Assignment Number One- Ca' d'Oro

Ca' d'Oro is one of the most beautiful palazzzo's located on the Grand Canal in Venice, Italy. Ca' d'Oro means golden house, but is also correctly called the Palazzo Santa Sofia. The name Golden House is due to the gilt and polychrome external decorations, which once adorned the interior walls. This gliding orginally decorated the Cana Grande facade. Ca' d'Oro was building between 1425 and 1434, for the procurator Marino Contarini. The principal facade of Ca' d'Oro facing onto the Grand canal is built in Gothic style. In 1922 the palazzo was bequeathed to the State by the last owner Giorgio Franchetti who had acquired the buildig in 1894. Following great restoration, especially the complete restoration of the stairway, the building was opened to the public to be viewd as a gallery.