The Museo del Settecento Veneziano is One of Venice’s Finest Museums :
On Venice’s Grand Canal is the Museum of Eighteenth Century Venice, one of the finest museums in the city. Housed in the magnificent Ca’ Rezzonico, the museum is dedicated to 18th century Venice and is one of the many museo civico administered by the City Council of Venice.
On the four floors of the building, history and art lovers will be able to marvel at paintings and frescoed ceilings by Venetian artists like Tiepolo, Gaudi and others. The palazzo’s many rooms are rich with sculptures, tapestries and furnishings from the 18th century, some of which have been salvaged from other palazzi that are now dilapidated. The lavish ballroom on the first floor and some of the artifacts provide an insight into the tastes and lifestyle of the rich during the Venetian Republic.
There are currently no classical concerts in this magnificent palace, but you can enjoy music in other Venice palaces. See what’s on at other Venice Palazzi here >.
A Brief History of Ca’ Rezzonico
Just as interesting as the works of art and artifacts in the museum is the history of Ca’ Rezzonico itself.
- Like many of the grand palazzo on the Grand Canal, the construction of Ca’ Rezzonico begain in 1649 as a project of the noble family of Bon. The grand Baroque building plan wasn’t completed as the architect, Baldassarre Longhena, died in 1682 and the Bon family got into financial difficulties.
- The Rezzonico family moved to Venice in 1687 and were able to buy their Venetian noble status at a time when the Venetian state coffers were depleted. Giambattista Rezzonico, merchant and banker, bought the building in 1751. When Carlo Rezzonico (son of Giambattista Rezzonico and bishop of Padua), was elected Pope Clement XIII, the fortunes of the family reached its summit. But by 1810, the powerful family had died out.
- The Pindemonte-Giovanelli family who owned it in the early 19th century sold the entire furnishings and collections of the palazzo.
- After the Pindemonte-Giovanelli family, the palazzo was lived in by several arristocratic tenants.
- Robert Browning, the English poet lived and died here in 1889. His son, Robert Barrett Browning sold the palazzo to Count Lionello von Hierschel de Minerbi in 1906. The art-loving count refurnished the palazzo with objet d’art and lived lavishly here till 1935 when his money ran out.
- The City Council of Venice bought Ca’ Rezzonico in 1935 and turned it into a museum and today the palazzo is more sumptously furnished than ever before.
Address:
Ca’ Rezzonico
Museum of Eighteenth Century Venice
Dorsoduro 3136, Venezia
www.museiciviciveneziani.it
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