Palazzo Loredan dell'Ambasciatore
Encyclopedia
Palazzo Loredan dell'Ambasciatore is a late 15th-century Gothic
palace in Venice
, Italy
, that once belonged to the noble Loredan
family. Located in the Dorsoduro
sestiere
(quarter), it was called "dell'ambasciatore" because it was the home of the ambassadors of the Austrian Empire
to the Republic.
One Loredan ancestor, Antonio, was the administrator of Corfu
who defeated the Turks in 1716, together with Count Johann Matthias von der Schulenburg
, a Saxon general. After the battle, Count Schulenburg set up house inside the Loredan Palace, along with 25 members of his entourage and four gondoliers, and was known for his illustrious dinner parties and admirable art collection.
In 1752, another ancestor, Francesco Loredan
, who later was Doge
, offered the palazzo as a residence for the Ambassador of the Holy Roman Empire
in exchange for 29 years of restorations. The first Imperial Ambassador to live there was Count Philip Joseph Orsini-Rosenberg who, after his arrival in Venice, married Giustiniana Wynne
, a close friend of Giacomo Casanova
. The couple resided together in Palazzo Loredan dell'Ambasciatore during the first years of their marriage.
These days, the Palazzo dell'Ambasciatore is owned by the Gaggia family.
Gothic architecture
Gothic architecture is a style of architecture that flourished during the high and late medieval period. It evolved from Romanesque architecture and was succeeded by Renaissance architecture....
palace in Venice
Venice
Venice is a city in northern Italy which is renowned for the beauty of its setting, its architecture and its artworks. It is the capital of the Veneto region...
, Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
, that once belonged to the noble Loredan
Loredan
The family of Loredan were a noble family of the Republic of Venice. The family contributed three Doges: Leonardo Loredan , Pietro Loredan , and Francesco Loredan , of whom only the first truly set his mark on the history of Venice; the Portrait of Doge Leonardo Loredan by Giovanni Bellini makes...
family. Located in the Dorsoduro
Dorsoduro
Dorsoduro is one of the six sestieri of Venice, northern Italy.Dorsoduro includes the highest land areas of the city and also Giudecca island and Isola Sacca Fisola...
sestiere
Sestiere
A sestiere is a subdivision of certain Italian towns and cities. The word is from sesto, or sixth; and is thus used only for towns divided into six districts. The best-known example are the sestieri of Venice, but Ascoli Piceno, Genoa, Milan and Rapallo, for example, were also divided into sestieri...
(quarter), it was called "dell'ambasciatore" because it was the home of the ambassadors of the Austrian Empire
Habsburg Monarchy
The Habsburg Monarchy covered the territories ruled by the junior Austrian branch of the House of Habsburg , and then by the successor House of Habsburg-Lorraine , between 1526 and 1867/1918. The Imperial capital was Vienna, except from 1583 to 1611, when it was moved to Prague...
to the Republic.
One Loredan ancestor, Antonio, was the administrator of Corfu
Corfu
Corfu is a Greek island in the Ionian Sea. It is the second largest of the Ionian Islands, and, including its small satellite islands, forms the edge of the northwestern frontier of Greece. The island is part of the Corfu regional unit, and is administered as a single municipality. The...
who defeated the Turks in 1716, together with Count Johann Matthias von der Schulenburg
Johann Matthias von der Schulenburg
Reichsfreiherr and Reichsgraf Marshal Johann Matthias von der Schulenburg was a distinguished aristocrat and general of Brandenburg-Prussian descent who served in the Saxon and Venetian armies in the early eighteenth century and found a second career in retirement in Venice, as a grand...
, a Saxon general. After the battle, Count Schulenburg set up house inside the Loredan Palace, along with 25 members of his entourage and four gondoliers, and was known for his illustrious dinner parties and admirable art collection.
In 1752, another ancestor, Francesco Loredan
Francesco Loredan
Francesco Loredan was a Venetian statesman; he served as the 116th Doge of Venice from March 18, 1752 until his death...
, who later was Doge
Doge
Doge is a dialectal Italian word that descends from the Latin dux , meaning "leader", especially in a military context. The wife of a Doge is styled a Dogaressa....
, offered the palazzo as a residence for the Ambassador of the Holy Roman Empire
Holy Roman Empire
The Holy Roman Empire was a realm that existed from 962 to 1806 in Central Europe.It was ruled by the Holy Roman Emperor. Its character changed during the Middle Ages and the Early Modern period, when the power of the emperor gradually weakened in favour of the princes...
in exchange for 29 years of restorations. The first Imperial Ambassador to live there was Count Philip Joseph Orsini-Rosenberg who, after his arrival in Venice, married Giustiniana Wynne
Giustiniana Wynne
Giustiniana Wynne, was an Anglo-Venetian author. She was born January 21, 1737 in Venice and died on August 22, 1791 in Padua, Italy...
, a close friend of Giacomo Casanova
Giacomo Casanova
Giacomo Girolamo Casanova de Seingalt was an Italian adventurer and author from the Republic of Venice. His autobiography, Histoire de ma vie , is regarded as one of the most authentic sources of the customs and norms of European social life during the 18th century...
. The couple resided together in Palazzo Loredan dell'Ambasciatore during the first years of their marriage.
These days, the Palazzo dell'Ambasciatore is owned by the Gaggia family.