Palazzo Orio Semitecolo Benzon, Gothic palace at Grand Canal in Dorsoduro, Venice, Italy.
Palazzo Orio Semitecolo Benzon is a Gothic palace along the Grand Canal featuring multiple stories with windows and stonework typical of medieval Venetian architecture. The first noble floor shows a series of wide grouped windows with supporting columns, while the upper floor presents an asymmetrical arrangement with openings of varying sizes.
The palace was built in the 14th century by the Orio family, one of Venice's noble houses, and later changed hands among other aristocratic families. This succession reflects how property and power shifted among the city's leading families over time.
The water entrance displays the family shield carved in stone, a symbol that once marked belonging to Venice's nobility and their standing in the city. Such heraldic signs told visitors who held power and influence along the canal.
The palace is situated in the Dorsoduro district and is best viewed from a boat or from the canalside path, where the water entrance and stonework are clearly visible. Visit when daylight is bright and the stone details stand out well against the water.
The upper floor features an unusual asymmetrical window arrangement dominated by a projecting balcony on one side while the other side has simpler openings. This irregular design stands apart from the ordered appearance of the main noble floor and hints at later modifications or varying construction periods.
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