Pisani Gritti operates as the Gritti Palace, a Luxury
Collection Hotel, a 5-star property under Marriott International since
1994. It features 82 rooms, including 21 suites, with rates starting at
€700–€1,500 per night, as per marriott.com. Amenities include:
Club del Doge restaurant, offering Venetian cuisine on the canal-side
terrace.
Riva Lounge, a bar with Art Deco decor and Grand Canal
views.
Gritti Spa, with Sisley treatments and mosaic tiles.
Explorer’s Library, housing rare books and Venetian artifacts.
Event
spaces, hosting weddings and conferences, as noted in forbes.com.
The
palazzo is in excellent condition, following the 2011–2013 restoration
costing €35 million, which reinforced the Gothic facade, restored
frescoes, and modernized interiors, per travelandleisure.com. The
Istrian stone facade and brick core withstand acqua alta, with water
barriers and pumps ensuring protection, as supported by Save Venice. The
2013 renovation uncovered 15th-century stucco and 18th-century
furnishings, integrated into suites like the Doge Dandolo, enhancing
historical authenticity.
The hotel’s public access is limited to
guests, restaurant patrons, or event attendees, restricting broader
cultural engagement, unlike Ca’ Pesaro’s museum. Its Grand Canal
location and proximity to Piazza San Marco ensure visibility, but its
luxury status prioritizes exclusivity over public heritage, as seen with
Palazzo Vendramin Calergi.
The Palazzo Pisani Gritti is primarily a luxury hotel, but its Grand
Canal facade and public amenities offer a rich experience for visitors
to San Marco:
Exterior Viewing: The Gothic facade, with its hexafora
and quatrefoil tracery, is best admired from a vaporetto (Line 1 or 2,
Santa Maria del Giglio or San Marco Vallaresso stops) or gondola tour,
opposite Santa Maria del Giglio. The facade’s reflection in the canal,
especially at dusk, is photogenic, as noted for Palazzo Moro Lin. The
Rio di San Moisè side facade, visible from Calle Larga XXII Marzo,
offers a secondary perspective. Photographers recommend a tripod for
long-exposure shots, per italyscapes.com.
Interior Access:
Non-guests can access public areas by dining at Club del Doge
(reservations via marriott.com, entrées €30–€60) or visiting Riva Lounge
(cocktails €15–€25), enjoying the terrace’s Grand Canal views. The
Gritti Spa offers treatments (€100–€300), accessible by booking (+39 041
794611). Guided hotel tours, occasionally offered through VeneziaUnica
or Marriott, showcase the portego, suites, and Explorer’s Library,
highlighting Pisani artifacts and Hemingway’s legacy, per forbes.com.
Venice Heritage Days may allow entry to the courtyard, featuring the
Pisani stemma.
Guided Tours: Tours of the Grand Canal or San Marco’s
Gothic architecture, offered by Context Travel or Walks of Italy,
include the palazzo’s exterior, discussing Andrea Gritti and Ruskin’s
influence, as noted for Palazzo Ariani. Hotel-specific tours, costing
€50–€100, provide interior access, per veneziaunica.it.
Proximity to
Landmarks: The palazzo is near:
Piazza San Marco (5-minute walk),
with St. Mark’s Basilica and Doge’s Palace.
Teatro La Fenice
(5-minute walk), Venice’s opera house.
Santa Maria del Giglio
(1-minute walk), a Baroque church with Rubens paintings.
Gallerie
dell’Accademia (10-minute walk), housing Venetian masterpieces.
Peggy
Guggenheim Collection (10-minute walk), a modern art museum. Local
bacari like Bar Foscarini or cafes along Campo Santo Stefano offer
cicchetti and spritz, enhancing the experience.
Access and Cost: The
exterior is free to view, accessible year-round. Dining or spa access
requires reservations, with costs noted above. Hotel stays start at
€700/night, per marriott.com. ACTV vaporetto stops at Santa Maria del
Giglio (200 meters) or San Marco Vallaresso (300 meters, Line 1/2). The
palazzo is a 10-minute walk from Rialto Bridge.
Photography: The
facade is ideal for photography from a vaporetto or Santa Maria del
Giglio’s fondamenta, capturing the hexafora and terrace. Morning light
highlights the Istrian stone, as suggested for Palazzo Civran Grimani.
San Marco’s vibrant atmosphere, with cultural landmarks and bustling
calli, offers a quintessential Venetian experience. Visitors can combine
a visit with a gondola ride along the Rio di San Moisè or a walk to La
Fenice, enjoying the sestiere’s elegance.