The Palace of Desdemona

Walking Tours of Venice

Palazzo Contarini-Fasan

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One of my favourite palaces on the Grand Canal is the diminutive Palazzo Contarini-Fasan, which dates back to the fifteenth century. It is also often called the Palazzo di Desdemona, although what connection it has with the unfortunate wife of Shakespeare's jealous moor, no one seems to know!

The Palazzo Contarini-Fasan has another mystery. If you look closely at the stone tracery of the two balconies on the second floor, you will see that the 'spokes' of the 'wheel' at the right end (of the right balcony) are pointing in a different direction to its three neighbours. Simple mistake or something more mysterious?

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Palazzo Contarini Fasan