The Palazzo Nani is a distinguished Renaissance palace located in the Cannaregio sestiere of Venice, Italy, overlooking the Canale di Cannaregio between Palazzo Savorgnan and Palazzo Bonfadini Vivante. Constructed in the 16th century as a residence for the Nani family (later Nani Mocenigo) of the Cannaregio branch, the palace is a testament to Venice’s architectural and cultural heritage. Remodeled in the 1680s by sculptor and architect Alessandro Vittoria, it once housed a substantial art collection and was adorned with grand decorative elements. Following a 22-month renovation completed in 2021, led by architect Marco Piva, the palace was transformed into the Radisson Collection Hotel, Palazzo Nani Venice, a five-star luxury hotel that preserves its historical features while offering modern hospitality.
The Palazzo Nani’s history reflects the Nani family’s prominence,
Venice’s artistic legacy, and the city’s evolving urban landscape.
Construction and Nani Ownership (16th Century–1810):
Built in the
16th century (circa 1550–1570), the Palazzo Nani was commissioned by the
Nani family of the Cannaregio branch, an ancient Venetian family active
in the political, social, and cultural life of the Venetian Republic.
The Nani, originally from Torcello, were included in the Serrata del
Maggior Consiglio (1297), cementing their noble status, similar to the
Donà (Palazzo Donà a Sant’Aponal) or Barbarigo (Palazzo Barbarigo)
families.
The palace served as a grand residence, reflecting the
family’s wealth from maritime trade and governance. Notable Nani members
included Francesco Nani, a provveditore generale in Dalmatia (1194), and
Giovan Battista Nani (1616–1678), an ambassador who negotiated
Venetian-Ottoman borders after the Peace of Candia (1671).
In the
1680s, the palace was remodeled by Alessandro Vittoria, a renowned
sculptor and architect, who redesigned the façade and interiors, adding
stucco decorations and frescoes that enhanced its Renaissance elegance.
The entrance portal was adorned with two large statues of consuls, and
the palace housed a substantial art collection, including Roman-era
artifacts, making it a cultural hub akin to Palazzo Venier-Manfrin’s
Manfrin collection.
Post-Nani Era (1810–2021):
The Nani family
owned the palace until 1810, when they relocated to the Palazzo
Barbarigo Nani Mocenigo in San Trovaso (Dorsoduro), a Gothic palace
acquired through marriage. This move marked the end of the Cannaregio
branch’s residency, with the palace passing to other uses.
In 1859,
during the Austrian occupation, the palace was converted into barracks,
reflecting Venice’s political upheavals post-1797 (fall of the
Republic). It later served as a school, and its art collection was
gradually dispersed, a fate similar to Palazzo Venier-Manfrin’s
collection after 1860.
By the 20th century, the palace fell into
relative obscurity, used for various institutional purposes, with its
historical features neglected. Its location in Cannaregio, near the
Venetian Ghetto and Santa Lucia railway station, kept it relevant but
less prominent than Grand Canal palaces like Palazzo Erizzo Nani
Mocenigo or Palazzo Barbarigo.
Renovation and Modern Use
(2021–Present):
In 2021, following a 22-month renovation led by
Studio Marco Piva, with restoration by Sirecon s.r.l. and approval from
the Fine Arts Heritage Committee, the palace was transformed into the
Radisson Collection Hotel, Palazzo Nani Venice, a five-star property
with 52 guest rooms, three private apartments, and amenities like the
ZOJA Wine Bar & Terrace. The renovation preserved original frescoes,
stuccos, and architectural elements, uncovering Roman flooring and
historical artifacts during excavations, surveyed by the Superintendence
of Fine Arts and Heritage.
The hotel’s opening in October 2021, with
an official inauguration during the 2022 Venice Carnival, marked a new
chapter, redefining luxury by blending Renaissance heritage with modern
design, as noted in Platform Architecture and Design and Cucineditalia.
Recent Tripadvisor reviews (as of November 2024) praise its immaculate
cleanliness, top-notch service, and historical charm, rating it 4/5 and
ranking it #36 of 370 hotels in Venice, with 224 reviews and 304 photos.
Guests highlight its serene atmosphere and prime location near the
Guglie vaporetto stop, though some note smaller rooms and crowd
challenges at Santa Lucia station.
The Palazzo Nani is a Renaissance palace with Baroque influences from
Vittoria’s 1680s remodeling, its design adapted to the Canale di
Cannaregio’s urban context. The 2021 renovation preserved its historical
integrity while introducing contemporary elements.
Exterior
Location and Façade:
Located at Fondamenta Cannaregio, 1105, the
palace overlooks the Canale di Cannaregio, a major waterway connecting
to the Grand Canal, near Palazzo Savorgnan and Palazzo Bonfadini
Vivante. Its position in the historic Jewish Ghetto area, close to Santa
Lucia station (less than 1 km) and the Guglie vaporetto stop, ensures
accessibility, similar to Palazzo Giovanelli’s proximity to San Stae.
The façade, described in Wikipedia and Archello, spans four levels: a
ground floor, mezzanine, and two noble floors (piani nobili), with an
attic level implied in some sources. It is constructed of brick with
Istrian stone accents, typical of Venetian palaces like Palazzo Donà a
Sant’Aponal or Palazzo Barbarigo, ensuring durability against the
canal’s saline environment.
The façade is asymmetrical due to
19th-century additions extending the building to the right, a
modification that contrasts with the symmetry of Palazzo Erizzo Nani
Mocenigo or Palazzo Barbarigo. It features:
Quadriforas (four-light
windows) on both noble floors, supported by balustrades, flanked by
single-light windows with ogival arches, a hallmark of Venetian
Gothic-Renaissance architecture, as noted in Images of Venice. These
quadriforas resemble those in Palazzo Gradenigo or Palazzo Erizzo Nani
Mocenigo.
Stone coats of arms on either side of the first-floor
quadrifora, likely representing the Nani family, similar to the
Contarini coat of arms on Palazzo Contarini Dal Zaffo.
A water portal
at the ground floor, once decorated with two large statues of consuls
(now lost), facilitates canal access, akin to Palazzo Venier-Manfrin’s
water gates.
The façade’s unadorned appearance today, due to the loss
of original decorations, contrasts with Palazzo Barbarigo’s vibrant
Murano mosaics or Palazzo Donà a Sant’Aponal’s pentafora, but its
regular window layout and balconies maintain Renaissance elegance.
Garden and Courtyard:
The palace includes a 350-square-meter
garden, a rare feature in Venice, described in SPACE International Hotel
Design as a future public space with sculptures, statues, benches, and
two large stone bathtubs recovered from a defunct quarry during
renovations. This garden, open to the city, contrasts with Palazzo
Contarini Dal Zaffo’s private garden but aligns with Palazzo
Venier-Manfrin’s adjacent Parco Savorgnan.
An intimate courtyard,
visible from some guest rooms, provides light and serenity, similar to
the courtyards in Palazzo Gradenigo or Church of Santa Maria delle
Penitenti, enhancing the palace’s tranquil ambiance.
Interior
Layout:
The interior follows a traditional Venetian palace plan, with
a central portego on the first piano nobile, illuminated by the
quadrifora, serving as a reception hall, flanked by smaller rooms, as in
Palazzo Giovanelli or Palazzo Erizzo Nani Mocenigo. The ground floor
houses the main entrance, console reception, and access to the ZOJA Wine
Bar & Terrace, main restaurant, and lounge bar/breakfast room, as
detailed in Cucineditalia and SPACE.
The 52 guest rooms and three
private apartments, spread across the noble floors, vary in size and
design, with categories including Standard, Premium, Junior Suite, and a
Presidential Suite. Each room features high ceilings, parquet floors,
and custom furnishings, preserving the palace’s Renaissance character,
as noted in American Express Travel.
A private meeting room (up to 80
people) and a fitness center cater to modern needs, while a grand
staircase, likely part of Vittoria’s 1680s design, connects the floors,
similar to Palazzo Gradenigo’s marble-inlaid staircase.
Decorative Elements:
The interiors, restored by Studio Marco Piva,
preserve original stuccos and frescoes attributed to Alessandro
Vittoria, particularly in the portego of the first piano nobile, as per
Wikipedia. These include historical ornaments and paintings on walls and
ceilings, magnified by strategic lighting, creating a Renaissance
atmosphere, as described in Platform Architecture and Design.
Rubelli
fabrics, a historic Venetian brand, and Rada Tessuti velvets adorn the
rooms, with Besana Carpet Lab rugs adding texture, reflecting Venetian
aesthetics, as noted in SPACE. White Venezia marble and Paradigma marble
floors in the restaurants, along with a sculptural monolith-filter bar
in teal velvet, blend historical and contemporary design, unlike the
purely historical interiors of Palazzo Donà a Sant’Aponal.
The ZOJA
Wine Bar & Terrace, named after the Nani family, features dark ribbed
wood boiserie, ruby-colored upholstery, and a metal bottle rack, evoking
a boat’s interior, as per Cucineditalia, contrasting with the sacred art
of San Lazzaro dei Mendicanti or Church of the Holy Spirit.
The Palazzo Nani’s artistic value lies in its frescoes, stuccos, and
historical artifacts, preserved through careful restoration.
Frescoes and Stuccos by Alessandro Vittoria:
The portego and select
rooms feature frescoes and stuccos attributed to Vittoria, restored in
2021, depicting mythological or allegorical scenes typical of
Renaissance Venice, as per Wikipedia and Archello. These are less
narrative than Palazzo Contarini Dal Zaffo’s Tiepolo frescoes but align
with Palazzo Gradenigo’s Guarana and Fontebasso works.
The frescoes’
preservation, enhanced by lighting design, creates an immersive
Renaissance experience, as noted in Platform Architecture and Design,
contrasting with Palazzo Barbarigo’s external Murano mosaics.
Historical Art Collection:
The palace’s Roman-era artifacts, part of
the Nani family’s collection, were dispersed post-1810, similar to
Palazzo Venier-Manfrin’s Giorgione collection. No specific artworks
remain on-site, unlike San Lazzaro dei Mendicanti’s Tintoretto or Church
of the Holy Spirit’s Titian, but the frescoes and stuccos maintain
artistic significance.
Archaeological Finds:
Roman flooring
and artifacts uncovered during the 2021 renovation, surveyed by the
Superintendence, add historical depth, as per Cucineditalia, akin to the
stone bathtubs found in the palace’s garden, enhancing its
archaeological value.
The Palazzo Nani embodies Venice’s Renaissance heritage, political
legacy, and modern cultural revival, bridging past and present.
Nani Family Legacy:
The Nani family’s role in Venetian politics,
diplomacy, and culture, exemplified by figures like Giovan Battista
Nani, mirrors the prominence of the Donà (Palazzo Donà a Sant’Aponal),
Barbarigo (Palazzo Barbarigo), or Contarini (Palazzo Contarini Dal
Zaffo). Their relocation to Palazzo Barbarigo Nani Mocenigo in 1810, as
noted in Wikipedia, connects the two palaces, highlighting the family’s
enduring influence.
The palace’s consul statues (now lost) and coats
of arms symbolize the Nani’s aristocratic status, akin to the heraldic
elements in Palazzo Erizzo Nani Mocenigo or Palazzo Donà a Sant’Aponal.
Architectural Importance:
As a Renaissance palace with Baroque
enhancements, the Palazzo Nani reflects Venice’s architectural
evolution, combining Gothic lancet arches with Byzantine and Moorish
influences, as described in Walks of Italy and Images of Venice. Its
quadriforas and asymmetrical façade align with Palazzo Gradenigo’s
loggia or Palazzo Erizzo Nani Mocenigo’s Gothic windows, but the
19th-century additions add a unique historical layer.
The 2021
renovation, overseen by Studio Marco Piva, preserved the palace’s
original structures, frescoes, and floorings, integrating modern design
with Venetian aesthetics, as per Archello and Platform Architecture and
Design, making it a model of adaptive reuse, unlike the private Palazzo
Donà a Sant’Aponal.
Cultural Hub:
Historically, the palace’s
art collection and public access under the Nani family made it a
proto-museum, similar to Palazzo Venier-Manfrin’s Manfrin collection.
Its current role as a Radisson Collection Hotel continues this cultural
engagement, hosting events at the ZOJA Wine Bar & Terrace and offering a
350 m² garden as a public space, as noted in SPACE.
The hotel’s
location in Cannaregio, near the Venetian Ghetto, Rialto Bridge (1
mile), and St. Mark’s Square (1 mile), positions it in an authentic and
vibrant sestiere, as per American Express Travel, contrasting with the
tourist-heavy San Marco (Palazzo Erizzo Nani Mocenigo) or artistic
Dorsoduro (Palazzo Barbarigo, Church of the Holy Spirit).
Tripadvisor
reviews emphasize its historical charm, frescoed rooms, and serene
atmosphere, making it a cultural retreat, akin to Palazzo Gradenigo’s
Wonderful Italy apartment or Santa Maria delle Penitenti’s exhibition
space.
Recent Updates:
The 2021 opening as a Radisson
Collection Hotel, with a soft opening in October 2021 and official
inauguration in February 2022 during the Venice Carnival, marked its
revival, as per SPACE and Cucineditalia. The hotel’s 52 rooms, three
apartments, and ZOJA Wine Bar have earned accolades, with 224 reviews by
November 2024 praising its architecture and service, though some note
room size variability.
The 350 m² garden, planned as a public bar
space, and archaeological finds (Roman flooring, artifacts) uncovered in
2021 enhance its cultural significance, as per Cucineditalia, aligning
with Venice’s UNESCO World Heritage status, as noted in Archello.
Unlike Palazzo Contarini Dal Zaffo’s private garden or Church of
Sant’Andrea della Zirada’s studio use, Palazzo Nani’s hospitality focus
ensures broader engagement, though less than San Lazzaro dei
Mendicanti’s chapel or Church of the Holy Spirit’s religious events.
Current Role:
The Radisson Collection Hotel, Palazzo Nani Venice,
opened in 2021, is a five-star luxury hotel with 52 rooms, three
apartments, a ZOJA Wine Bar & Terrace, main restaurant, lounge bar,
fitness center, and meeting room for up to 80 people, as per Radisson
Hotels and American Express Travel. It redefines luxury by integrating
Renaissance heritage with modern comfort, preserving frescoes, stuccos,
and Roman flooring, as noted in Cucineditalia.
The 350 m² garden,
with sculptures and stone bathtubs, is planned as a public bar space,
enhancing community engagement, as per SPACE, unlike Palazzo Contarini
Dal Zaffo’s private garden or Palazzo Donà a Sant’Aponal’s lack of green
space.
Tripadvisor reviews (November 2024) highlight its elegant
rooms, historical charm, and prime location, though some guests note
smaller rooms and navigation challenges from Santa Lucia station. It
ranks #36 of 370 hotels with a 4/5 rating, reflecting strong guest
satisfaction.
Visiting:
The hotel is fully accessible to
guests, with check-in at 15:00 and check-out at 12:00, located at
Fondamenta Cannaregio, 1105. Room rates start at approximately
€200–€500/night (2024 estimates), with a la carte, buffet, or take-away
breakfast options (e.g., yogurt, fruit, croissant for €18 if not
included), as per Radisson Hotels.
Non-guests can visit the ZOJA Wine
Bar & Terrace or restaurants, offering Venetian cicchetti (small plates)
and cocktails, with a Venetian Spritz as a highlight, as noted in Nani
Mocenigo Palace’s similar bar offerings. Reservations are recommended
via radissonhotels.com.
Accessibility: A 1-minute walk from the
Guglie vaporetto stop (Lines 4.1, 4.2, 5.1, 5.2) and 10-minute walk from
Santa Lucia station, it’s ideal for travelers, akin to Palazzo
Giovanelli’s San Stae access. Venice Marco Polo Airport is a 30-minute
water taxi or 45-minute vaporetto ride (Line 4.2 to Guglie). Nearby
attractions include the Venetian Ghetto (5-minute walk), Ca’ d’Oro
(10-minute walk), Rialto Bridge (15-minute walk), and Murano/Burano
islands (30-minute vaporetto).
Unlike Palazzo Erizzo Nani Mocenigo’s
private status or Church of Sant’Andrea della Zirada’s studio use,
Nani’s hotel offers public engagement, with free Wi-Fi, 24-hour room
service, and event spaces for weddings or cocktails, as per Radisson
Hotels.
Challenges:
Acqua alta (tidal flooding) threatens the
ground floor, as seen in the November 2019 flood, though its elevated
design and Istrian stone mitigate damage, similar to Palazzo Barbarigo
or Church of the Holy Spirit.
Crowds at Santa Lucia station can
complicate arrival with luggage, as noted in Tripadvisor reviews, though
water taxis or vaporetto access alleviate this, unlike Palazzo Donà a
Sant’Aponal’s less navigable San Polo.
The asymmetrical façade and
lost consul statues reduce its external grandeur compared to Palazzo
Barbarigo’s mosaics or Palazzo Erizzo Nani Mocenigo’s Gothic ornateness,
but its restored interiors compensate, as per Archello.