Looking to your left is Palazzo Dario, usually known as Ca’ Dario, with a beautiful narrow Renaissance façade, decorated by multi-coloured marble circular medallions. It was built in the 15th century for the Dario family, and it soon aquired the reputation of being the haunted house of Venice. Indeed, almost all those who owned it were murdered or committed suicide in strange circumstances. Initially, the house went to Dario’s daughter who married one Giacomo Barbaro who was mysteriously stabbed to death soon after, as was his son Vincenzo. But it is in the 18th century that the reputation began to take hold: it was sold to an Armenian merchant who had little time to enjoy it as he died just after settling in; an English historian then bought it, but was found dead with his companion shortly after; the same fate awaited Charles Briggs, an American mine-owner, who committed suicide with his lover after fleeing the United States accused of homosexuality. After him, a famous Italian art historian was killed by his 18-year old lover who smashed a statuette on his head. Others followed suit, famously Kit Lambert, lead-singer of The Who, who is said to have fallen down the stairs, almost certainly suicide. In the early 2000s, Woody Allen was about to buy Ca’ Dario, but finally, and luckily, thought better of it. Among the many rumours, Venetians believe the house to be haunted by the ghosts of past owners.
