The Palazzo Longo is a historic building in Venice, Italy, located in the Cannaregio sestiere, near the Fondamente Nove and the Church of the Gesuiti. Overlooking the Rio dei Gesuiti and close to the lagoon’s northern edge, it offers stunning views toward the islands of Murano and San Michele. Built at the end of the 15th century as the residence of a Venetian senator, this late Gothic palace reflects the city’s mercantile and political elite during the Renaissance. Today, it serves as a holiday apartment complex, blending historic charm with modern hospitality.
The Palazzo Longo’s history is tied to Venice’s patrician class and
Cannaregio’s development as a residential hub:
Construction (Late
15th Century): Erected around 1490–1500, the palace was commissioned by
an unnamed member of the Venetian Senate, likely from the Longo family,
a noble clan with roots in Venice’s political and mercantile circles.
The late 15th century was a high point for Venice, with wealth from
trade fueling grand residences. The palace’s location in Cannaregio,
then a growing district for senators and merchants, suggests it was
built to reflect status while remaining close to the lagoon’s trade
routes.
Ownership and Evolution: The Longo family, though not as
prominent as the Contarini or Morosini, were part of Venice’s
aristocracy, with members serving in the Great Council or as diplomats.
The palace likely passed through various owners over centuries, as noble
families intermarried or sold properties amid Venice’s economic shifts.
By the 18th century, many such palazzi were subdivided or leased, and
Palazzo Longo may have housed multiple families or tenants during this
period of decline.
Post-Republic Era (1797 Onward): After Napoleon’s
dissolution of the Venetian Republic, palazzi often faced neglect or
repurposing. Palazzo Longo’s survival suggests it retained value due to
its canal views and proximity to key sites like the Rialto and San
Marco. In the 19th and 20th centuries, it likely served as apartments or
offices, adapting to Venice’s tourism-driven economy.
Modern
Conversion: By the late 20th or early 21st century, the palace was
restored and converted into holiday apartments, catering to visitors
seeking an authentic Venetian experience. This aligns with Cannaregio’s
transformation into a district balancing local life with tourism,
offering proximity to attractions without San Marco’s crowds.
Palazzo Longo exemplifies late Venetian Gothic
architecture, with elements of the emerging Renaissance style, tailored
to Venice’s lagoon environment:
Facade:
Rio dei Gesuiti
Frontage: The facade, facing the canal, is likely a three-story
composition, typical of Cannaregio’s palazzi, with a focus on light and
accessibility. Late Gothic features include pointed arches and tracery,
softened by Renaissance symmetry, as seen in contemporary palazzi like
Ca’ d’Oro. The facade may have a polifora—a multi-light window with five
or six arches—on the piano nobile, framed in Istrian stone, a durable
limestone resisting saltwater corrosion.
Ground Floor: A wide water
portal, also in Istrian stone, allows boat access to the androne
(entrance hall), essential for deliveries in a carless city. The portal
is likely flanked by rounded or pointed arches, possibly with decorative
keystones or rosettes, reflecting Gothic-Byzantine influences from
Venice’s trade with the East.
Upper Floors: The second floor may
feature bifore (twin-arched windows) or monofore (single windows), with
slender columns and quatrefoil tracery, balancing light and privacy. A
third floor or mezzanine, if present, would have smaller rectangular
windows, used for storage or servants’ quarters.
Material and Color:
The facade combines Istrian stone for structural elements with brick,
coated in plaster painted a pale hue (e.g., cream, pink, or ochre),
harmonizing with Cannaregio’s colorful waterfront. Traces of faded
frescoes, common in Gothic palazzi, may linger, though exposure to
humidity likely erased most.
Structure:
Tripartite Layout: The
palace follows the Venetian model: a ground-floor androne for trade or
boat access, a piano nobile for formal living, and upper floors for
private rooms. Its footprint, constrained by the canal and neighboring
buildings, emphasizes height over width, likely reaching 20 meters tall.
Foundation: Built on thousands of alder wood piles driven into the
lagoon’s mud, the palace uses lightweight brick to minimize subsidence.
This engineering, perfected over centuries, ensures stability despite
Venice’s shifting terrain.
Courtyard or Garden: A small rear
courtyard or garden, accessed via a calle near the Gesuiti, likely
exists, with a wellhead for rainwater collection via cisterns. This
space provides ventilation and light, crucial in Cannaregio’s dense
layout.
Interior:
Androne: The canal-level hall, once used for
unloading goods, now serves as a lobby for apartment guests. It may
retain a vaulted ceiling or exposed beams, with modern upgrades like
marble or terrazzo flooring and lighting for ambiance.
Piano Nobile:
The main salon, or portego, is a spacious room with high ceilings,
originally frescoed or paneled for senatorially grandeur. While original
decor (e.g., 15th-century paintings or stucco) may be lost, restored
elements like wooden beams or Gothic arches could remain. Today, it’s
likely divided into apartments, with canal-view balconies or terraces.
Apartments: The upper floors house holiday flats, blending historic
features—terrazzo floors, arched doorways—with modern amenities like
kitchens, Wi-Fi, and air conditioning. Descriptions from tourism sites
highlight Murano glass chandeliers and Venetian textiles, evoking the
palace’s noble past.
Decorative Arts: If original artworks survived,
they might include senator portraits or religious scenes, though most
were likely dispersed. Modern decor includes replicas or curated pieces,
such as gilded mirrors or Fortuny lamps, to maintain Venetian flair.
Environmental Adaptation:
The elevated piano nobile and
reinforced ground floor mitigate acqua alta, with flood barriers likely
added post-1966 (Venice’s worst flood). Large windows capture lagoon
breezes, reducing humidity, while brick walls, coated with lime plaster,
ensure breathability.
The canal-side portal, possibly less used
today, recalls when boats were the only transport, with gondola moorings
still visible.
Palazzo Longo’s setting in Cannaregio places it in Venice’s largest
and most diverse sestiere, known for its local vibe and historic depth:
Rio dei Gesuiti and Fondamente Nove: The palace faces the narrow Rio
dei Gesuiti, with the Fondamente Nove—a wide, lagoon-facing quay—steps
away. This location offers views of Murano’s glass kilns and San
Michele’s cypresses, tying it to Venice’s island network.
Cannaregio
Sestiere: Cannaregio blends residential calm with cultural gems,
contrasting San Marco’s tourist crush. The palace’s proximity to the
Strada Nova (700 meters south), a commercial artery, and the Jewish
Ghetto (500 meters southwest) roots it in a vibrant neighborhood.
Nearby Landmarks:
Church of the Gesuiti (100 meters east): A Baroque
masterpiece with a dazzling interior, it overshadows the palace but
shares its elite patronage.
Madonna dell’Orto (400 meters west): A
Gothic church with Tintoretto’s works, it mirrors Palazzo Longo’s
15th-century aesthetic.
Ca’ d’Oro (600 meters south): A Gothic icon,
it’s grander but akin to Longo’s canal-side elegance.
Ponte delle
Guglie (800 meters southwest): This spired bridge links the palace to
central Venice via the Cannaregio Canal.
Accessibility: The
Fondamente Nove vaporetto stop, a 2-minute walk, connects to Murano,
Burano, and San Marco. The Orto stop serves Cannaregio’s quieter routes.
Pedestrians reach the palace via calli like Calle dei Riformati or Calle
Longo, with the Santa Lucia railway station (1.2 km southwest)
accessible for arrivals.
Views: From the facade, the palace overlooks
the canal’s gentle flow and lagoon vistas, with Murano’s skyline glowing
at dusk. From the Fondamente, its Gothic arches frame a serene
waterfront, less hectic than the Grand Canal.
Palazzo Longo, though less documented than major palazzi, contributes
to Venice’s rich tapestry:
Senatorial Status: As a senator’s
residence, it reflects the power of Venice’s Great Council, where
1,000–2,000 nobles governed the Republic. The Longo family’s role in
diplomacy or trade likely funded the palace, showcasing their wealth
through Gothic splendor.
Gothic Legacy: Built at the cusp of the
Renaissance, the palace captures Venetian Gothic’s peak, with pointed
arches and tracery echoing the Doge’s Palace. Its canal-side design,
prioritizing light and trade, embodies Venice’s aquatic identity,
distinct from mainland fortresses.
Cannaregio’s Narrative: The palace
anchors Cannaregio’s history as a merchant and noble enclave, near the
Ghetto and Gesuiti, where diverse communities coexisted. Its quieter
setting contrasts with San Marco’s pomp, offering insight into Venice’s
everyday elite.
Tourism’s Evolution: Its conversion to holiday
apartments mirrors Venice’s shift from empire to cultural destination,
preserving heritage while meeting modern demands. Guests experience a
senator’s lifestyle—canal views, Gothic ambiance—democratizing the
palazzo’s legacy.
Today, Palazzo Longo operates as a holiday apartment complex,
offering a unique stay in a historic setting:
Hospitality: The
palace houses several self-catering apartments, ranging from studios to
multi-bedroom units, marketed for their lagoon views and Gothic charm.
Features include modern kitchens, Murano glass decor, and canal-facing
balconies, with rates around €150–€400 per night, depending on season.
Reviews praise its location—off the tourist track yet near key sites—and
authentic Venetian feel.
Cultural Engagement: The apartments attract
travelers seeking history, with nearby restaurants like Osteria Anice
Stellato serving Venetian dishes (e.g., risotto di gò). The palace may
host small events, like wine tastings or art talks, though it’s
primarily residential.
Preservation: Restoration efforts, likely in
the 1990s or 2000s, reinforced the wooden piles, waterproofed the
androne, and restored Gothic elements like arches or beams. Venice’s
Superintendency ensures compliance with heritage laws, balancing
tourism’s impact with conservation. Acqua alta remains a challenge, with
pumps and barriers protecting the ground floor.
Tourist Appeal: The
palace appeals to discerning visitors—art lovers, history buffs, or
couples—drawn to Cannaregio’s authenticity. Its proximity to Fondamente
Nove’s ferries makes it a base for island-hopping, while calli lead to
hidden gems like the Church of San Girolamo (900 meters northwest).
Community Role: Unlike museum-palazzi, it’s a lived-in space, fostering
interaction between guests and locals at nearby bacari or markets,
sustaining Cannaregio’s neighborhood spirit.
Lagoon Vantage: Its nearness to Fondamente Nove offers rare
unobstructed views of the lagoon, a privilege once reserved for Venice’s
elite, now shared with guests.
Gothic-Renaissance Cusp: Built as
Gothic waned, the palace may blend pointed arches with classical
columns, a microcosm of Venice’s architectural shift.
Senator’s Life:
The original owner likely hosted Senate colleagues in the portego,
discussing trade routes or wars, with gondolas moored below.
Tourism
Pioneer: Its apartment model reflects Cannaregio’s early embrace of
boutique lodging, predating Airbnb’s Venice boom.