Palazzo Correr Contarini Zorzi, Renaissance palace in Cannaregio, Venice, Italy

Palazzo Correr Contarini Zorzi is a Renaissance palace on the Grand Canal with two monumental water portals featuring symmetrical quadrangular windows. The facade displays noble floors decorated with three-part window openings and small balconies that exemplify the refined residential style of the period.

The palace was built in 1678 on the site of an earlier Gothic structure, representing the transition from late medieval to Renaissance architectural style. Over time it served as the residence of several prominent Venetian families including the Correr, Soranzo, Zorzi, and Contarini.

The nickname Ca' dei Cuori comes from the wrought-iron coats of arms on the façade, which carry heart motifs. The palace was commissioned by the Correr and later passed to the Soranzo, Zorzi and Contarini families, whose names make up its full title. Look for the iron emblems on the front facing the Grand Canal.

The palace stands on the north bank of the Grand Canal in Cannaregio, between Palazzo Querini Papozze and Palazzo Gritti, and is best seen from a vaporetto or the opposite bank. The two water portals open directly onto the canal, so there is no land entrance for visitors; the interior, with its neoclassical frescoes, is not open to the public.

Antonio Correr, a resident of this palace, famously rejected wearing the powdered wigs that symbolized status in Venetian society. His refusal to conform to this fashion convention distinguished him as someone willing to challenge social expectations.