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Great Discoveries "Personal Tour Guides" will provide you with the most enjoyable and informative way to visit the Ca’ d’Oro. Our carefully researched tour identifies and locates the most relevant treasures to ensure that you do not miss important works and that you clearly understand each items artistic and historic significance. As you view these carefully selected treasures, our professional narrators, accompanied by historically appropriate background music, will delight, amuse and inform you, making your visit a most memorable experience. Learn about the golden palace that now houses the Giorgio Franchetti Gallery. Home to 15th and 16th century art by Venetian masters, Titian, Tiepolo, Giorgione, Tintoretto, and others. Informative descriptions, photo's, building diagram, sample audio tracks and more.
The history of the Ca' d'Oro is very obscure, at least its early history. It was probably built by the Doro family, which became extinct in 1355 when Nicolo Doro was condemned to death for his part in the Doge Marino Faliero conspiracy. This hypothesis is generally accepted because the golden lions that ornament the facade resemble the coat of arms of the Doro family, a golden lion on a silver field.
The architects of the Ca' d'Oro were Giovanni Bon and his son Bartolomeo Bon, who were best known for their work on the Doge Palace. The work of these two sculptors and architects epitomizes the Venetian floral Gothic style that is Byzantine in appearance. Venetian and Lombard craftsmen were in charge of the intricate detailing, while the exterior was blessed with the most luxurious materials of the time; gold leaf, vermilion, and ultramarine. One can not help but notice that The architectural style of the Ca’ d’Oro is quite similar to that of the Doge Palace. Perhaps this smaller and older building influenced the design of the Venice Italy’s most important edifice.
In 1922, the palaces last owner, Baron Giorgio Franchetti, bequeathed both the palace and his private collection of artworks to the state. Extensive renovations were preformed to return it to its former glory and the colors of this beautiful mansion’s exterior once again reflect in Venice's Grand Canal. The Ca d'Oro, which is also known as the Giorgio Franchetti Gallery, is now open to the public and it houses a collection of important Venetian paintings and other artworks.
Additional pieces were added to Baron Franchetti’s collection. The museum now contains sculptures, furniture, 16th century Flemish tapestries, an impressive collection of 12th through 16th century bronzes, some Greek and Roman archeological pieces, medals, and a small collection of old Venetian ceramics. The elaborately decorated beams and regal trappings of the palaces interior create the perfect setting to display the many wonderful artworks it contains.
The walls are hung with important canvases by popular Venetian and other artists who were active between 1470 and 1550, among which are "Saint Sebastian" by Mantegna, "Venus at the Mirror" by Titian and lesser works by Tintoretto, Carpaccio, Signorelli, Tiepolo, Giorgione, as well as Van Eyck and other Flemish and German artists. Other attractions on display in Venice's Golden House include an impressive mosaic on the ground floor, Titian frescoes on the second floor, and an impressive Verona red marble wellhead carved by Bartolomeo Bonn in 1427.
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This
late Gothic palace on the Grand Canal, known as the Ca' d'Oro,
