Palazzo Surian Bellotto is a Baroque palace in
Venice, Italy. The palazzo is located in the
Cannaregio district and overlooks the
Cannaregio Canal
The Cannaregio Canal is one of the main waterways of Venice, Italy.
Landmarks
*Palazzo Labia
*Palazzo Venier-Manfrin
* Palazzo Savorgnan
*Palazzo Bonfadini Vivante
Palazzo Bonfadini Vivante is a palace in Venice, Italy located in the Cannaregi ...
.
History
This palace, one among the most imposing of the Cannaregio Canal, was built in the 17th century by the will of the patrician family of the Surians (of Armenian origin), to a project attributed to the architect
Giuseppe Sardi
Giuseppe Sardi (1680 – documented until 1768) was an Italian architect active in Rome. He was born at Sant'Angelo in Vado, Marche which was then part of the Papal States. Known primarily for his church of Santa Maria del Rosario in Marino o ...
, an author of the nearby
Palazzo Savorgnan
Palazzo Savorgnan is a palace in Venice, Italy, located in the Cannaregio district and overlooking Canale di Cannaregio, to the right of Palazzo Priuli Manfrin.
Attribution
Built in the 17th century for the noble Savorgnan family, the palazzo i ...
.
Towards the end of the same century, it was sold to the Bellotto family (of Brescia origin). In the 18th century, the palace became the seat of the French embassy; the philosopher
Jean-Jacques Rousseau
Jean-Jacques Rousseau (, ; 28 June 1712 – 2 July 1778) was a Genevan philosopher, writer, and composer. His political philosophy influenced the progress of the Age of Enlightenment throughout Europe, as well as aspects of the French Revolu ...
lived there in 1743–1744 and worked as a secretary to the ambassador, Comte de Mantaigu. In the 19th century, after the fall of the Republic of Venice, the palace began a long period of decay, during which the sumptuous interiors, their original structure and decorations were irreparably lost.
The palace is visible in the ''
View of the Cannaregio Canal'' painted by
Francesco Guardi around 1770.
Palazzo Surian Bellotto is currently one of the few historic buildings in Venice inhabited by Venetians. On the ground floor of the building from 9 December 2016
Laguna Libre, ecological and cultural restaurant has come to life: after an important restoration according to green building principles, a large venue has been created which is both a restaurant with local high quality and organic products and the most important jazz & world music club in North Eastern Italy in collaboration wit
Veneto Jazz as well as space for public and private events, also hosting art and photo exhibitions, books' presentations and public debates, in collaboration with NGOs and networks. Laguna Libre also host
Smart Venices headquarters, a research and consultancy company working on gender equality, inclusive innovation and sustainability projects.
On 2 December 2020 the well-known cultural broadcast of the
France 3
France 3 () is a French free-to-air public television channel and part of the France Télévisions group, which also includes France 2, France 4, France 5 and France Info.
It is made up of a network of regional television services provi ...
channel of the French national television
Des Racines et des Ailes aired the documentary
. In the documentary the Palazzo Surian Bellotto with its history and the Laguna Libre with its cultural and gastronomic project represent one of the examples of the possible rebirth of the city after the high water in November 2019 and the Covid-19 Pandemic of 2020 / 2021.
An apartment of Palazzo Surian Bellotto is offered for sale.
Architecture
The best preserved and most important part of palazzo is the large Baroque façade, which, with its high four floors, stands above the nearby buildings.
The facade is asymmetrical, having the central axis moved to the left; this is where the most valuable openings are located. On the ground floor of the short wing there are two arched portals decorated with
mascarons inserted in rusticated bands. The pairs of serlianas on the two
noble floor
The ''piano nobile'' ( Italian for "noble floor" or "noble level", also sometimes referred to by the corresponding French term, ''bel étage'') is the principal floor of a palazzo. This floor contains the main reception and bedrooms of the h ...
s correspond to them. The seriana on the second floor is partially walled-up. All other openings are large single windows with stone frames recalling the motifs of the serlianas. The long wing also has a ground portal. All the windows on the noble floors are equipped with balustrades and mascarons. The fourth floor has a band of smaller rectangular windows.
The facade levels are underlined by elaborate string courses; the top terminates with a dentiled cornice.
Gallery
Palazzo Surian Bellotto (Venice) Plaque Rousseau.jpg, Commemorative plaque of Jean Jacques Rousseau
Jean-Jacques Rousseau (, ; 28 June 1712 – 2 July 1778) was a Genevan philosopher, writer, and composer. His political philosophy influenced the progress of the Age of Enlightenment throughout Europe, as well as aspects of the French Revolu ...
on the facade
Palazzo Surian Bellotto portoni Venezia.jpg, Detail of the facade on the Cannaregio Canal
The Cannaregio Canal is one of the main waterways of Venice, Italy.
Landmarks
*Palazzo Labia
*Palazzo Venier-Manfrin
* Palazzo Savorgnan
*Palazzo Bonfadini Vivante
Palazzo Bonfadini Vivante is a palace in Venice, Italy located in the Cannaregi ...
Palazzo Surian Bellotto portone Venezia.jpg, Ground floor portal
Ponte de la Crea (Venice).jpg, Bridge ''Ponte de la Crea'', on ''Rio de la Crea''
Venezia - Palazzo Surian Bellotto, particolare - Foto di Paolo Steffan.jpg, Mascarones and balustrades
References
{{Authority control
Houses completed in the 17th century
Palaces in Sestiere Cannaregio
Baroque architecture in Venice