Palazzo Balbi
Encyclopedia
Palazzo Balbi is a palace on the Canal Grande, Venice
, northern Italy
. It is included in the sestiere
(quarter) of Dorsoduro
, to the right of Ca' Foscari. Currently it is the seat of the President of the Veneto
region and of the regional council.
It was built from 1582, under desgin by Alessandro Vittoria
as the residence of the Venetian patrician family of the Balbi. In the 19th century it was acquired by Michelangelo Guggenheim and later by the Adriatic Electric Society. It became a property of the Veneto region in 1971.
and entresol, and a symmetrical façade.
The lower floor has a large portal in the center featuring a mascaron
and tympanum
; there are two minor entrances at the sides. The two upper floors are divided intro three sectors by false columns and separated horizontally by a wide frame. In the center are three triple mullioned windows featuring couples of Doric columns and parapets. Between the windows at the first floor are coat of arms of the Balbi family.
Under the notched cornice
are small oval windows, placed within an elaborated stone frame. On the top are two obelisk-shaped pinnacles, similar to those in the Palazzo Belloni Battagia
.
The interior houses 18th century frescoes by Jacopo Guarana.
Venice
Venice is a city in northern Italy which is renowned for the beauty of its setting, its architecture and its artworks. It is the capital of the Veneto region...
, northern Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
. It is included in the sestiere
Sestiere
A sestiere is a subdivision of certain Italian towns and cities. The word is from sesto, or sixth; and is thus used only for towns divided into six districts. The best-known example are the sestieri of Venice, but Ascoli Piceno, Genoa, Milan and Rapallo, for example, were also divided into sestieri...
(quarter) of Dorsoduro
Dorsoduro
Dorsoduro is one of the six sestieri of Venice, northern Italy.Dorsoduro includes the highest land areas of the city and also Giudecca island and Isola Sacca Fisola...
, to the right of Ca' Foscari. Currently it is the seat of the President of the Veneto
Veneto
Veneto is one of the 20 regions of Italy. Its population is about 5 million, ranking 5th in Italy.Veneto had been for more than a millennium an independent state, the Republic of Venice, until it was eventually annexed by Italy in 1866 after brief Austrian and French rule...
region and of the regional council.
It was built from 1582, under desgin by Alessandro Vittoria
Alessandro Vittoria
Alessandro Vittoria was an Italian Mannerist sculptor of the Venetian school, "one of the main representatives of the Venetian classical style" and rivalling Giambologna as the foremost sculptors of the late 16th century in Italy....
as the residence of the Venetian patrician family of the Balbi. In the 19th century it was acquired by Michelangelo Guggenheim and later by the Adriatic Electric Society. It became a property of the Veneto region in 1971.
Description
The palace has two floors, with a mezzanineMezzanine
Mezzanine may refer to:* Mezzanine , an intermediate floor between main floors of a building* Mezzanine, in technology, can refer to a thin sheet of plastic insulating different parts of circuitry from each other in cramped environments, such as laptop interiors* Mezzanine board, or daughterboard,...
and entresol, and a symmetrical façade.
The lower floor has a large portal in the center featuring a mascaron
Mascaron (architecture)
In architecture, a mascaron ornament is a face, usually human, sometimes frightening or chimeric whose function was originally to frighten away evil spirits so that they would not enter the building. The concept was subsequently adapted to become a purely decorative element. The most recent...
and tympanum
Tympanum (architecture)
In architecture, a tympanum is the semi-circular or triangular decorative wall surface over an entrance, bounded by a lintel and arch. It often contains sculpture or other imagery or ornaments. Most architectural styles include this element....
; there are two minor entrances at the sides. The two upper floors are divided intro three sectors by false columns and separated horizontally by a wide frame. In the center are three triple mullioned windows featuring couples of Doric columns and parapets. Between the windows at the first floor are coat of arms of the Balbi family.
Under the notched cornice
Cornice
Cornice molding is generally any horizontal decorative molding that crowns any building or furniture element: the cornice over a door or window, for instance, or the cornice around the edge of a pedestal. A simple cornice may be formed just with a crown molding.The function of the projecting...
are small oval windows, placed within an elaborated stone frame. On the top are two obelisk-shaped pinnacles, similar to those in the Palazzo Belloni Battagia
Palazzo Belloni Battagia
Palazzo Belloni Battagia is a palace on the Canal Grande, Venice, northern Italy. It is included in the sestiere of Santa Croce, between the Fondaco del Megio and Ca' Tron, near the church of San Stae.It was built in the mid-17th century under design by Baldassarre Longhena, as the residence of...
.
The interior houses 18th century frescoes by Jacopo Guarana.