Palazzo Clary

Palazzo Clary, also known as Palazzo Clary-Ficquelmont, is a palace in Venice, located in the Dorsoduro district (sestiere), on Fondamenta delle Zattere, overlooking the Giudecca Canal (Canale della Giudecca).

SHORT HISTORY OF PALAZZO CLARY

Palazzo Clary was built in the 17th century. In the 19th century, the palace became the property of the noble Franco-Austrian family of the counts of Ficquelmont, and later of their heirs, the Austrian princes of Clary and Aldringen.

The second noble floor of the palace was the historical seat of the Consulate of France, where until 1991 there was the famous red telephone line which connected the United States of America to Russia.

ARCHITECTURE OF PALAZZO CLARY

The facade of the palace, in late Renaissance style, spreads over three floors, plus an attic.

On the ground floor, there is a large rectangular portal, surmounted by two sculpted coats of arms.

The first noble floor features round arched openings – a pair of single lancet windows on each side of a large central four-light window.

The four-light window of the first noble floor is supported by columns with Ionic capitals and equipped with a stone balustrade embellished with small statues depicting lions.

The second noble floor, famous for having been the historical seat of the Consulate of France, is similar with the one below, but the central four-light window doesn’t have a balustrade and is delimited by pillasters with Doric capitals.

The attic, with small square openings arranged symmetrically, is bordered at the top by an indented cornice.

The rear facade overlooks a small garden enclosed by walls.

HOW TO GET TO PALAZZO CLARY

Palazzo Clary is located about 1.7 kilometers away from the Santa Lucia railway station. The closest vaporetto stop is Zattere, located about 40 meters away, on the waterbus Lines 2, 5.1, 5.2, 6, 10 and 16.