I first caught a glimpse of Ca’ Sagredo on a cold foggy afternoon during Christmas of 2018, while taking a water taxi on the Grand Canal. As I gazed up through the Gothic Byzantine windows, I could see the dimly lit room with beams running across the ceiling. A large Murano glass chandelier hung in the center of the room, and massive murals covered the walls. Visions of the Vampire Lestat from the Ann Rice novel raced though my mind. How many centuries could one live here and go unnoticed… what a dream it would be to go inside.
While visiting Venice this spring for the opening of the 60th Venice Biennale, I embarked on a spectacular behind the scenes tour of Venice. I was gifted this private tour by Nadia Friend in Venice, who specializes in these tours. It was a belated wedding gift from our 2019 nuptials, also in Venice. As we entered the building, Nadia pointed up to the sign that said ‘Ca Sagredo’ and said, Ca is short for home. Home of the Sagredo family. We entered into the quiet lobby with its red and white checkered floors. She spoke with the front desk for a moment, and then whisked us over to the Grand Staircase. I took a few steps, looked upward, and saw the massive mural Fall of the Giants. It dates back to 1732 and was painted by Venetian artist Pietro Longhi. I was in complete aw.
The staircase was designed by architect Andrea Tirali and completed around 1732. At about the same time, the work on the mural began. Gerardo Sagredo spearheaded the renovation, including the halls of the building and restoration of the facade. The two marble cherubs are by Francesco Bertos, a Venetian sculptor who worked in Rome, Venice, Padua, Turin and Florence.
I reached the top of the steep staircase, and took a peak into the Il Portego, the broad salon that connects the entire first first floor to the facade overlooking the Grand Canal. I was speechless. This was the exact room that I’d seen nearly 6 years earlier from the water taxi. The grandeur of the room with its Murano glass chandeliers and massive wall murals was beyond anything I’d ever seen before. And the terrazzo floors reminded me of those at our wedding venue in the Ridotto ballroom. I nearly sprinted to the balcony to catch a glimpse of the Grand Canal below. As I looked up, I could see four quatrefoil windows which look a bit like four leaf clovers.
A quatrefoil is a four sided representation of a flower with four petals or a leaf with four leaflets. It’s also a hallmark of Gothic architecture. You might recognize the shape if you’re a fan of Louis Vuitton, as it’s frequently used in their jewelry and leather motifs.
Next we headed into the Music Ballroom, massive and grand in scale, it sets the tone for a true Venetian Palace. The frescoes covering the walls and ceiling are attributed to Gaspare Diziani. The chandeliers are truly gilded, as they’re covered in pure gold leaf. The terrazzo floor is embellished with the Sagredo family’s coat of arms.
The palace itself dates back to the 15th century, and was built by the Morosini family. It’s been modified several times throughout the centuries. It’s hard to imagine such an elegant world having been created, long before the pilgrims ever landed on Plymouth Rock in 1620.
In the 17th century, the palace was purchased by the Sagredos, one of the most prestigious families of the Venetian Nobility. Their family name dates back to the 11th century, with the most notable family member being Doge Nicolo Segrado. He was the 105th Doge of Venice.
What an absolute pleasure it was to take a seat in a Royal Venetian Palace… a guy could get used to this sort of thing. And check out this amazing gondola cover below. Thank you Nadia for the thrill of a lifetime. If you’re interested in one of her private tours you can find her at: Friend in Venice Tours.
Learn more about Ca’ Sagredo Hotel here.
