Casa di Carlo Goldoni

The “Casa di Carlo Goldoni” (Carlo Goldoni's House) – was built in the 15th century and has maintained all the features of Venetian Gothic architecture of that period. Particularly interesting aspects of the building are the tripartite façade overlooking the canal, with its richly-decorated four-arched Gothic window, the entrance from Calle dei Nomboli onto the courtyard with the evocative two-flight outdoor staircase with a banister made of small Istrean stone columns. Initially owned by the Rizzo family, the palazzo was rented to the Centanni family and became the centre of a flourishing artistic/literary Accademia in the 16th century. Towards the end of the 17th century, Carlo Alessandro Goldoni – the playwright’s paternal grandfather and a notary from Modena – took up residence here. Carlo Goldoni himself was born here in 1707 (on February 25th), and the palace would remain the family home until 1719. In 1914 Aldo Ravà, a noted scholar of 18th century Venice – together with Count Piero Foscari and Commendatore Antonio Pellegrini – bought the palazzo from its owner, Contessa Ida Manassero Camozzo, with the idea of using it to house a museum dedicated, in the name of the great playwright, to the history of Italian theatre. The project came to a halt with the outbreak of war, and then in 1931 Ca’ Centanni was donated to the City Council to be restored. With a slight variation on the original scheme – it was turned into the Goldoni museum and a research centre for matters relating to theatre. Again, war held up the work, which was not completed until 1953. The building opened to the public in June of that year, housing a small museum of Goldoni memorabilia and artefacts relating to Venetian theatre, though it focused primarily on its role as a research centre, with constant additions to its library and archive.