Ca Rezzonico

Ca Rezzonico in the Dorsoduro area is one of the greatest palaces on the Grand Canal, built partly in the seventeenth and partly in the eighteenth century. Since 1934, it has been owned by Venice, and it houses the Museo del Settecento Veneziano (Museum of Venice of the eighteenth century). Beautiful rooms, some of them decorated with frescoes by Tiepolo, furniture collections and works of art from the eighteenth century.

Robert Browning

Ca Rezzonico is believed to have been the last home of poet Robert Browning. In 1888, his son Pen Barrett Browning bought the palazzo, and Browning spent the last months of his life in a mezzanine apartment next to the courtyard. The poet died here on December 12, 1889, in this room, where the collection of Mestrovich is now located. Visitors can only access the two halls used for the exhibition. Outside, you can see a stone plaque on the wall of the building, which remembers the poet Roberto Browning and quotes his lines: "Open my heart and you will see Italy"

Purchase of a palace

In 1712, the Ca Rezzonico Palace was acquired from the Rezzonico family of Genoa, who completed the construction of this house and properly decorated it. They were known for throwing huge parties. The house is decorated with paintings, frescoes and Baroque furniture, and the most remarkable room is the Ballroom. Starting in 1810, Ca Rezzonico changed hands several times, and eventually it was bought by the state.

Museum visit

The main entrance to the Ca Rezzonico is marked by an impressive gate, richly decorated with architectural details and a basin with a large goldfish. On one side is a garden with benches, which can be accessed for free. The courtyard of the first floor and the lobby lead to the entrance to the water of the Grand Canal. An antique gondola with an enclosed cabin is on display inside. The rooms are furnished with furniture and art objects from the museum's collection, some of which are largely designed in the Baroque style.

Gallery of paintings

The second floor is used to showcase more works of art, including works by Canaletto, beautiful Venetian vignettes by Pietro Longhi, and two large Venetian scenes by Francesco Guardi, one depicting nuns being visited by their families, and the other depicting Ridotto players. However, the most striking exhibit on this floor of the Ca Rezzonico is a series of small rooms designed to showcase frescoes taken from the Tiepolo family villa on the mainland, Villa Zianigo.