Venice's Golden House 🏰✨

📍The rule of Venice was firmly in the hands of a well-established commercial aristocracy, which almost never experienced internal conflicts, allowing the Doge's Palace to forgo all defensive functions. Similarly, the residences of the Venetian nobility did not require defensive capabilities, thus they evolved into graceful and decorative buildings. 📍The Golden House, begun in 1421, was built for Marino Contarini, whose family prospered for generations due to trade profits. This building was once lavishly adorned with gold leaf on its façade, hence its name. 📍The design of this mansion reflects different architectural functions. The ground floor was used as a dock and warehouse, the second floor served primarily as a reception hall, and several smaller rooms were built on the right side. The private areas were mainly located on the top floor. The intersection of the ribbed vaults forms an exquisite diagonal lattice pattern on the façade. 📍The architects of the Golden Palace were Giovanni Bon and his son Bartolomeo Bon. The work of these two sculptors and architects is a microcosm of Gothic style in Venice; their most famous work is the Doge's Palace, especially the Porta della Carta and the Solomon's Judgment sculptures. 📍During the 19th century, the owners changed frequently, and each altered Ca'd'Oro according to their preferences. A special mention goes to the ballerina Maria Taglioni, who demolished the Gothic staircase and balcony in the courtyard - a fact lamented by Ruskin in his famous work "The Stones of Venice". 📍In 1922, the last owner of the palace, Baron Giorgio Franchetti, donated it to the state. After restoration, including the reconstruction of the staircase, it is now open to the public as an art gallery. 📍The main façade of the Golden Palace faces the Grand Canal and is in the Venetian Gothic style. Other buildings in this style nearby include the Palazzo Barbaro and Palazzo Giustinian. This elegant linear style, admired by Venetian architects, was not completely replaced until the end of the 16th century when the Baroque style prevailed. 📍The Venetian Gothic style has a Byzantine appearance. On the ground floor of the Golden Palace, there is a recessed arcade that provides direct access from the canal to the hall. Above the arcade are the enclosed balconies of the "noble floor" master rooms. The balconies are supported by Corinthian columns holding up a row of delicate windows; above this layer of balconies is another similar enclosed balcony, but designed more lightly. This palace can be simply described as being between a medieval church and a mosque. Its wedding cake-like appearance makes it easy to forget that, like most other palaces, it also has a small inner courtyard. #TravelTheWorld #CulturalLandsmarks #Museums #ArtHistory #Venice #Architecture #NoteInspiration