Walking along Via Canova, at the Porta di Santa Caterina which interrupts the elongated perspective of the street, you encounter Casa Duse. This palace, already in the 1500s the residence of Francesco Nursio Timideo from Verona, personal secretary to Queen Cornaro, is situated on the medieval city wall. It was rented and restored by the Divine with the intention of retreating there. The availability of the house was the subject of a story that testifies to Duse's romantic and passionate spirit. Contested by a Venetian family, the actress initially relinquished the dwelling after learning the motivations of the "opponent": the companion of a fallen soldier in the battle of Grappa wished to keep alive the dear memory by looking out the windows of that palace from which one could admire a breathtaking view of the tragic site. The actress's famous phrase is significant: “When I open the shutters of my room in the morning, the Grappa Mountain frames the window. Then I place two vases of flowers on the sill.
Here is an altar.” Only after the withdrawal of the interested parties did Duse regain possession of the building, which was later purchased by the daughter of the famous actress.
Being private, the historical building is only visible from the outside.
