Ca' d'Oro - "The Golden House" - a luxurious palace in Venice on the banks of the Grand Canal. of the Grand Canal. It got its name because of the use of gold leaf in its original decoration. was the use of gold leaf. The official name of the palace, in the Cannaregio neighbourhood is Palazzo Santa Sofia. Today it is is considered one of the finest examples of Venetian Gothic.
Ca' d'Oro was built between 1428 and 1430 by architects Giovanni and Bartolomeo Bona for the patrician Marino Contarini, from a powerful the family that gave Venice eight Doges. The palace was formerly the site of the Palazzo Zeno in Byzantine style, which Contarini received with his wife's dowry. Palazzo Zeno was demolished and a new palace was built in its place, retaining elements of the old one in the façade. elements of the old one in the façade.
The main facade of the Ca' d'Oro, facing the Grand Canal, is in the popular Venetian Gothic style. Venetian Gothic style, as are the neighbouring Palazzo Barbaro and Palazzo Giustinian. On the ground floor of the palace, in a small recess, there is a loggia, which gives access to the lobby. Above the loggia you can see the enclosed balcony of the main hall. The columns and arches of this balcony have capitals, which, in turn, support a series of elegant the columns and arches of this balcony have capitals, which in turn support a row of fine four-leaf windows, and above the balcony is another covered loggia of similar design. It must be said that the very architecture of the palace is a peculiar combination of a medieval church and a mosque. church and mosque.
Over the long years of its history, Ca' d'Oro has changed many owners and has been rebuilt several times. In 1894 it was bought by Baron Giorgio Franchetti, who initiated a major reconstruction of the building from surviving drawings and paintings. and paintings. The Baron intended to restore the palace to its historical appearance. In addition, Franchetti amassed a rich collection of paintings, which after his death, together with the Ca' d' Oro became the property of Venice and the public domain. Since 1927 since 1927, one of the most elegant Gothic palaces in Venice has housed the Franchetti Gallery. Franchetti Gallery.
