Palazzo Donà Giovannelli, Gothic palace in Cannaregio, Italy
Palazzo Donà Giovannelli is a Gothic palace in the Cannaregio district of Venice that displays elaborate arched windows and ornate column groupings on its waterfront facade. The building's interior layout features numerous smaller rooms arranged throughout rather than the large central halls common in other Venetian palaces.
The palace was possibly built in the late 1300s following a design by Filippo Calendario and served various powerful families including the Duke of Urbino and later the Donà family. Ownership eventually passed to the Giovannelli family, whose name became attached to the building.
The palace interior contains numerous small rooms instead of a central hall, decorated with period stuccos, wooden furniture, and original fireplaces.
The building sits roughly 10 minutes on foot from Santa Lucia train station, making it easily accessible from the city center. Visitors should know the palace fronts directly onto water and access comes from the narrow lanes of the neighborhood.
The structure includes an octagonal staircase that connects the different levels and stands out architecturally from typical designs. Hidden terraces scattered throughout offer unexpected views across the canals and let visitors see the city from angles most people miss.
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