One of Venice's oldest palaces, the Ca' d'Oro, or Golden House, stands right on the banks of the northern part of the Grand Canal. The facade of the Gothic building, dating from 1430, is richly decorated, while the interior serves as a gallery for the art collections of Giorgio Franchetti.

Among the most valuable works in the permanent exhibitions are paintings by Andrea Mantegna or Antoine van Dyck.

History and contemporary gallery

Built for the Bishop of Treviso, Marina Contarini, in the first half of the 15th century, the Ca' d'Oro Palace takes its name from its gold-embellished façade. After Contarini's death, however, the building fell into disrepair over the centuries and was not completely reconstructed until the 20th century, though without the gilded front façade.

Nowadays, inside you can visit the small but very valuable Franchetti Gallery with its collections of paintings and sculptures from the 15th to the 18th century. The chamber gallery will be a very pleasant cultural experience compared to the more crowded more famous monuments.