- you are here: Home
- Hidden Treasures
- The foliated room of Palazzo Grimani in Venice

The foliated room of Palazzo Grimani in Venice
In the heart of the Castello district there is one of the most spectacular Renaissance buildings in Venice: Palazzo Grimani.
Acquired at the beginning of 1500s by Doge Antonio for his children, the palace was then enlarged and renovated by the Doge's grandson, Giovanni, the Patriarch of Aquileia (1506- 1593).
Giovanni Grimaldi was definitely one of the greatest representatives of the Renaissance culture in Venice: the palace was enlarged and decorated in order to accommodate his amazing collection of Greek and Roman marbles!
The ecclesiastical career of the patriarch suffered a meltdown in 1546 because of an accusation of heresy, from which he had to defend himself in Rome and at the Council of Trent. Despite being found innocent, Grimani failed to get nominated as cardinal which he strongly wanted (he even had a portrait of himself made wearing cardinal's clothes!).
This episode, which anguished him until his death, is illustrated in one of the most beautiful rooms of his palace, the foliated room.
Decorated by the artist Camillo Mantovano around 1660s, it has an incredible frescoed ceiling with a thick forest where birds and plants are depicted (including 'exotic' species just arrived from the New World, such as tobacco and maize).
The lunettes represent animals and mottos in Latin: these are rebuses that allude to the troubled trial for heresy suffered by the patriarch and reiterate his innocence and his faithfulness to the church of Rome.
Today Palazzo Grimani has been turned into a museum, open to the public from Tuesday to Sunday, from 8.15 am to 7.15 pm. The original architecture, the beauty of the decorations and the troubled history that has marred its events, make it a destination of great charm in Venice tours ... Upon request, Palazzo Grimani can be included in an original guided tour to discover the Venetian Renaissance!
- Google+
- tumblr
Search posts
Latest posts
Venice: Veronica Franco: the most talked-about woman in the Serenissima

Big Names
Among the various Venetian female figures of the past, certainly one of the most interesting and, for many reasons also modern, was Ver...
ViewVenice: 10 songs that will make you think of Venice

Did you know that...
Sometimes we hear the first few lines of a song and our minds are suddenly transported back to a place, a memory or a dream. We put tog...
ViewPadua: Vò Euganeo: a place to be discovered

Unknown places & works
In the last few months there has been much talking around the small town of Vò, in the province of Padua. It was at the center of ever...
ViewVenice: 10 must-see movies filmed in Venice

Film Locations
Venice is unique amongst world cities and every year it turns into a dream-like experience for scores of tourists thanks to its timeles...
ViewTop posts
Chioggia: The Valley of the Seven Dead Men

Mysteries & Legends
Halloween is just around the corner: have you already got into the fascinating terrifying aura of the scariest party of the year? No ye...
ViewVenice: The stone heart of St Mark’s Basilica

Unknown places & works
If you are visiting St Mark’s Basilica and have just abandoned the wonderful vision of the Pala d'Oro (which is a must-see), just a f...
ViewVenice: Map of Venice, what to know before you leave

Did you know that...
Did you know that Venice is not a single large island but rather a collection of 117 small islands linked together by over 400 bridges?...
ViewVenice: The origins of the Spritz cocktail

Local Traditions
Spritz, the typical Venetian aperitif, has nowadays become the iconic cocktail of Happy hour not only in Italy, but all over the world....
View