Interni Veneziani BIBLOS

Whether it stands on the edge of the Grand Canal which winds through the city, or whether it faces onto a quiet secondary canal or a square, the Venetian palace has always been the object of unreserved admiration ever since the beginning of Venice's long history. It is not only the richly structured façades of the palaces, in the formal refinement and the elegance of every single element, that have always aroused a sense of fascination in the visitor who can identify signs of the prestige and wealth of their owners. The interiors are also furnished and decorated with an incomparable magnificence that emphasizes the social standing and political influence of those who lived in them. The luxury and opulence that marked the opulence within the palace walls is amply described by Francesco Sansovino: "As for the incredible ornaments, furnishings and riches in the houses, whether they are large or small, it is impossible to imagine, let alone fully describe them in writing. And it is reasonable for this to be so, considering that by now 1159 years have passed since its foundation, without its ever being touched by a plundering or enemy hand, and continuing all the while in trading, by means of which it has always brought home the possessions of many a city ruined, dispersed and ill-treated by the barbarians for centuries, by those who wished to preserve them, so it must by necessity be extremely opulent and rich. What is more, the noble homes, which have thrived for hundreds of years thanks to the magistrates' success in the seafaring trades, have always increased their belongings to the brimful of happiness." This book tours these Venetian palaces and presents their history.