Palazzo Contarini Porta di Ferro

This ancient Palazzo dating back to the 14th century, is rich in history and legend, and is only a few steps from St. Mark's Square. It offers exclusive apartments and elegant suites, ideal for long stays, romantic weekends or even just one night in Venice. The Palazzo Contarini offers a refined concept in hospitality: attentive and personalised, guaranteeing an experience far removed from the usual tourist hustle and bustle of Venice. However,  it is very much part of this city which boasts a history spanning more than a thousand years. Access to the Palazzo is through an ancient doorway that opens into a private courtyard, adorned with carvings, marble sculptures and Byzantine friezes. The rear door of the Palazzo provides access direct from the canal grid. The network of canals is one of the features that makes Venice unique throughout the world.

Palazzo Contarini della Porta di Ferro was named by the ancient family of Morosini della Sbarra, who lived there for centuries. Looking out over Salizada di Santa Giustina, in the district of Castello, the oldest and most fascinating part of the city, the secluded Palazzo preserves the real spirit of an ancient Venetian family residence. This is exemplified by the two entrances (to the canal and the street), the courtyard with its well, the external staircase leading to the main floor and the spacious sitting rooms.

Some columns of the balustrade were obviously removed later. On the platform balustrade, there is a Janus face sculpture which is often depicted in the technical literature. Some remains of the more or less original polychrome exterior frescoes are still visible on the right back façade. In 1799, the San Francesco della Vigna branch of the Contarini family died out. The palace was lately restored and transformed to vacation homes.

Contarini is one of the oldest Venetian family names, appearing for the first time in a document dated the month of June in the year 960. But the old tradition has it that Contarini was one of the "apostolic" families that elected the first Doge, in Heraclea. Over the centuries the family name included eight Doges (more than any other Venetian family), and at least forty-four Public Prosecutors of San Marco (St. Mark).
Some of the architectural and decorative stylistic forms are considered to be peculiar to Venetian architecture dating from the beginning of the 15th century. Many examples have been cited from the same era. Marino Contarini, in fact, rebuilt the impressive Ca 'd' Oro (House of Gold) on the Grand Canal between 1424 and 1437.

Gasparino Morosini was one of the most active Venice merchants, with interests extending all over the Mediterranean basin. He brought back the two coats of arms which are cut into the pillars of Istrian stone, supporting the wooden architrave of the "sottoportego" (a public passageway going under a private building) of the entrance from the alleyway. The coats of arms depict an inscribed cross set in a raised ring, which, in turn, is mounted on a stylized "G". 

In 1444, the descendants, Bertucci and Lunardo Contarini, assumed for themselves and for their own descendants the additional name of "Porta di Ferro". The origins of this name relate to the heavy and very beautiful portal - decorated with a fine mesh of intricate metalwork - that for centuries characterised the building but, unfortunately, was lost in the middle of the 19th century. There is evidence of it in the eighteenth-century designs preserved in the Correr museum.

The two Contarini coats of arms adorned the magnificent fourteenth-century portal for centuries (until they were brutally chiselled between 1839 and 1840). In spite of the ravages of the human hand, however, this still represents today one of the most characteristics elements of the building. Above the architrave, a magnificent angel is depicted, bearing a cartouche on which is inscribed the motto "Pax Huic Domui". The figure is framed by a beautiful Romanesque ring nut.
Towards the end of the nineteenth century the Palazzo was abandoned, leading to the slow but inexorable process of neglect and decay, putting at risk its original character and features.

The chances of its recuperation, to restore the atmosphere and characteristics of the old family residence, depended on how much of the original fabric and features could successfully be tracked down and recovered, and what could be discovered under the more recent heavy plaster.
There also was the job of making the most of the space and structure, to create not only spacious apartments, but also sensible, functional suites. Great attention has been paid to the use of materials: stone, timber and plaster.
This is how Palazzo Contarini was returned to the city, with its architecture restored, by making the most of the existing structures and adjusted to the requirements of our time. An atmosphere of refined elegance has been recreated.

The old Venetian family residence of Cà Contarini della Porta di Ferro has kept all of its original characteristics - the two entrances (to the canal and the street), the courtyard with its well, its garden and delightful fountain, and a beautiful external staircase leading to the bright and spacious main floor.
Internally, the antique panelled ceilings have been preserved. On some of them the beautiful 15th century decoration remains clearly visible. Geometric and floral motifs adorn the façades, the rooms and staircases, which are embellished with friezes and ornaments.
An entrance hall, with elegant furniture in period style, immediately evokes an atmosphere of a real Venetian Palazzo.

On the main floor (above the ground floor) there is the spacious Ballroom, gently flooded with light from the "polifora" which overlooks the internal courtyard.
On the fourth floor, accessible by elevator, there are spacious attic rooms with open mezzanine levels and exposed beams.
Finally, the "porta d'aqua" (the "water door") allows access to San Francesco della Vigna canal.

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