{"id":1279,"date":"2011-08-23T11:45:30","date_gmt":"2011-08-23T10:45:30","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/walks.friday.ie\/?p=1279"},"modified":"2025-10-28T10:10:24","modified_gmt":"2025-10-28T10:10:24","slug":"venetian-palazzo-architecture-venice-italy","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/art-culture\/venetian-palazzo-architecture-venice-italy","title":{"rendered":"6 Secrets of Venetian Architecture: Materials, Styles, &#038; More"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><span class=\"Apple-style-span\" style=\"font-weight: normal;\">When cruising down the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/attractions\/what-to-see-along-the-grand-canal-venice\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Grand Canal<\/a>, it&#8217;s hard not to notice the many beautiful facades of the Venetian palaces! But the Venetian architecture you&#8217;re looking at isn&#8217;t just lovely, it also tells a story unique to the Floating City.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span class=\"Apple-style-span\" style=\"font-weight: normal;\">From their beautiful windows to their tall, elegant facades, every piece of a Venetian palazzo has a reason behind it. Here&#8217;s how to &#8220;read&#8221; the gorgeous architecture of Venice\u2019s finest palaces, and, in the process, understand what Venice is really all about!<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_80 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-grey ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<div class=\"ez-toc-title-container\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title\" style=\"cursor:inherit\">Table of Contents<\/p>\n<span class=\"ez-toc-title-toggle\"><a href=\"#\" class=\"ez-toc-pull-right ez-toc-btn ez-toc-btn-xs ez-toc-btn-default ez-toc-toggle\" aria-label=\"Toggle Table of Content\"><span class=\"ez-toc-js-icon-con\"><span class=\"\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/span><\/div>\n<nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 ' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/art-culture\/venetian-palazzo-architecture-venice-italy\/#Venetian_architecture_Gothic_and_Eastern\" >Venetian architecture : Gothic, and Eastern<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/art-culture\/venetian-palazzo-architecture-venice-italy\/#Venetian_architecture_Building_on_water\" >Venetian architecture : Building on water<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/art-culture\/venetian-palazzo-architecture-venice-italy\/#Brick_and_stucco\" >Brick and stucco<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/art-culture\/venetian-palazzo-architecture-venice-italy\/#Wooden_features\" >Wooden features<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/art-culture\/venetian-palazzo-architecture-venice-italy\/#Glass_windows\" >Glass windows<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-6\" href=\"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/art-culture\/venetian-palazzo-architecture-venice-italy\/#Why_Venetian_palaces_dont_face_the_streets\" >Why Venetian palaces don&#8217;t face the streets<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-7\" href=\"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/art-culture\/venetian-palazzo-architecture-venice-italy\/#Keeping_up_with_the_Jones%C2%B4\" >Keeping up with the Jones\u00b4<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-8\" href=\"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/art-culture\/venetian-palazzo-architecture-venice-italy\/#Making_use_of_space\" >Making use of space<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-9\" href=\"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/art-culture\/venetian-palazzo-architecture-venice-italy\/#The_reason_for_those_big_chimneys\" >The reason for those big chimneys<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-10\" href=\"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/art-culture\/venetian-palazzo-architecture-venice-italy\/#FAQ%C2%B4s_%E2%80%93_Venetian_architecture\" >FAQ\u00b4s &#8211; Venetian architecture<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-11\" href=\"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/art-culture\/venetian-palazzo-architecture-venice-italy\/#What_are_some_must-see_examples_of_Venetian_architecture\" >What are some must-see examples of Venetian architecture?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-12\" href=\"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/art-culture\/venetian-palazzo-architecture-venice-italy\/#How_does_Venice_manage_flooding_Can_you_still_visit_during_high_water\" >How does Venice manage flooding? Can you still visit during high water?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-13\" href=\"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/art-culture\/venetian-palazzo-architecture-venice-italy\/#Besides_architecture_what_else_should_visitors_experience_in_Venice\" >Besides architecture, what else should visitors experience in Venice?<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Venetian_architecture_Gothic_and_Eastern\"><\/span>Venetian architecture : Gothic, and Eastern<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>One thing to notice when you&#8217;re looking at Venice&#8217;s architecture in general, with its elegant, pointed arches and lacy details, is just how\u00a0<em>different\u00a0<\/em>it looks from the architecture you see in, say, Rome or Florence.<\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_1310\" style=\"width: 1010px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a href=\"http:\/\/walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/08\/Contarini-del-Bovolo-Palace-famous-spiral-staircase-at-Venice-Italy.jpg\"><img decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-1310\" class=\"wp-image-1310 size-full\" title=\"Contarini del Bovolo Palace in Venice, Italy\" src=\"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/08\/Contarini-del-Bovolo-Palace-famous-spiral-staircase-at-Venice-Italy.jpg\" alt=\"Venetian Architecture of a Renaissance palazzo. a circular tower with ornate arched windows and spiral staircase flanked by the 4 story building is it connected to.\" width=\"1000\" height=\"664\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/08\/Contarini-del-Bovolo-Palace-famous-spiral-staircase-at-Venice-Italy.jpg 1000w, https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/08\/Contarini-del-Bovolo-Palace-famous-spiral-staircase-at-Venice-Italy-768x510.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px\" \/><\/a><p id=\"caption-attachment-1310\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Built at the end of the 15th century, Palazzo Contarini del Bovolo mixes both Gothic and Renaissance styles<\/p><\/div>\n<p>Unlike those cities, Venice was at its most prosperous during the Middle Ages. By the 12th century, it was already a powerful and monied republic. And at that time, Gothic-style architecture was the trend. Unsurprisingly, therefore, Venetian architecture became largely Gothic architecture, with its asymmetricality and emphasis on light.<\/p>\n<p>After the Renaissance hit, with its focus on rationalism and balance, architects started to incorporate some of its hallmarks (like rounded, rather than pointed, arches). Even so, they&#8217;d continue to blend Renaissance innovations with that same <strong>Gothic style<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<p>Plus, unlike other Italian cities, Venice had close ties to the East thanks to its vast trade networks. A lot of Venetian architecture, therefore, was taken from <strong>Byzantine and Moorish styles<\/strong>. Just check out this photo of the Ca&#8217; d&#8217;Oro, one of Venice&#8217;s loveliest palaces, built in the early 15th century:<\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_1307\" style=\"width: 490px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a href=\"http:\/\/walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/08\/Ca-dOro-arches.jpg\"><img decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-1307\" class=\"size-full wp-image-1307 \" title=\"Ca d'Oro, a great example of Venetian Gothic Byzantine architecture\" src=\"http:\/\/walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/08\/Ca-dOro-arches.jpg\" alt=\"Reading a Venice palazzo\" width=\"480\" height=\"319\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/08\/Ca-dOro-arches.jpg 800w, https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/08\/Ca-dOro-arches-768x510.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 480px) 100vw, 480px\" \/><\/a><p id=\"caption-attachment-1307\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">The Ca&#8217; d&#8217;Oro palazzo is a great example of how Venetian architecture drew on both the Byzantine and Moorish<\/p><\/div>\n<p>You can see the <strong>inflected arch<\/strong> above, which likely originally came from the Moors. And on the bottom, you can see the<strong> pointed arch<\/strong>, always a hint that what you&#8217;re looking at is Gothic.\u00a0Meanwhile, the<strong> crenellations <\/strong>that you see, topping many of Venice&#8217;s palaces like a row of lace, were often seen topping ancient Greek temples\u2014but the ones on the Ca d&#8217;Oro have a Moorish style.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Venetian_architecture_Building_on_water\"><\/span>Venetian architecture : Building on water<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<div>\n<p>Venice&#8217;s setting on the water may have made a lot of sense for the mercantile city\u2014but it was also dangerous when it came to building! The area&#8217;s land was extremely soft, as well as subject to the tides, meaning that heavy or inflexible materials were very risky. Plus, all that moisture was hard on building materials.<\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_1308\" style=\"width: 438px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a href=\"http:\/\/walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/08\/Ca-dOro-wood-ceiling.jpg\"><img decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-1308\" class=\"wp-image-1308 size-full\" title=\"Wooden beamed ceiling in a Venetian palazzo\" src=\"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/08\/Ca-dOro-wood-ceiling.jpg\" alt=\"Many palaces in Venice used a lot of wood in their architecture\" width=\"428\" height=\"600\" \/><\/a><p id=\"caption-attachment-1308\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">The painted, wooden ceiling of the chapel in the Ca&#8217; d&#8217;Oro<\/p><\/div>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Brick_and_stucco\"><\/span>Brick and stucco<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>One solution was to build in <strong>brick.\u00a0<\/strong>Much lighter than stone, bricks also had the benefit of being smaller and placed side-by-side\u2014so if the earth moved beneath the structure, the building could (to some extent!) shift with it. Plus, bricks don&#8217;t retain moisture, always a help in a water-logged city.\u00a0That brick would then usually be faced with\u00a0<strong>stucco,\u00a0<\/strong>protecting them even more from the weather.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Wooden_features\"><\/span>Wooden features<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>The problem with having to keep buildings light also led to using a lot of\u00a0<strong>wood.\u00a0<\/strong>While buildings elsewhere might use stone for their foundations and vaults, for example, Venetian architecture uses the lighter wood. That also explains the <strong>painted, wooden-beamed ceilings\u00a0<\/strong>that you often see in the palaces.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Glass_windows\"><\/span>Glass windows<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Finally, other Italian cities shied away from using too much glass in their palaces, given its expense and how vulnerable it was to those who might wish the wealthy residents harm. Thanks to Venice&#8217;s setting on the lagoon, though, it was very safe from enemies. Meanwhile, the <a href=\"https:\/\/devourtours.com\/blog\/islands-in-venice\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">nearby island of Murano<\/a> had an extensive glass-making industry, meaning that the material was much cheaper than elsewhere. The result? Lots of\u00a0<strong>windows!<\/strong><\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_23081\" style=\"width: 1210px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-23081\" class=\"wp-image-23081 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/10\/maruno-glass.jpg\" alt=\"A glass blower using two long poles to form a piece of decorative glass.\" width=\"1200\" height=\"675\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/10\/maruno-glass.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/10\/maruno-glass-768x432.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px\" \/><p id=\"caption-attachment-23081\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">The glass making industry in Murano is still going strong and prevalent today.<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Why_Venetian_palaces_dont_face_the_streets\"><\/span>Why Venetian palaces don&#8217;t face the streets<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>One odd characteristic of Venice&#8217;s palaces is that they don&#8217;t face the streets&#8230; the <strong>palaces face canals<\/strong>! Of course, since Venice&#8217;s canals <em>were <\/em>its streets, this makes sense. And keep in mind that many of the streets that you walk on in modern-day Venice didn&#8217;t exist for most of Venetian history. When the main train station was built in the 19th century, the city filled in many canals and created piazzas to help out all of the new visitors who didn&#8217;t have their own boats.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Keeping_up_with_the_Jones%C2%B4\"><\/span><span class=\"Apple-style-span\" style=\"font-weight: bold;\">Keeping up with the Jones\u00b4<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<div id=\"attachment_1305\" style=\"width: 409px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a href=\"http:\/\/walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/08\/Ca-dOro-balcony-with-lions.jpg\"><img decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-1305\" class=\"wp-image-1305 size-full\" title=\"The elaborately decorated Ca d'Oro balcony \" src=\"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/08\/Ca-dOro-balcony-with-lions.jpg\" alt=\"Lions on the balcony of a palazzo in Venice\" width=\"399\" height=\"600\" \/><\/a><p id=\"caption-attachment-1305\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">You can&#8217;t get much more intricate &#8212; or Venetian &#8212; than this balcony with its watchful lions!<\/p><\/div>\n<p><span class=\"Apple-style-span\" style=\"font-weight: normal;\">Because of how many people would see your canal-facing facade, you&#8217;d make sure that your facade showed not just style, but wealth. Showing how rich you were was especially important in Venice, since it was a merchant city, money and power were closely intertwined. <\/span><\/p>\n<p>At the same time, a noble family&#8217;s hands were somewhat tied. To maintain some level of Venetian architectural cohesion (and to keep people from parading their wealth around <em>too\u00a0<\/em>much!), laws\u00a0restricted ornamental statuary and other over-the-top touches.<\/p>\n<p>But, of course, families got around this. <strong>Ornate carvings<\/strong> showed off an (expensive!) artisan&#8217;s skill. And, although you had to be careful of using <em>too <\/em>much of a heavy material like stone or marble, it might be used as an accent and a further display of your wealth. Expensive <strong>red porphyry roundels<\/strong>, for example, might stud the facade of your home, and even though it was probably small, your courtyard might use <strong>tiles of precious stones.<\/strong><\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_1318\" style=\"width: 810px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a href=\"http:\/\/walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/08\/Ca-dOro-courtyard.jpg\"><img decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-1318\" class=\"wp-image-1318 size-full\" title=\"Precious stones in the courtyard of a Venetian palace\" src=\"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/08\/Ca-dOro-courtyard.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"800\" height=\"531\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/08\/Ca-dOro-courtyard.jpg 800w, https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/08\/Ca-dOro-courtyard-768x510.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/><\/a><p id=\"caption-attachment-1318\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">The Ca d&#8217;Oro courtyard might not be huge, but it is filled with precious stones<\/p><\/div>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Making_use_of_space\"><\/span>Making use of space<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Other architectural features of Venetian palaces often come about for practical reasons, like lack of space. While noble families could build sprawling palaces in cities like Rome and Florence, that Venice was an island meant that land simply&#8230; ran out! With space at a premium, even wealthy families had to compensate by building up, not out. Venetian palaces, therefore, usually look <strong>tall and elegant<\/strong>, not broad and formidable.<\/p>\n<p>With every inch counting, an expansive courtyard or garden, features of so many palaces elsewhere, was out. Instead, Venetian palaces boasted <strong>balconies<\/strong> to allow their residents to get a bit of air. The lack of open space inside could also make the buildings very dark and dreary &#8212; so builders opened up the palaces&#8217; facades with <strong>big windows, loggias and arcades<\/strong>, letting light into the interior of the house.<\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_1306\" style=\"width: 810px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a href=\"http:\/\/walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/08\/Ca-dOro-openness.jpg\"><img decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-1306\" class=\"wp-image-1306 size-full\" title=\"Venetian palaces often have open spaces in the facade\" src=\"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/08\/Ca-dOro-openness.jpg\" alt=\"Front of the Ca d'Oro\" width=\"800\" height=\"531\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/08\/Ca-dOro-openness.jpg 800w, https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/08\/Ca-dOro-openness-768x510.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/><\/a><p id=\"caption-attachment-1306\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Palaces like the Ca d&#8217;Oro were often opened up in the front, letting in light and air<\/p><\/div>\n<div>\n<p>Another way around the lack of land was by building &#8220;double palaces.&#8221; Instead of every family building their own house, two parts of a noble clan might live in one palazzo, splitting it by each having its own water gate &#8212; the reason why you sometimes see <strong>two doors onto the water <\/strong>in the same building.<\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_1309\" style=\"width: 410px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a href=\"http:\/\/walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/08\/palazzo-bernardo-venice.jpg\"><img decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-1309\" class=\"wp-image-1309 size-full\" title=\"Palazzo Bernardo in Venice, with its two water entrances\" src=\"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/08\/palazzo-bernardo-venice.jpg\" alt=\"Two gates into a Venetian palace\" width=\"400\" height=\"600\" \/><\/a><p id=\"caption-attachment-1309\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Twin water entrances lead into the Palazzo Bernardo, a way to save space<\/p><\/div>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"The_reason_for_those_big_chimneys\"><\/span>The reason for those big chimneys<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<div>\n<p>One other oddity of Venice&#8217;s architecture and Venetian palaces is that they have big, funny-shaped chimneys, usually in the form of an upside-down cone or pyramid. The reason is simple: Fire was a constant threat in any city, but for a city built on water, it was all the more frightening. Plus, with all of those wooden ceilings and beams, it would spread quickly!\u00a0As a result, the chimneys were designed to keep embers from escaping&#8230; and lighting that pretty palazzo you&#8217;d put so much effort into on fire.<\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_23841\" style=\"width: 1610px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-23841\" class=\"wp-image-23841 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/1268-Venice_Lagoon-Boat-Trip-16x9-0001.jpg\" alt=\"Venetian architecture along the side of the canal in Venice, showing brick buildings, arches and a clock tower in the distance \" width=\"1600\" height=\"900\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/1268-Venice_Lagoon-Boat-Trip-16x9-0001.jpg 1600w, https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/1268-Venice_Lagoon-Boat-Trip-16x9-0001-768x432.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/1268-Venice_Lagoon-Boat-Trip-16x9-0001-1536x864.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1600px) 100vw, 1600px\" \/><p id=\"caption-attachment-23841\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">The waterways of Venice are simply stunning and special, you have to visit at least once in your life.<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"FAQ%C2%B4s_%E2%80%93_Venetian_architecture\"><\/span>FAQ\u00b4s &#8211; Venetian architecture<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"What_are_some_must-see_examples_of_Venetian_architecture\"><\/span>What are some must-see examples of Venetian architecture?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Some of the finest examples of Venice\u2019s architectural beauty include the Doge\u2019s Palace, the Ca\u2019 d\u2019Oro, and Palazzo Contarini del Bovolo. Each showcases the city\u2019s trademark mix of Gothic, Byzantine, and Renaissance influences. Exploring these sites\u2014especially from a boat on the Grand Canal\u2014offers a fascinating look into how Venice\u2019s architectural style evolved alongside its maritime history.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"How_does_Venice_manage_flooding_Can_you_still_visit_during_high_water\"><\/span>How does Venice manage flooding? Can you still visit during high water?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Venice experiences seasonal flooding, known locally as \u201cacqua alta\u201d, typically from October to January. Raised walkways are installed in the most affected areas, allowing visitors to continue sightseeing. In recent years, the MOSE flood barrier system has greatly reduced the impact of flooding, meaning tourists can still enjoy most attractions even during high water.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Besides_architecture_what_else_should_visitors_experience_in_Venice\"><\/span>Besides architecture, what else should visitors experience in Venice?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Beyond its palaces, Venice offers plenty to explore\u2014wander through the Rialto Market, take a gondola ride at sunset, or visit the islands of Murano and Burano to see glassmaking and colorful houses. Don\u2019t miss a visit to St. Mark\u2019s Basilica and a stroll through the hidden backstreets where you can discover authentic Venetian cafes and local artisans.<\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_2071\" style=\"width: 2058px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-2071\" class=\"wp-image-2071 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/04\/DSC_0700-scaled.jpg\" alt=\"The colourful venetian architecture of the main canal of Burano\" width=\"2048\" height=\"1360\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/04\/DSC_0700-scaled.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/04\/DSC_0700-768x510.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/04\/DSC_0700-1536x1020.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 2048px) 100vw, 2048px\" \/><p id=\"caption-attachment-2071\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">The main canal of Burano is a colourful sight to behold!<\/p><\/div>\n<div>\n<div>\n<p><strong>Curious to learn more secrets about the history of Venice? Join\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/venice-tours\/\">us one of our tours of the Floating City<\/a>, where an expert guide will help you navigate Venice\u2019s untold sights and stories. There is a whole host of different tours to choose from, such as the award winning <a href=\"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/venice-tours\/venice-in-a-day\/\">Venice in a Day with St Mark\u2019s Basilica, Doge\u2019s Palace &amp; Gondola Ride<\/a><\/strong> <strong>or you can also gain special access with our tours of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/venice-tours\/alone-in-st-marks-basilica-tour\/\">St.Marks Basilica after hours.<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>And,fFor a little taste of what it&#8217;s really like on the water in Venice, check out our video below!<\/p>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" src=\"\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/S79sEprt7QY?rel=0\" width=\"640\" height=\"360\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\" data-mce-fragment=\"1\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>When cruising down the Grand Canal, it&#8217;s hard not to notice the many beautiful facades of the Venetian palaces! But the Venetian architecture you&#8217;re looking at isn&#8217;t just lovely, it also tells a story unique to the Floating City. From their beautiful windows to their tall, elegant facades, every piece of a Venetian palazzo has [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":17748,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[5],"tags":[87,20,136],"ppma_author":[155],"class_list":["post-1279","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-art-culture","tag-architecture","tag-attractions","tag-venice"],"authors":[{"term_id":155,"user_id":3,"is_guest":0,"slug":"walksofitaly","display_name":"Walks of Italy","avatar_url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/9f4cd4dd0c5ab4b4bae57f3500298e23?s=96&d=mm&r=g","user_url":"http:\/\/walksofitaly.com\/blog","last_name":"of Italy","first_name":"Walks","job_title":"","description":"Walks began life as the passion project of two guys with one simple mission: To share their love for, and knowledge of, the city of Rome. Since then, Walks has grown into a team of over 100 ground staff and at any time up to 600 guides, operating across 13 of the world\u2019s most exciting cities (and counting!)\r\n\r\nToday we provide some of the most exclusive and beautifully designed small group tours in the industry through Italy-based Walks of Italy and around the world at Walks, where we offer special access to some of the world\u2019s most iconic landmarks and attractions as well as unique cultural experiences."}],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1279"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1279"}],"version-history":[{"count":14,"href":"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1279\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":24217,"href":"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1279\/revisions\/24217"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/17748"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1279"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1279"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1279"},{"taxonomy":"author","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/ppma_author?post=1279"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}