Fondaco del Megio, Grain depot in Santa Croce, Italy.
Fondaco del Megio is a brick palace along the Rialto waterway featuring three ground-floor portals and thirteen small windows distributed across its facade. The structure displays the typical architectural order of a Venetian trade warehouse with distinct divisions between storage chambers.
Built in the 13th century, this structure functioned as a storage facility for millet and grain until the Venetian Republic fell in 1797. Its conversion to an elementary school later reflected the city's shift from commercial trade to civic institutions after the republic's end.
The building displays a reconstructed bas-relief of the Lion of St. Mark, signaling its former status as property of the Venetian Republic. This symbol was commonly placed on state-owned warehouses throughout the city to mark official control.
The building stands on Calle del Megio in the Santa Croce district and now serves as an elementary school. As an active school building, viewing is best done from the outside or during holiday periods when classes are not in session.
The roofline incorporates medieval triangular merlons that differ from the common Guelph or Ghibelline designs seen elsewhere in Italy. This detail represents an unusual defensive styling for a structure primarily built for commerce rather than fortification.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
