Ca' Pesaro, Baroque palace and art museum in Santa Croce, Venice, Italy
Ca' Pesaro is a four-story palace on the Grand Canal with white marble decorations and heavy stone figures supporting its balconies. The building now houses an art museum with exhibitions spread across multiple levels and connected by spacious staircases.
Construction began in 1659 under architect Baldassarre Longhena and was completed in 1710 by Antonio Gaspari after Longhena's death interrupted the project. This extended building period shaped both the palace's appearance and its role as a wealthy residence.
The name Ca' Pesaro comes from the Pesaro family who lived in and shaped the building for generations. The museum now displays works by major artists, showing how wealthy Venetian families once displayed their collections within these grand rooms.
Visitors can enter through a water entrance facing the Grand Canal or a land entrance, offering flexible arrival options. The collections are distributed across several floors, so comfortable shoes and time for exploration are advisable.
The basement contains original stone kitchens from the 1700s with cooking equipment and storage areas that reveal how food was delivered by boat to the household. These hidden spaces show how a Venetian noble residence actually functioned day to day.
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