Carlo Goldoni's House — Attraction in Venice

Knowing the history and biography of Carlo Goldoni, we have the privilege to peek into a part of his life and feel the spirit of the way of life at that time. The Casa di Carlo Goldoni is the house where the famous Venetian playwright was born in 25 february 1707, converted into a museum in 1953. Today, in its museum part, Goldoni's house is a magical and theatrical place. Also known as Ca’ Centani, the building is small palace dating back to the 15th century which has retained, despite many renovations, the typical characters of the Venetian late-Gothic architecture. The palace features a beautiful courtyard with lancet arches, and a private well. In 1931, the owners donated the building to the Venice Municipality with the aim to establish a museum dedicated to the life and work of Goldoni. Carlo Goldoni (1707 – 1793) is one of the most beloved Italian playwrights of all time, renowned for his comedies, often written in Venetian dialect, such as the Servant of Two Masters, The Mistress of the Inn, and The Chioggia Scuffles, to name a few. Goldoni also wrote various librettos for comic operas by major Classical music composers, including Joseph Haydn, and Giovanni Paisiello. The life and work of Carlo Goldoni, and the context of the 18th century Venetian theater and society, are represented by relics, furnishings, paintings, illustrations of Goldoni's comedies and explanatory panels, on three floors of the palace. Very important are the archive and the Library (over 30,000 works) of theatrical texts and studies with authentic manuscripts, which can be visited and is located on the second floor. An interesting note should also be expressed regarding the restoration of the Gothic palace, of the late 90s and the work of preparation to its interior that allows a more free visit and use of multimedia equipment to enjoy Goldoni's comedies to...

Stopped by on a visit to see the house of Carlo Goldoni (also known as Gordini). We had a city pass so thankfully didn’t have to pay, but if we did I would have asked for money back.

Who was Goldoni? I couldn’t tell you, because there’s nothing to read in this house.

We were immediately greeted by an assault on the senses from three AI girlfriends on phones, seemingly with no explanation. Little is described anywhere in this house, but apparently there were a few modern art pieces randomly placed around the rooms. This first one was the worst, and the annoying audio looped constantly for all 5 minutes we were there. I felt so bad for the poor attendant that had to sit and listen to it all day. There was also a seesaw with metal balls that whomped as we were exiting a room.

There’s really nothing to say about this place. A couple marionettes, but the most notable thing about them is that a few of them look like pretty ugly racist caricatures. Even if you have a free pass, just...

While this museum may not impress everyone, if you already have a Venezia Unica City Pass or MUVE Museum Pass, stopping by for a visit is a no-brainer.

Inside the elegant palazzo, you'll find reconstructions from Goldoni's plays, featuring mannequins dressed in authentic 18th-century costumes and surrounded by original furniture and objects from the era. The section on puppet theatre is especially captivating, showcasing original marionettes and the only surviving puppet theatre, once common in the wealthy homes of the time.

While indeed all texts are in Italian, with tools like translation apps, understanding the content...