Nobile

A visit to a private palazzo in Venice

Lived-in houses, and the families who receive you

Duration: 2 hours
Price: On request
Format: Exclusive access
Language: English, Russian, Italian

There are some two hundred historic palazzi in Venice, and a good many of them are not museums but houses. The descendants of the families who built the walls still live in them, which is exactly why there is no ticket. A visit is arranged through acquaintance, and the experience is of a different order: you are not viewing an exhibition, you are calling on someone.

Programme

ArrivalWe come in from the formal side, the one that faces the water. That is how the house was conceived: a guest was met at the stair from the landing, not from the street.
The portegoThe hall running the full depth of the house with windows at both ends — the heart of a Venetian palazzo. Why the plan is as it is: an answer at once to the shortage of land, the need for light, and the need to move air.
The enfiladeRooms closed to ordinary visitors. Furniture, paintings and objects standing where they stand not to a museum logic but because that is how it settled over generations.
The familyA conversation with the owner or the steward: how the house came through the fall of the Republic, Napoleonic confiscation and two wars, and what it means to keep such a building now.
Living in itThe most interesting part: how one lives in a sixteenth-century house in the twenty-first. Heating, damp, restoration, heritage law. None of it is in the guidebooks.

Route

ArrivalWe come in from the formal side, the one facing the water. That is how the house was conceived: a guest was received at the stair from the landing, not from the street.
The portegoThe hall running the full depth of the house with windows at both ends — the heart of a Venetian palazzo. Why the plan is as it is: an answer at once to the shortage of land, the need for light and the need to move air.
The enfiladeRooms closed to ordinary visitors. Furniture, paintings and objects standing where they stand not to a museum logic but because that is how it settled over generations.
The familyA conversation with the owner or the steward: how the house came through the fall of the Republic, Napoleonic confiscation and two wars, and what it means to keep such a building now.
Living in itThe most interesting part: how one lives in a sixteenth-century house in the twenty-first. Heating, damp, restoration, heritage law. None of it appears in the guidebooks.

How this differs

A museum palazzo is a restored interior behind a rope. Here the house is in use: the owners’ things are on the table, and the account comes from someone who grew up in it. The difference is roughly that between a reconstruction and an original.

Not for you if

Dates depend on the family’s calendar; it cannot be arranged quickly.
The dress code is not optional: smart casual. This is a private house, not a monument.
Photography is limited and by permission. If you need a shoot, that is a different request.

When to go

All year	Governed by the family’s calendar rather than the weather.
September to November	Easier for dates: the season of receptions, and the families are in town.
August	Difficult. Most leave the city.

What the price covers

A private guide
Arranging the visit and the reception

Paid separately

Transport
Refreshments, unless agreed separately

The quoted price covers one to three guests. From four upwards, quoted on request.

Practical notes

Dress: Smart casual. This is a private house, not a monument
Etiquette: We are guests: photography discreet and by permission only
Booking: In advance, subject to the family’s calendar

All tours in Venice

Frequently asked

Who receives us?

Most often the owner in person, or the steward of the house.

May I take photographs?

Discreetly and only with the owners’ permission. We are in a private home.

What does it cost?

Individually: it depends on the house, the form of the reception and the size of the party.

How far ahead should I book?

From two weeks, longer in high season. It is governed by the family’s calendar.

Will there be refreshments?

It depends on the arrangement. A reception with a glass, or dinner, is discussed separately and in advance.

Which palazzo will it be?

It depends on availability, and is confirmed at booking rather than chosen from a list. Each has its own character and I will tell you which one before you commit.

Is it always the same house?

No. There are several, and which is open varies through the year.

Can a group of six come?

Usually yes, but it depends on the house. Larger parties need more notice.

Available dates and a quote for your party — in reply to a short message.

Get in touch