History Grand Canal (Venice)

1 history

1.1 first settlements
1.2 fondaco houses
1.3 venetian-byzantine style
1.4 venetian gothic
1.5 renaissance
1.6 venetian baroque
1.7 neoclassical architecture
1.8 modern era

history
the first settlements

the grand canal follows course of ancient river (possibly branch of brenta) flowing lagoon. adriatic veneti groups lived beside formerly-named rio businiacus before roman age. lived in stilt houses , on fishing , commerce (mainly salt). under rule of roman empire , later of byzantine empire lagoon became populated , important, , in 9th century doge moved seat malamocco safer rivoaltus .

increasing trade followed doge , found in deep grand canal safe , ship accessible canal-port. drainage reveals city became more compact on time: @ time canal wider , flowed between small, tide-subjected islands connected wooden bridges.

fondaco houses

the fondaco dei turchi

along canal, number of fondaco houses increased, buildings combining warehouse , merchant s residence.

a portico (the curia) covers bank , facilitates ships unloading. portico corridor flanked storerooms reaches posterior courtyard. similarly, on first floor loggia large portico illuminates hall open merchant s rooms. façade thereby divided airy central part , 2 more solid sides. low mezzanine offices divides 2 floors.

the fondaco house had lateral defensive towers (torreselle), in fondaco dei turchi (13th century, heavily restored in 19th). german warehouse, fondaco dei tedeschi (which situated on grand canal), reflects high number of foreign merchants working in venice, republic supplied them storerooms , lodging , simultaneously controlled trading activity.

more public buildings built along canal @ rialto: palaces commercial , financial benches (palazzo dei camerlenghi , palazzo dei dieci savi, rebuilt after 1514 fire) , mint. in 1181 nicolò barattieri constructed pontoon bridge connecting rialto mercerie area, later replaced wooden bridge shops on it. warehouses flour , salt more peripheral.

the venetian-byzantine style

from byzantine empire, goods arrived sculptures, friezes, columns , capitals decorate fondaco houses of patrician families. byzantine art merged previous elements resulting in venetian-byzantine style; in architecture characterized large loggias round or elongated arches , polychrome marbles abundance.

along grand canal, these elements preserved in ca farsetti, ca loredan (both municipal seats) , ca da mosto, dating 12th or 13th century. during period rialto had intense building development, determining conformation of canal , surrounding areas. matter of fact, in venice building materials precious , foundations kept: in subsequent restorations, existing elements used again, mixing venetian-byzantine , new styles (ca sagredo, palazzo bembo). polychromy, three-partitioned façades, loggias, diffuse openings , rooms disposition formed particular architectural taste continued in future.

the fourth crusade, loot obtained sack of constantinople (1204), , other historical situations, gave venice eastern influence until late 14th century.

venetian gothic

ca d oro

venetian gothic architecture found favor quite late, splendid flamboyant gothic ( gotico fiorito ) beginning southern façade of doge s palace. verticality , illumination characterizing gothic style found in porticos , loggias of fondaco houses: columns thinner, elongated arches replaced pointed or ogee or lobed ones. porticos rise gently intertwining , drawing open marbles in quatrefoils or similar figures. façades plastered in brilliant colors.

the open marble fascias, referred laces , diffused along grand canal. among 15th-century palaces still showing original appearance ca d oro, palazzo bernardo san polo, ca foscari (now housing university of venice), palazzo pisani moretta, palazzi barbaro, palazzo cavalli-franchetti.

renaissance

by start of 15th century, renaissance architecture motifs appear in such buildings palazzo dario , palazzo corner spinelli; latter designed mauro codussi, pioneer of style in venice. ca vendramin calergi, of projects (now hosting casino), reveals completed transition: numerous , large windows open marbles round-arched , have columns in 3 classical orders.

classical architecture more evident in jacopo sansovino s projects, arrived rome in 1527. along canal designed palazzo corner , palazzo dolfin manin, known grandiosity, horizontal layout of white façades , development around central courtyard. other renaissance buildings palazzo papadopoli , palazzo grimani di san luca. several palaces of period had façades frescoes painters such il pordenone, tintoretto, paolo veronese, of them unfortunately lost. particularly noteworthy frescoes veronese , zelotti on ca cappello, overlooking grand canal @ intersection rio de s. polo.

venetian baroque

santa maria della salute

in 1582, alessandro vittoria began construction of palazzo balbi (now housing government of veneto), in baroque elements can recognized: fashioned cornices, broken pediments, ornamental motifs.

the major baroque architect in venice baldassarre longhena. in 1631 began build magnificent santa maria della salute basilica, 1 of beautiful churches in venice , symbol of grand canal. classical layout of façade features decorations , many statues, latter crowning refined volutes surrounding major dome.

longhena later designed 2 majestic palaces ca pesaro , ca rezzonico (with many carvings , chiaroscuro effects) , santa maria di nazareth church (chiesa degli scalzi). various reasons great architect did not see of these buildings finished, , designs santa maria della salute modified after death.

longhena s themes recur in 2 older façades of palazzo labia, containing famous fresco cycle giambattista tiepolo. in longhenian school grew domenico rossi (san stae s façade, ca corner della regina) , giorgio massari, later completed ca rezzonico.

the 16th , 17th centuries mark beginning of republic s decline, nevertheless saw highest building activity on grand canal. can partially explained increasing number of families (like labia) becoming patrician payment of enormous sum republic, facing financial difficulties. once these families had achieved new status, built impressive residences on canal, inducing other families renew theirs.

neoclassical architecture

neoclassical architectures along canal date 18th century: during first half built san simeone piccolo, impressive corinthian portico, central plan , high copper-covered dome ending in cupola shaped temple. date second half massari s palazzo grassi.

modern era

the pescheria @ rialto

after fall of republic in 1797, of palatial construction in venice suspended, symbolized unfinished san marcuola , palazzo venier dei leoni (housing peggy guggenheim collection). patrician families, bereft of hereditary role in governance , persecuted revolutionary forces, sought other residences. several historical palaces pulled down, many found other uses, , restorations have saved 18th century appearance. late 20th century, of more prominent palaces owned city, state, or civic institutions.

vaporetti (water buses) carry passengers through grand canal

during era of kingdom of italy, napoleonic suppression of monastic religious orders vacated large sectors of real estate in city. freed large amounts of furnishings , works of art antiquarian market or possession of state. large monasteries changed functions: santa maria della carità complex became museum, gallerie dell accademia); santa croce complex, converted papadopoli gardens area; , santa lucia complex (partially designed palladio) razed establishment of santa lucia station.

the kingdom of italy accession restored serenity in city , stimulated construction along grand canal respecting beauty, reproduced in gothic revival architectures pescaria @ rialto.