Considered by many to be the most beautiful palace on the Grand Canal, the Ca’ d’Oro was built by expert stonemasons in the 15th century, mostly nameless artisans under the direction of the great architect Bartolomeo Bon. It is undoubtedly the jewel of Venetian gothic architecture. The façade resembles a refined piece oriental embroidery, crowned by the battlements once covered in golden leaves. After passing through several owners, in the 1890’s the baron Giorgio Franchetti renovated the palace, where he placed his extensive art collection as a gift to Venice; this included 250 pieces, among which masterpieces by the likes of Picasso, De Chirico and Magritte.
