Photo: Didier Descouens, CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons
Historic villa / palace
Palazzo Contarini del Bovolo
Small palazzo in Venice, Italy
- Within the UNESCO World Heritage Site “Venice and its Lagoon”
At a glance
- Style
- Gothic art
- Commissioned by
- Contarini
- Coordinates
- 45°26′05″ N, 12°20′04″ E
- Address
- Sestiere San Marco 4303, 30124 Venezia
History and description
The Palazzo Contarini del Bovolo (also called the Palazzo Contarini Minelli dal Bovolo) is a small palazzo in Venice, Italy, best known for its external multi-arch spiral staircase known as the Scala Contarini del Bovolo (literally, "of the snail").
The palazzo is located in a small, less-travelled calle (street) near Campo Manin, about half-way between Campo San Bartolo, at the foot of the Rialto, and Campo Santo Stefano.
The staircase leads to an arcade, providing an impressive view of the city roof-tops.
This palazzo has been visitable since February 2016.
History
The palazzo was designed and built in its current form in the 15th century by the architect Giovanni Candi as one of the city residences of the Contarini family. Giorgio Spavento is believed to have been responsible for the addition of the grand spiral staircase on the exterior in 1499.
The Palazzo del Bovolo was chosen by Orson Welles as one of the main locations (Brabantio's house) for his 1952 adaptation of Shakespeare's Othello, and the staircase is prominently featured in the film.
The staircase was closed to the public for restoration work which began in August 2015 but is now open.
Text from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia, under CC BY-SA 4.0. Full article: «Palazzo Contarini del Bovolo».
People
Events and people from Wikidata (CC0).
Photos
Getting there
Venezia Santa LuciaTrain, nearest
1.3 km as the crow flies
Palazzo Contarini del BovoloSestiere San Marco 4303, 30124 Venezia
Rialto "A"200 m
Aeroporto Marco Polo di Venezia7.8 km
Distances are as the crow flies, not walking or driving.
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Nearby
See on the mapMore historic villas and palaces in Veneto
- Free 1st Sunday
- UNESCO
- UNESCO
- Free 1st Sunday
- UNESCO
Frequently asked questions
Where is Palazzo Contarini del Bovolo?
Palazzo Contarini del Bovolo is in Venice, in the province of Venezia (Veneto), Italy. Address: Sestiere San Marco 4303, 30124 Venezia. GPS coordinates: 45.43481, 12.33453.
What else is there to see near Palazzo Contarini del Bovolo?
Nearby you’ll find: Palazzo Molin del Cuoridoro (0 m away), Palazzo Nervi-Scattolin (100 m away), Ateneo Veneto (100 m away).
Sources and licences
Text. Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Data. Wikidata (CC0); opening hours and contacts OpenStreetMap (ODbL).
Photos. Wikimedia Commons, author and licence on every image.
Credits for the 9 photos
- Scala Contarini del Bovolo (Venice) — Didier Descouens, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Architectural feature outside Palazzo Contarini del Bovolo — Ethan Doyle White, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Masonry in the garden of the Palazzo Contarini del Bovolo — Ethan Doyle White, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Venezia - Palazzo Contarini del Bovolo 1 — YukioSanjo, CC BY-SA 4.0
- 3872 - Venezia - Vista dalla scala del bovolo - Foto Giovanni Dall'Orto, 7-Aug-2004 — Giovanni Dall'Orto, Attribution
- 3873 - Venezia - Vista dalla scala del bovolo - Foto Giovanni Dall'Orto, 7-Aug-2004 — Giovanni Dall'Orto, Attribution
- 3874 - Venezia - Veduta dalla scala del bovolo - Foto Giovanni Dall'Orto, 7-Aug-2004 — Giovanni Dall'Orto, Attribution
- Rio Verona verso Bovolo — Abxbay, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Campanile View IMG 4218 — Deror avi, CC BY-SA 3.0
Updated 28 October 2026. All sources and licences