The Palazzo Zaguri, located at Campo San Maurizio, 2668, 30124, in the San Marco sestiere of Venice, Italy, is a historic Venetian Gothic palace dating back to the 14th century. Originally built by the Pasqualini family, it later became associated with the Zaguri family, who owned it from the 18th century until 1810. Renowned for its Gothic architecture, historical significance as a residence for notable figures like Giacomo Casanova, and its recent transformation into a cultural center hosting exhibitions, such as the Tutankhamun and Esoterica shows, the palace is managed by Venice Exhibition Srl. Its restoration between 2013 and 2017 has revitalized its role as a museum and library, making it a vibrant addition to Venice’s cultural landscape.
Palazzo Zaguri, originally known as Palazzo Pasqualini, was
constructed between the 14th and 15th centuries by the Pasqualini
family, wealthy Milanese silk merchants who were influential members of
the Scuola Grande della Carità (now part of Santa Maria della Carità).
The Pasqualini amassed a significant art collection, praised by
16th-century art historian Marcantonio Michiel, including works by
Titian’s workshop, Giorgione, Giovanni Bellini, Gentile da Fabriano, and
Antonello da Messina, displayed within the palace. In 1496, the palace
hosted Đurađ Crnojević, a Montenegrin prince exiled after a Turkish
invasion, and his wife, a daughter of Antonio Erizzo, later welcomed
into Venetian nobility. The Pasqualini owned the palace until 1521, when
Antonio Pasqualini sold it for 5,400 ducats to Alvise Priuli. In 1565,
Giacomo Priuli sold part of the building to Vincenzo Pellegrini, whose
sister Marina married Girolamo Zaguri, leading to the Zaguri family’s
ownership by 1740.
The Zaguri family, originally Saraceni from
Kotor (modern Montenegro), relocated to Venice in the late 15th century,
gaining citizenship in 1504 and nobility in 1646 for their role in the
War of Candia. Pietro I Antonio Zaguri (1733–1806), a cultured patron
and friend of Giacomo Casanova, hosted the libertine in the palace, as
noted in Casanova’s memoirs and correspondence. The palace’s last Zaguri
heir, Pietro II Marco, died in 1810, after which it passed to the
Braganza family and later the Congregation of Vicenza and Fini family.
Between 1905 and 1909, the City of Venice acquired the first and second
floors for a women’s school, and from 1962 to 1983, it housed the Sanudo
middle school, renamed Dante Alighieri. In 2007, the palace was sold to
a private investment fund, and from 2013 to 2017, Venice Exhibition Srl,
led by Mauro Rigoni, invested €5 million in a conservative restoration,
completed in December 2017, to transform it into a cultural center. The
restoration, overseen by architect Alberto Torsello and the
Soprintendenza, uncovered a 16th-century well in the courtyard,
documented in historical maps.
Since 2018, Palazzo Zaguri has
hosted exhibitions like Venice Secrets: Crime and Justice (2018),
Leonardo da Vinci (2019), Tutankhamun (ongoing as of 2025), and
Esoterica (2024), alongside a Ubik bookshop offering over 150,000
titles. The palace’s transformation into a museum and library, employing
20 local Venetians, reflects its role as a modern cultural hub, as noted
by Monica Cesarato and Visit Venezia.
Palazzo Zaguri is located in the San Marco sestiere, Venice’s most
central and tourist-heavy district, at Campo San Maurizio, a charming
square near the Gallerie dell’Accademia (350 meters) and Piazza San
Marco (350 meters). Its position places it close to Chiesa di San Moisè
(300 meters), Chiesa di San Zulian (400 meters), Palazzo Contarini del
Bovolo (300 meters), Scuola di Santa Maria degli Albanesi (400 meters),
Palazzo Molin del Cuoridoro (350 meters), Zecca of Venice (350 meters),
Negozio Olivetti (350 meters), Palazzo Barbarigo Minotto (400 meters),
and Palazzo Loredan (500 meters). Its inland campo setting contrasts
with the canal-front prominence of Palazzo Gussoni, Palazzo Basadonna,
Palazzo Balbi, Palazzo Barbarigo della Terrazza, Peggy Guggenheim
Collection, Ca’ Rezzonico, Santa Maria della Carità, and Ca’ Bembo,
aligning with the tucked-away locations of Scuola di San Giorgio degli
Schiavoni and Santa Maria dei Miracoli.
The nearest vaporetto
stops are Accademia (Lines 1 and 2, 350 meters) and Santa Maria del
Giglio (Line 1, 200 meters), with San Marco Vallaresso (Line 1, 350
meters) and San Zaccaria (Lines 1, 2, 4.1, 4.2, 5.1, 5.2, 500 meters)
also accessible. The Santa Lucia railway station is 1.6 km away,
reachable by vaporetto or a 20-minute walk via the Strada Nova, and the
Alilaguna service to Venice Marco Polo Airport (13 km) is available at
San Zaccaria or Accademia. The palace’s central location ensures high
accessibility, similar to San Moisè, San Zulian, Zecca, Negozio
Olivetti, and Palazzo Loredan, but less isolated than San Michele in
Isola or San Biagio.
As a cultural center managed by Venice
Exhibition Srl, Palazzo Zaguri is open daily from 11:00 AM to 6:00 PM
(last entry 5:00 PM), with admission at €18 for adults, €15 for children
(6–12), seniors (over 65), students, teachers, law enforcement, and
people with disabilities, and free for children under 6 and caregivers
of disabled persons. Audio guides (included) and virtual reality (VR)
experiences enhance the visit, with tickets bookable via
www.palazzozaguri.it or www.tiqets.com. The palace is air-conditioned
and partially wheelchair-accessible, with ramps for the ground floor but
stairs to upper levels, unlike the fully accessible Peggy Guggenheim
Collection or Santa Maria della Carità. No cloakroom is available, so
visitors should plan accordingly. Visitors should check tide forecasts
via the Hi!Tide app, as acqua alta may affect access in San Marco’s
low-lying areas. The Campo San Maurizio, with nearby cafés, offers a
lively yet less crowded setting than Piazza San Marco.
Palazzo Zaguri is a striking example of Venetian Gothic architecture,
built in the 14th century with later Renaissance and Baroque
modifications. Its two prominent façades, overlooking Campo San Maurizio
and the Rio di San Maurizio, reflect the Pasqualini family’s wealth and
artistic patronage, with the Zaguri family’s ownership adding historical
depth. The 2013–2017 restoration by Alberto Torsello preserved its
Gothic charm while modernizing it for exhibitions, as noted by Monica
Cesarato.
Exterior
The palace features two main façades, both
in polychrome brick and Istrian stone, a rarity in Venice:
Campo
San Maurizio Façade: The primary façade features a quadrifora
(four-light window) with pointed Gothic arches, trefoil tracery, and
marble balustrades on the first piano nobile, flanked by single-light
windows. The ground floor has a rectangular portal with a Pasqualini
coat of arms (a “P” with three horizontal bars), topped by a dentilled
cornice and small circular windows on the second piano nobile, blending
Gothic and Renaissance elements.
Rio di San Maurizio Façade: Equally
prominent, this canal-side façade mirrors the campo façade with a
trifora and similar Gothic details, restored to highlight the original
brickwork. The adjacent Ponte Zaguri connects the campo to Santa Maria
del Giglio.
Courtyard: An internal courtyard, uncovered during the
2013–2017 restoration, features a 16th-century well with a Pasqualini
emblem, adding historical charm, similar to the wells in Ca’ Bembo and
Palazzo Basadonna.
The Gothic façades contrast with the Baroque
opulence of Ca’ Rezzonico, San Moisè, and San Geremia, aligning with the
fiorito style of Palazzo Molin, Palazzo Loredan, Ca’ Bembo, and Santa
Maria della Carità, but less classical than San Michele in Isola, Santa
Maria dei Miracoli, or Zecca. The modern exhibition spaces contrast with
the historical architecture, unlike the modernist simplicity of Negozio
Olivetti.
Interior
The interior, spanning 36 rooms across five
floors (2,500 m²), was restored to preserve Gothic arches and frescoes
while incorporating modern exhibition facilities. Key features include:
Grand Staircase: A long, restored staircase, highlighted during
exhibitions, leads to upper floors, with Gothic arches and 17th-century
stucco decorations, comparable to Palazzo Balbi’s staircase.
Exhibition Halls: Spacious rooms with Gothic arches, Murano glass
chandeliers, and faded frescoes, possibly by Antonio Zanchi, are
equipped with VR headsets and interactive displays for exhibitions like
Tutankhamun and Esoterica, creating a mystical atmosphere.
Library
and Bookshop: The ground floor houses a Ubik bookshop and library,
offering over 150,000 titles, integrating cultural access with the
exhibition space, as noted by Visit Venezia.
Council Chamber: A
former salon, now used for exhibitions, retains 18th-century stucco and
minor frescoes, less opulent than Ca’ Rezzonico or Palazzo Barbarigo
Minotto.
The interior’s blend of historical grandeur and modern
utility contrasts with the intact Baroque interiors of San Carmini and
Ca’ Rezzonico, aligning with the adapted spaces of Santa Maria della
Carità, Santa Margherita, Ca’ Bembo, and Scuola di San Giorgio degli
Schiavoni.
Palazzo Zaguri’s artistic significance lies in its historical
collection and modern exhibitions, with most original artworks dispersed
after the Pasqualini era. Key features include:
Pasqualini
Collection (15th–16th century): Documented by Marcantonio Michiel, the
collection included a Last Supper by Titian’s workshop (partially by
Giorgione), a Madonna by Giovanni Bellini, works by Gentile da Fabriano,
and portraits by Antonello da Messina, now dispersed to museums like the
Gallerie dell’Accademia.
Frescoes (c. 1700): Faded 18th-century
frescoes, possibly by Antonio Zanchi, depict allegorical scenes in the
council chamber, restored in 2017, comparable to frescoes in Palazzo
Loredan and Ca’ Bembo.
Tutankhamun Exhibition (ongoing as of 2025):
Features 1,200 certified replicas of Egyptian artifacts (e.g.,
Nefertiti’s bust, Rosetta Stone, Tutankhamun’s treasures), spread across
36 galleries with VR experiences and audio guides, praised for their
“impeccable recreation” in Tripadvisor reviews.
Esoterica Exhibition
(2024): Explores witchcraft, Freemasonry, and shamanism with interactive
displays and VR tours of occult practices, creating a “mystical
atmosphere,” as noted by Travel Buddies.
Leonardo da Vinci Exhibition
(2019): Included a reproduction of Leonardo’s 1515 self-portrait,
crafted by Fernando Masone using medieval techniques, donated to the
Royal Museums of Turin, highlighting the palace’s role in innovative
exhibitions.
The palace’s modern exhibitions contrast with the
Renaissance and Baroque masterpieces of San Apostoli, San Giuseppe di
Castello, San Zulian, San Carmini, Santa Maria della Carità, Ca’
Rezzonico, and Scuola di San Giorgio degli Schiavoni, aligning with the
contemporary focus of Peggy Guggenheim Collection and Negozio Olivetti,
but surpassing the modest decor of San Biagio, Nome di Gesù, Santa
Margherita, San Michele in Isola, Ca’ Bembo, and Palazzo Loredan.
Palazzo Zaguri embodies Venice’s mercantile and cultural heritage
through the Pasqualini and Zaguri families’ patronage, reflecting the
city’s role as a hub for trade and art, akin to Palazzo Gussoni, Palazzo
Molin, Palazzo Loredan, and Ca’ Bembo. Its association with Giacomo
Casanova, who visited Pietro I Antonio Zaguri, adds literary
significance, paralleling the cultural roles of Palazzo Barbarigo della
Terrazza and Palazzo Barbarigo Minotto. The 2013–2017 restoration
transformed it into a cultural center, hosting exhibitions that explore
history, science, and esotericism, aligning with the modern adaptations
of Santa Maria della Carità (museum), Ca’ Rezzonico (museum), Santa
Margherita (auditorium), Ca’ Bembo (Biennale venue), Negozio Olivetti
(design museum), and Scuola di San Giorgio degli Schiavoni (museum).
The palace’s role as a Ubik bookshop and library integrates it into
Venice’s intellectual landscape, similar to the scholarly focus of Ca’
Bembo and Zecca’s Marciana Library. Its exhibitions, such as Tutankhamun
and Esoterica, attract a global audience, enhancing Venice’s cultural
tourism, as noted by Visit Venezia and Pelago. The palace’s location in
Campo San Maurizio, steps from Piazza San Marco, ties it to Venice’s
cultural heart, contrasting with the religious focus of San Carmini, San
Geremia, San Michele in Isola, and Santa Maria dei Miracoli, or the
civic roles of Palazzo Loredan and Palazzo Balbi.
Palazzo Zaguri is a vibrant destination for history, art, and culture
enthusiasts, praised in Tripadvisor reviews (4.5/5, ranked among San
Marco’s top attractions) for its “stunning Gothic architecture” and
“immersive exhibitions.” Visitors highlight the Tutankhamun Exhibition
for its “faithful replicas” and VR experiences, though some note issues
with VR headset functionality, and the Esoterica Exhibition for its
“captivating journey into the dark arts,” with audio guides praised for
accuracy despite occasional translation issues. The palace’s 36
galleries and five floors, covering 3,000 m², offer a 1.5–2-hour visit,
longer than the compact Santa Maria dei Miracoli or Scuola di San
Giorgio degli Schiavoni. The Ubik bookshop and gift shop provide unique
souvenirs, enhancing the experience, as noted by WhichMuseum.
The
Campo San Maurizio, with nearby cafés like Caffè Florian (350 meters),
offers a lively yet manageable setting compared to Piazza San Marco.
Nearby attractions include:
Gallerie dell’Accademia (Santa Maria
della Carità) (350 meters): Venetian masterpieces.
Chiesa di San
Moisè (300 meters): Baroque church with ornate façade.
Palazzo
Contarini del Bovolo (300 meters): Iconic spiral staircase.
Negozio
Olivetti (350 meters): Carlo Scarpa’s modernist showroom.
Dining
options like Ristorante Quadri (350 meters) or Osteria da Carla (300
meters) offer Venetian cuisine.
For a family of four seeking
affordable three-star accommodation in San Marco, options include Hotel
Al Codega (300 meters) or Hotel Antico Capon (400 meters), bookable via
Booking.com or Tripadvisor. Visitors should book tickets online via
www.palazzozaguri.it, arrive early to avoid crowds, and check acqua alta
conditions via the Hi!Tide app, pairing the visit with San Marco’s
attractions like Piazza San Marco or the Gallerie dell’Accademia for a
comprehensive experience.