Palazzo Grimani di San Luca

Palazzo Grimani di San Luca is an imposing Renaissance-style palace in Venice, located in the San Marco district (sestiere), overlooking the Grand Canal not far from the Rialto Bridge.

SHORT HISTORY OF PALAZZO GRIMANI DI SAN LUCA

In March 1556, the noble Girolamo Grimani aquired a ruined palace on the Grand Canal owned by the brothers Bertuccio and Marino Contarini.

In the summer of 1557, he decided to build a new palace on this site, and the project was given to the architect Michele Sanmicheli.

In 1559, the ground floor was completed, but Sanmicheli died, and the direction of the construction was entrusted in 1561 to Giangiacomo de’ Grigi.

The tasks of de’ Grigi was to complete the ground floor with a mezzanine, and to build the first and second floors.

In November 1566, a dispute arose between Grimani and de’ Grigi, mainly in relation to the facade and the sum of money that the client still had to pay to the architect.

The dispute was resolved thanks to the intervention of three illustrious architects – Andrea Palladio, Jacopo Sansovino and Pietro Guberni, who established what was still to be done, the cost and the date by which the work will be finished.

However, in 1570, Grimani, with an official declaration, regretted the huge amount of money spent on the construction of the palace.

When de’ Grigi died in 1572, Palazzo Grimani di San Luca was still unfinished.

The palace was completed only between the end of the 16th century and the beginning of the 17th century.

Palazzo Grimani di San Luca was the residence of the Grimani family until the fall of the Republic of Venice.

In 1805, the Austrian government purchased the palace, the building was renovated, and the post office was located inside.

Starting with 1818, the palace became state property, and later became the seat of the court of appeal.

the facade on Grand Canal of Palazzo Grimani di San Luca

ARCHITECTURE OF PALAZZO GRIMANI DI SAN LUCA

The colossal white facade of Palazzo Grimani is divided by robust cornices into three sectors, each one with five bays.

The ground floor, articulated with fluted Corinthian pilasters, has a large arch in the center, flanked by two smaller arches, and two large rectangular windows in the lateral bays.

The mezzanine has four rectangular windows, and is interrupted in the center by the large arch of the ground floor.

The noble floor (piano nobile), which develops from a continuous balcony, is characterized by a complete order of fluted Corinthian semi-columns, coupled with Corinthian pilasters on the sides.

The top floor has the same layout as the noble floor, without the balcony, and supports a large crowning entablature.

On the two upper floors, the central bay and the two lateral bays are characterized by arches that frame rectangular windows.

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 GRIMANI DI SAN LUCA

Palazzo Grimani di San Luca is located about 2 kilometers on foot from the Venezia Santa Lucia railway station.

The closest vaporetto stop is Rialto, located about 180 meters away, on the waterbus Lines 1 and 2.