Palazzo Corner Contarini dei Cavalli

Palazzo Corner Contarini dei Cavalli is a palace in Venice, located in the San Marco district (sestiere), overlooking the Grand Canal between Palazzo Grimani di San Luca and Palazzo Tron.

SHORT HISTORY OF PALAZZO CORNER CONTARINI DEI CAVALLI

Palazzo Corner Contarini dei Cavalli was built around the middle of 15th century on the site of an ancient building dating back to the 12th century.

At the beginning of the 16th century, Bartolomeo d’Alviano resided in the palace. He was a captain who distinguished himself in the defence of the Venetian Republic against the Holy Roman Emperor Maximilian.

In 1521, the palace passed through marriage to the Contarini family, who kept it until 1830, when it was sold to the Mocenigo family.

Later, the palace passed successively to the Ulbricht family, to the Cavalieri family and to the Ravenna family.

Currently, the building houses offices of the Ministry of Justice.

the facade on Grand Canal of Palazzo Corner Contarini dei Cavalli

ARCHITECTURE OF PALAZZO CORNER CONTARINI DEI CAVALLI

The palace was built in Venetian-Gothic style, but has different architectural styles on its floors, as it was subject to various renovations over the centuries.

The ground floor is covered with a 17th-century ashlar, with a central water portal which uses the serliana (Palladian window) motif.

The main floor maintains its original appearance, with a hexaphora with trefoil arches surmounted by quadrilobes, and two lateral single lancet windows.

The second floor, which was added in the 19th century, has a three-lancet window, flanked by two pairs of single-lancet windows with round arches.

All the openings on the noble floors have balconies.

The palace is known as dei Cavalli (of Horses) due to the presence on the first noble floor of two large shields from the 15th century which depict horses.

TIP: To admire every palace, church and bridge built on the Grand Canal, the best option is to take the waterbus Line 1 from Piazzale Roma, which will get you in about 45 minutes to San Marco Vallaresso, located near Piazza San Marco and the eastern end of the canal.

And if you need more time to admire the scenery, take an enchanting gondola ride along Canal Grande.

HOW TO GET TO PALAZZO CORNER CONTARINI DEI CAVALLI

Palazzo Corner Contarini dei Cavalli is located about 2 kilometers on foot from the Venezia Santa Lucia railway station.

The closest vaporetto stop is Rialto, located about 200 meters away, on the waterbus Lines 1 and 2.