Palazzo dei Camerlenghi

Palazzo dei Camerlenghi, with the Rialto Bridge visible on the left.

Palazzo dei Camerlenghi is a Renaissance palace in Venice, northern Italy, located in the sestiere (quarter) of San Polo. It faces the Canal Grande, adjacent to the Rialto Bridge.

History

The palace was built from 1525 to 1528 under design by Guglielmo dei Grigi, who was inspired by the style of Mauro Codussi and Pietro Lombardo. It was the seat of several financial magistrates, including the Camerlenghi whom it takes its name from, the Consuls of the Traders and the Supra-Consuls of the Traders. Due to this function, the lower floor was used as a jail for the insolvents: the location nearby the crowded Rialto Bridge served as an admonition for the people passing there.

The palace currently houses the regional seat of the Italian Comptroller and Auditor General.

Description

The palace has a pentagonal plan which follows the shore of the Canal Grande, with three floors. It has tall windows with centrings, divided by false columns and decorated with friezes. There were once polychrome marble and porphyry slabs, now lost.

Due to the Venetian tradition that, when leaving the position, a magistrate would leave a religious-themed painting and a portrait in his former seat, the Palazzo dei Camerlenghi housed numerous artworks. These were dispersed during the French occupation; some returned to Venice, mostly to Gallerie dell'Accademia.

See also

Sources

Coordinates: 45°26′18″N 12°20′09″E / 45.438341°N 12.335823°E / 45.438341; 12.335823

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