Palazzo Civran Grimani, Neoclassical palace in San Polo, Venice, Italy
Palazzo Civran Grimani is a Neoclassical palace in the San Polo district of Venice, overlooking the Grand Canal where it meets the Rio della Frescada, between Palazzo Dandolo Paolucci and Palazzo Caotorta-Angaran. Its post-Palladian facade continues on the side with simpler forms; the rusticated ground floor carries a water portal, and the noble floor has seven single-light windows and a long balcony that runs on around the corner.
The palace was rebuilt in the 18th century on the site of a Gothic building erected no later than the 15th century. Many architectural historians, including Elena Bassi, attribute the renovation to Giorgio Massari, who may have worked there between 1720 and 1740. In 1818 the Grimani family moved in after losing their palace in the parish of San Luca to the state; they later sold and repurchased this mansion, keeping it into modern times. Mayor Filippo Grimani lived here from 1895 to 1916.
The palace represents the architectural shift in Venice during the 1700s, when Neoclassical designs replaced medieval Gothic structures along the Grand Canal.
The palace faces the Grand Canal at the mouth of the Rio della Frescada, between Palazzo Dandolo Paolucci and Palazzo Caotorta-Angaran, so it is seen from the water rather than entered. Vaporetto riders pass it on the canal; from the San Tomà stop it is a short walk to the Rio della Frescada, which runs along the side facade.
Behind the palace lies a substantial garden that has been well maintained despite Venice's dense urban setting. This green space remains largely unseen by casual visitors who only glimpse the building from the canal.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 93,896 contributors worldwide.