Casa della Marinarezza, Castello 1411-68

Here’s another in the scintillating series based on Venice Domestic Architecture (Trincanato and Salvadori).

Anyone who has taken a vaporetto toward the Giardini vaporetto stop has seen this, if they were being alert and didn’t have their noses buried in some electronic gizmo.

Did you know you were gazing at something built in the 15th century? Typical, you guys just never pay attention in class, nor do you do your homework. It’s the naughty corner for each and every one of you.

So, what we have here is a group of residences granted free (not today, I hasten to add), to sailors who had “distinguished themselves” for services to the Republic. There are 3 parallel blocks of 3 stories. The front bit, with the 2 distinctive arches, was added in the mid 1600s.

Here is the view enjoyed by the residents when they leave their (now expensive, no doubt) apartments, to walk onto the Riva dei Sette Martiri. Not bad, eh?

If they look up as they walk toward the Riva, they’ll see some evidence of the structural elements of this building. (Always look up – repeat that mantra, class.)

If they look back, they can check to see that their laundry is still secure on the line, and say good-bye to the neighbourhood cat.

To quote Signora Trincanato, “The jambs of the mullioned windows are in carved stone“, and darned beautiful, as opined by me.

I’m not sure when the shrine was added.

Right next to it is a memorial to men lost forever to families and the city. I like the little perpetually glowing lamp.

This door lintel displays the old method of house numbering. It’s so satisfying to find these, in many areas of Venice. It also shows the date (1645) in Roman numerals.

And, for those members of the class who get all soppy over chimneys, here are two, just for you!

Well class, do yourself a favour, next time you’re in Venice. Walk through the arches, look around. Soak up the atmosphere of long ago Venice. And, say hello to that cat.