The Fondaco dei Tedeschi is a 15th century palace, which is owned today by Benetton that has turned it into a luxury shopping centre. The ties between Venice and the German world were historically very strong, and so a fondaco, from the Arabic for warehouse, was built to host the workshops of these Nordic communities. In 1505 a fire destroyed it almost entirely, but in only three years it was rebuilt exactly as we see it today. For the occasion, Giorgione painted frescoes on the side of the grand Canal and Titian on the side of the smaller side canal; both unfortunately have been the victim of time.