Contarini Palace of the Snail Shell

The Contarini del Bovolo Palace, located in the San Marco district of Venice, is one of the hidden wonders of the lagoon city, known especially for its extraordinary external spiral staircase, the Contarini del Bovolo Staircase. This architectural masterpiece, added to the palace in 1499, represents a fascinating combination of Gothic and Renaissance styles, embodying the ingenuity and creativity of the time. The Contarini family, one of the most illustrious and influential in Venice, commissioned the construction of the palace in the 15th century. The architect Giovanni Candi is credited with designing the original building, while the Bovolo Staircase is attributed to Giorgio Spavento, who designed it as an aesthetically pleasing solution to connect the different floors of the palace. The term “bovolo” comes from the Venetian dialect and means “snail”, a clear reference to the spiral shape of the staircase.The staircase is an exceptional example of how architecture can be both functional and decorative. The structure rises over five floors, wrapping around a cylindrical tower, with elegant arches and columns in Istrian stone creating a play of light and shadow. Each step is a single block of stone, and the Gothic columns supporting the arches give a sense of lightness and harmony to the entire construction. From the top of the staircase, you can enjoy a breathtaking view of the rooftops of Venice, including the domes of St. Mark’s Basilica and the Campanile.The Contarini del Bovolo Palace is not only an architectural gem, but also a place steeped in history. During the period of the Venetian Republic, the palace was a symbol of the power and prestige of the Contarini family. It served as a city residence and a place of representation, where meetings and receptions were held. The external staircase, visible from afar, was a demonstration of wealth and sophistication, intended to impress guests and passersby.An interesting episode related to the palace involves the famous director Orson Welles, who chose it as a location for his 1952 adaptation of Shakespeare’s “Othello”. The filming of the Bovolo Staircase helped make the palace famous even beyond Italian borders, attracting the attention of cinema and architecture enthusiasts.The palace has undergone various periods of decay and restoration. In the 20th century, the staircase was in poor condition, with blackened stone and the structure at risk of collapse. The World Monuments Fund, an organization dedicated to the conservation of artistic heritage, intervened to restore the Bovolo Staircase in the 1960s. Thanks to this intervention, the staircase was consolidated, cleaned, and brought back to its former glory, ensuring its preservation for future generations. The social and political context of the period in which the palace was built is essential to understanding its importance. 15th century Venice was a commercial and maritime power, a crossroads of cultures and exchanges that was also reflected in the city’s architecture. Noble palaces, like the Contarini del Bovolo, were expressions of the prestige of the families that owned them and their ability to influence the political and social life of the city. The choice to build such an elaborate external staircase was not only a matter of functionality, but also a statement of power and belonging to a ruling class that dominated the Venetian scene.